Listen to part of a lecture in a biology class. Professor: Today we're going to talk about a fascinating adaptation in desert animals—specifically, the kangaroo rat. The kangaroo rat lives in the southwestern United States, where water is extremely scarce. Unlike many animals, it does not need to drink water at all. Instead, it gets all the moisture it needs from the seeds it eats. But that's not the only trick. Its kidneys are highly efficient, producing extremely concentrated urine, which conserves water. Also, kangaroo rats are nocturnal. They stay in their cool underground burrows during the hot day and come out only at night to forage. This behavior minimizes water loss from evaporation. Interestingly, their burrows have a higher humidity than the outside air, which reduces moisture loss from breathing. So, through a combination of physiological and behavioral adaptations, the kangaroo rat thrives in an environment where most mammals could not survive. Now, let's consider how these adaptations might affect the animal's energy use...
❓ Pregunta According to the lecture, what are two main ways the kangaroo rat conserves water?
A. A. By storing water in its body and reducing physical activity.
B. B. By producing concentrated urine and being active at night.
C. C. By eating only plants with high water content and migrating.
D. D. By growing thick fur and living in humid areas.
✅ Respuesta correcta
B. By producing concentrated urine and being active at night.
TOEFL Listening Tips
Skim the questions first to predict the content
Watch for signal words in lectures and conversations (however, actually, in fact)
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