托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating adaptation in the animal kingdom: mimicry. Now, mimicry isn't just about looking like another animal; it's a survival strategy. The main point I want you to understand is that mimicry can be either defensive or aggressive. Defensive mimicry helps the mimic avoid being eaten, while aggressive mimicry helps the mimic catch its prey. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the harmless king snake. It has evolved to look strikingly similar to the venomous coral snake. Predators learn to avoid the coral snake's bright red, yellow, and black bands, and they mistakenly avoid the king snake too. This is defensive mimicry. Second, think of the anglerfish. It lives in the dark depths of the ocean and has a fleshy appendage that glows and dangles in front of its mouth. Smaller fish are attracted to the glow, thinking it's a tasty meal. When they get close, the anglerfish snaps them up. This is aggressive mimicry. So, you see, mimicry serves two very different purposes, but in both cases, it's all about survival.