托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating behavior in the animal kingdom called 'tool use.' Now, many people think tool use is unique to humans, but actually, some animals use objects in their environment to solve problems. The main point I want to emphasize is that animal tool use is not just instinctual—it often requires learning and problem-solving. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the sea otter. When a sea otter finds a clam, it can't crack the shell with its teeth. So, it will dive down, pick up a stone, and then float on its back, placing the stone on its belly and smashing the clam against it. Interestingly, young otters watch their mothers do this and practice until they get it right. Second, there's the New Caledonian crow. This bird is known for making hooks from twigs or leaves to extract insects from tree bark. Researchers found that crows in captivity can even fashion new tools from unfamiliar materials to reach food, showing they understand cause and effect. So, in both cases, the animals aren't born with this knowledge; they acquire it through observation and experimentation.