托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to discuss a fascinating concept in biology called 'behavioral adaptation through learning.' Unlike innate behaviors, which animals are born with, learned behaviors are acquired through experience, allowing animals to adjust to changing environments. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the urban raccoon. In natural habitats, raccoons forage near streams for crayfish. However, in cities, they've learned to open trash cans with lids that require twisting and lifting. This isn't instinct; young raccoons watch their mothers and practice, eventually mastering the technique. Second, think about the Japanese macaque, or snow monkey. On Koshima Island, researchers observed a young female macaque washing sweet potatoes in the sea to remove sand. This behavior spread through the troop—first to her playmates, then to adults—until most monkeys in the group were washing their food. This shows how learning can lead to cultural transmission within a species. So, the main point is that learned behaviors are flexible and can be passed on, providing significant advantages for survival in changing or novel environments.