托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior: behavioral flexibility. Behavioral flexibility is the ability of an animal to adjust its behavior to new or changing circumstances, rather than relying on fixed instincts. This flexibility is crucial for survival in unpredictable environments. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the urban raccoon. In the wild, raccoons typically forage near water sources for food like fish and crustaceans. But in cities, they've learned to open garbage bins, even those with complex latches, and to navigate busy streets during low-traffic hours. This shows they can modify their feeding and movement patterns to exploit new food sources. Second, think about the mockingbird. Male mockingbirds usually learn songs from their fathers to attract mates. However, in urban areas with high noise pollution, some males have been observed incorporating unusual sounds—like car alarms or cell phone rings—into their songs. These sounds are louder and carry better over traffic noise, making them more attractive to females. Both examples illustrate how behavioral flexibility allows animals to thrive in human-modified habitats.