Listen to part of a lecture in a biology class. The professor is discussing animal communication.
Professor: Today, we're going to explore how animals communicate, focusing on a fascinating example: the waggle dance of honeybees. When a foraging bee finds a rich source of nectar, it returns to the hive and performs this dance on the vertical surface of the honeycomb. The dance consists of a series of figure-eight movements. The angle of the dance relative to the vertical indicates the direction of the food source in relation to the sun. For instance, if the bee dances straight up, the food is directly toward the sun. The duration of the waggle run, the straight part of the dance, communicates the distance to the food. Bees that dance longer indicate a farther food source. Interestingly, this communication is symbolic, not just a simple signal. It conveys abstract information about location, which is quite sophisticated for an insect. However, some researchers debate whether this dance is truly symbolic or just a simplified cue. What do you think?
❓ Câu hỏi What does the professor say about the waggle dance of honeybees?
A. A. The angle of the dance indicates the distance to the food source.
B. B. The waggle run duration communicates the direction relative to the sun.
C. C. The dance is a form of symbolic communication about the food's location.
D. D. The dance is a simple signal that only indicates the presence of food.
✅ Đáp án đúng
C. The dance is a form of symbolic communication about the food's location.
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