托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating phenomenon in animal behavior called 'tool use.' Now, when we think of tool use, we often think of primates, but it's not limited to them. In fact, some birds and insects also use tools, and this challenges our assumptions about intelligence. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the New Caledonian crow. These birds are known to fashion tools from leaves and twigs to extract insects from tree bark. They even shape hooks from plant material to reach prey in hard-to-reach places. This shows they can plan and modify their environment to solve problems. Second, think about the veined octopus. This marine creature collects coconut shells discarded by humans, carries them along the seafloor, and assembles them into a shelter for protection. This behavior is remarkable because it shows foresight and the ability to use found objects in a novel way. So, both examples illustrate that tool use is not just a trait of higher mammals but appears across different species, each adapting creatively to their ecological needs.