托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior called 'behavioral thermoregulation.' This is when animals actively change their behavior to control their body temperature, rather than just relying on physiological mechanisms like sweating or shivering. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the desert iguana. On a hot day, this lizard will climb onto a rock and raise its body high, positioning itself perpendicular to the sun's rays. This minimizes the surface area exposed to the sun, reducing heat absorption. But when it gets too hot, it will seek shade under a bush or burrow into the sand. Second, think of the honeybee. In summer, when the hive gets too warm, worker bees will collect water and spread it over the hive's surface, then fan their wings to create airflow, which evaporates the water and cools the hive. In winter, they cluster together and shiver their flight muscles to generate heat, keeping the hive warm. So, these behaviors are crucial for survival in extreme environments.