Narrator: Listen to part of a lecture in a biology class. Professor: Today we're going to talk about a fascinating example of animal adaptation: the mimic octopus. This creature, found in the waters around Indonesia, has the remarkable ability to imitate the appearance and movements of up to fifteen different marine species. For instance, when threatened by a predator, it can flatten its body and swim in a way that mimics a poisonous flatfish. Alternatively, it might coil its arms and mimic a sea snake, or spread its tentacles to look like a lionfish. What's particularly interesting is that the mimic octopus chooses which animal to imitate based on the specific predator it faces. This suggests a level of cognitive flexibility, not just simple reflex. However, this behavior is not perfect. The octopus can only imitate one species at a time, and if two predators attack simultaneously, it may become confused and fail to escape. Despite this limitation, the mimic octopus remains a prime example of how evolution can lead to highly specialized survival strategies.
❓ Pregunta What is the main point the professor makes about the mimic octopus?
A. A. It can imitate multiple species but only one at a time, which shows both adaptability and limitations.
B. B. Its ability to imitate is a simple reflex that does not require intelligence.
C. C. It always imitates the same predator to avoid confusion.
D. D. It is found only in deep waters and rarely encounters predators.
✅ Respuesta correcta
A. It can imitate multiple species but only one at a time, which shows both adaptability and limitations.
TOEFL Listening Tips
Skim the questions first to predict the content
Watch for signal words in lectures and conversations (however, actually, in fact)
For main idea questions, focus on the beginning; for detail questions, focus on examples and data
For attitude questions, pay attention to the speaker's tone and word choice
Take notes on keywords; don't try to write down every word