托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior called 'behavioral flexibility.' This is the ability of an animal to adjust its behavior in response to new or changing environmental conditions. It's crucial for survival, especially when resources become scarce or habitats change. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the urban raccoon. In natural forest habitats, raccoons typically forage for food near water sources, like streams, catching fish and amphibians. But in cities, these water sources are often unavailable. Instead, raccoons have learned to raid garbage bins, opening lids with their dexterous paws. This allows them to exploit a new food source that didn't exist in their traditional habitat. Second, think about the great tit, a small bird. In Britain, some great tits have learned to peck through the foil caps of milk bottles left on doorsteps to drink the cream. This behavior, which started in the early 20th century, spread rapidly through the population as birds observed and imitated each other. So, both examples show how animals can innovate and learn new behaviors to survive in changing environments.