托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating behavior in animals called 'tool use.' Now, when we think of tool use, we often imagine primates, but many other animals also use tools in clever ways. The main point I want to make is that tool use in animals is not just a simple, fixed behavior; it is a flexible and adaptive response to environmental challenges. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the sea otter. Sea otters float on their backs and use rocks to crack open hard-shelled clams. They place the rock on their chest and smash the clam against it. This behavior is learned, not instinctive, and they even choose different rocks based on the size and hardness of the clam. Second, there are crows on an island in the Pacific. These crows have learned to use sticks to extract insects from tree bark. What's remarkable is that they will modify the sticks—trimming them to make them sharper or longer—to better reach their prey. In both cases, the animals adjust their tool use to specific situations, showing that this is not just a simple reflex but a thoughtful, problem-solving skill.