托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior called 'tool use.' While many people think tool use is unique to humans, some animals also use objects to achieve goals. However, the key point is that tool use in animals often serves a simple, immediate purpose, unlike human tool use which can be complex and symbolic. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the sea otter. When a sea otter searches for food, it dives to the ocean floor and picks up a clam. To open the clam's hard shell, the otter floats on its back, places a stone on its chest, and then repeatedly slams the clam against the stone until it cracks. This is a clear case of using a tool—the stone—to get food. Second, think about the woodpecker finch from the Galapagos Islands. This bird feeds on insects that live inside tree bark. To extract them, it breaks off a small cactus spine or twig, holds it in its beak, and pokes it into the bark to probe for insects. Once it finds one, it pulls the spine out with the insect attached. So, both animals use tools, but only for immediate survival needs, not for planning ahead or creating other tools.