托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a concept in biology called 'behavioral thermoregulation.' This is when animals actively change their behavior to control their body temperature, rather than just relying on their internal physiology. The main point is that behavior can be just as important as physical adaptations for surviving in extreme environments. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the desert iguana. When the desert sun gets too hot, the ground temperature can exceed 50 degrees Celsius. Instead of staying out in the open, the iguana climbs onto rocks or bushes, where the temperature is cooler, and it raises its body off the hot surface. This way, it avoids overheating. Second, think about the honeybee. In the winter, bees cluster together inside the hive. The bees on the outside and inside constantly move and rotate, so that each bee gets a turn in the warm center. By doing this, they keep the cluster at about 35 degrees Celsius, even when the outside temperature drops below freezing. So, in both cases, the animals are using specific behaviors to maintain a stable body temperature.