托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior called 'tool use.' Now, we often think of tool use as a uniquely human ability, but many animals actually use tools to solve problems in their environment. However, what's really interesting is how animals learn to use these tools—it's not always instinctual. Instead, it often involves a process of observation and imitation. Let me give you two examples to illustrate this. First, consider the sea otter. Sea otters float on their backs and use rocks to crack open shellfish. They don't do this naturally from birth; young otters watch their mothers do it and then practice themselves. They learn by copying their mother's technique. Second, think about certain species of crows. The New Caledonian crow is famous for using twigs to extract insects from tree bark. Researchers found that these crows learn this skill by watching other crows, and young crows refine their technique over time. So, in both cases, the key point is that tool use is largely a learned behavior, passed on through social learning.