托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating behavior in the animal kingdom called 'tool use.' Now, tool use isn't just about using an object to get food; it's about modifying or manipulating an object to achieve a specific goal, and this shows a level of cognitive flexibility. Let me give you two examples that illustrate this. First, consider the sea otter. These marine mammals often eat shellfish like clams and mussels. To break open the hard shells, they will float on their backs, place a stone on their chests, and then smash the shellfish against the stone. They don't just use any rock; they carefully select a stone of the right size and shape. Second, think about the woodpecker finch from the Galapagos Islands. This bird uses a cactus spine or a small twig to probe into tree crevices and extract insects. The finch will even trim the twig to make it the right length or shape to be more effective. So, in both cases, the animals are not just using an object, but they are actively choosing and modifying it, which suggests advanced problem-solving skills.