托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating behavior in the animal kingdom called 'tool use.' While many people think tool use is unique to humans, certain animals have developed remarkable abilities to use objects in their environment to solve problems. One key point is that tool use in animals is not just a random act—it's a learned, purpose-driven behavior that helps them survive. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the sea otter. When a sea otter finds a clam, it will dive to the ocean floor to pick up a stone. Then, floating on its back, it places the stone on its chest and uses it as an anvil to crack open the clam's shell. This is not instinctual—young otters learn this technique by watching their mothers. Second, think about the New Caledonian crow. This bird is famous for crafting hooks from twigs. It will strip leaves from a twig and bend the end into a hook, then use it to fish out insects from tree crevices. Researchers have observed crows modifying their tools based on the task, showing they plan ahead. Both examples show that animals can innovate and pass on these skills, which challenges the idea that tool use is purely human.