托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior called 'behavioral thermoregulation.' This is when animals actively change their behavior to control their body temperature, rather than relying solely on physiological mechanisms like sweating or shivering. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the desert lizard. When the sun is too hot, the lizard will climb onto a rock and then lift one leg at a time off the hot surface, alternating them. This behavior, called 'leg lifting,' reduces contact with the scorching ground, allowing heat to escape from its body and preventing overheating. Second, think about the honeybee. In a hive, when temperatures rise too high, worker bees will gather water and spread it over the hive's surface. Then, other bees fan their wings to create airflow, which evaporates the water and cools the hive. This cooperative behavior helps maintain a stable temperature for the colony. So, you see, these behaviors are crucial for survival in extreme environments.