托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior known as 'tool use'—the ability of animals to manipulate objects in their environment to achieve a goal. While many people think tool use is unique to humans, it actually appears in various species. One key point is that tool use is often not innate but learned through observation and practice, and it can vary across populations. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the New Caledonian crow. These birds are famous for crafting hooks from twigs to extract insects from tree bark. Interestingly, not all crows in this species do this equally—young crows learn by watching their parents, and the technique improves with practice. Second, think of sea otters. They use rocks to crack open shellfish. When a sea otter finds a clam, it will dive to the ocean floor, pick up a stone, and then float on its back, placing the stone on its belly and smashing the clam against it. This behavior is also learned; pups watch their mothers and spend months perfecting their technique. So, across these examples, we see that tool use is not a fixed instinct but a flexible skill shaped by learning and cultural transmission.