托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior called 'tool use.' Now, tool use isn't just about using an object to get food—it involves modifying or manipulating an external object to achieve a specific goal. And it's not limited to primates; many other animals do it, too. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the sea otter. Sea otters often eat hard-shelled clams. To crack them open, they float on their backs, place a stone on their chests, and then smash the clam against the stone. This stone is used as an anvil, and the otter will even keep a favorite stone for repeated use. Second, think about the New Caledonian crow. These crows are famous for making hooks out of twigs. They will strip leaves from a twig, then bend and shape the end to form a hook, which they use to fish out insects from crevices in tree bark. This shows not just tool use, but tool manufacture. So, in both cases, the animals actively use objects in their environment to solve problems, demonstrating that tool use is a flexible and intelligent behavior across different species.