托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating behavior in the animal kingdom called 'tool use.' While we often think of tool use as a uniquely human trait, many animals actually use objects to achieve goals. The key point I want to make is that animals use tools in two distinct ways: either to obtain food that is otherwise inaccessible, or to defend themselves against predators. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the sea otter. Sea otters eat clams and crabs, but their shells are very hard. To crack them open, the otter will float on its back, place a stone on its chest, and then smash the shellfish against the stone until it breaks. This allows the otter to eat food it couldn't open with its teeth alone. Second, think about the octopus. Some octopuses collect coconut shells that have fallen to the ocean floor. When threatened by a predator, the octopus will hide inside the shells and close them, creating a hard protective armor. This use of shells helps the octopus avoid being eaten. So, as you can see, tool use in animals serves practical purposes for survival.