托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating behavior in the animal kingdom called 'tool use.' Now, when we think of tool use, we often think of humans, but many animals also use objects to achieve a goal. The main point I want to make is that animal tool use is not just random or instinctive; it often involves problem-solving and learning. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the sea otter. Sea otters feed on shellfish like clams and abalone, which have hard shells. To open them, a sea otter will float on its back, place a stone on its chest, and then smash the shellfish against the stone until it cracks. This is a learned behavior—young otters watch their mothers and practice until they master the technique. Second, think about the New Caledonian crow. These crows are famous for making hooks from twigs. They will take a twig, strip off the leaves, and even bend one end to form a hook, which they then use to pull insects out of tree bark. This is not just a simple action; it requires planning and modification of the tool. So, as you can see, these examples show that tool use in animals is an intelligent, adaptive behavior.