托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior called 'tool use.' Now, tool use isn't just about using an object to get food—it's about modifying or manipulating an object to achieve a specific goal. And it's not limited to primates. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the sea otter. Sea otters float on their backs and use stones to crack open shellfish. They'll place the stone on their chest and smash the shell against it. This is a clear case of using a tool to access food. Second, there's the woodpecker finch from the Galapagos Islands. This bird uses a cactus spine or a small twig to pry insects out of tree bark. It even modifies the twig by breaking it to the right length or stripping leaves, which shows planning and problem-solving. So, the main point is that tool use is not exclusive to humans or even mammals; it has evolved independently in different species as a response to ecological challenges.