托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating behavior in the animal kingdom called 'tool use.' Now, I want to be clear: 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 this shows problem-solving ability. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the sea otter. Sea otters love to eat clams, but clams have hard shells. To crack them open, a sea otter will find a stone on the ocean floor, bring it to the surface, and place it on its belly. Then it will smash the clam against the stone until the shell breaks. This isn't random; the otter chooses a stone of the right size and shape, and it uses the same stone repeatedly. Second, consider the New Caledonian crow. These crows feed on insects that hide in tree bark or under leaves. To get to them, they create tools from twigs or leaves. For example, they might strip a twig of its leaves and then use it to poke into crevices to flush out insects. They even shape the twig by cutting it with their beak to make it more effective. So, both animals show that tool use involves planning and modification.