托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating phenomenon in animal behavior called 'behavioral thermoregulation.' This is where animals actively change their behavior to control their body temperature, rather than relying solely on physiological mechanisms like sweating or shivering. The key point is that these behaviors are often surprisingly sophisticated and can significantly impact an animal's survival. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the desert iguana. When the sun gets too intense, it doesn't just hide under a rock. Instead, it climbs onto a rock and raises its body high off the ground, allowing air to circulate underneath and cool it down. This behavior, called 'stilting,' maximizes heat loss. Second, think about honeybees. On a hot day, worker bees will collect water and bring it back to the hive. Then, they spread it over the comb and fan their wings, creating evaporative cooling. This not only keeps the hive at a safe temperature but also prevents the wax from melting. So, as you can see, these are not just simple reactions but deliberate strategies.