托福口语 Task 3

In biology, the concept of 'mimicry' refers to the resemblance of one organism to another or to an inanimate object, which provides a survival advantage. Mimicry can be defensive, allowing prey to avoid predators by resembling a dangerous or unpalatable species, or it can be aggressive, allowing predators to lure prey by resembling a harmless or attractive object. The key is that the mimic gains a benefit through deception.

Professor: Now, let's look at a real example of mimicry in action. Consider the orchid mantis. This insect has evolved to look exactly like a pink orchid flower. It sits on flower stems and waits. Small bees and butterflies approach, thinking it's a real flower to feed on. As soon as they land, the mantis grabs them. This is aggressive mimicry—the mantis is a predator that uses its flower-like appearance to lure its prey. On the other hand, think of the harmless milk snake. It has red, yellow, and black bands very similar to the venomous coral snake. Predators avoid it because they mistake it for the dangerous coral snake. So, the milk snake benefits from defensive mimicry—it gains protection without actually being venomous.