托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in biology called 'behavioral thermoregulation.' This is when animals actively adjust their behavior to control their body temperature, rather than relying solely on physiological mechanisms like sweating or shivering. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the desert iguana. In the early morning, when it's cool, the iguana basks in the sun on rocks to warm up. But as the day gets hotter, it moves into the shade or burrows underground to avoid overheating. So, its behavior changes with the sun's intensity. Second, think of the honeybee. In a hive, bees maintain a constant temperature of about 35 degrees Celsius. When it's too hot, worker bees fan the hive with their wings to circulate air and cool it down. When it's too cold, they cluster together and shiver their flight muscles to generate heat. So, through these behaviors, bees actively manage the hive's temperature. Both examples show how animals use behavior to maintain a stable internal environment.