托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior called 'tool use'—specifically, how some animals have learned to use objects in their environment to solve problems, which was once thought to be a uniquely human trait. Let me give you two examples that challenge this idea. First, consider the sea otter. Sea otters often eat hard-shelled clams. To open them, they will float on their backs, place a stone on their chest, and then smash the clam against the stone repeatedly until it cracks. This is not just a random action; they select stones of the right size and shape, and even keep a favorite stone under their arm for future use. Second, think about the New Caledonian crow. In experiments, these crows have been observed bending twigs into hooks to pull insects out of tree bark. They even craft tools from leaf edges, shaping them to reach food in narrow crevices that their beaks cannot access. Both examples show that animals can plan, modify, and use tools effectively, demonstrating advanced cognitive abilities beyond simple instinct.