Listen to part of a lecture in a biology class. The professor is discussing animal communication.
Professor: Now, we often think of communication as something that requires sound, but many animals rely on visual signals. Take the cuttlefish, for example. This marine creature can change the color and texture of its skin in milliseconds. This isn’t just for camouflage; it’s also a sophisticated language. For instance, a male cuttlefish might display a bold stripe pattern to intimidate rivals, but when a female approaches, it can switch to a mottled pattern to avoid aggression. Interestingly, researchers have found that cuttlefish also use polarized light, which is invisible to most predators, as a private channel of communication. This allows them to signal to each other without being detected. So, visual communication isn’t limited to what we can see; it can involve signals beyond our perception. This challenges our assumption that sound is the most common or effective way to convey information in the animal kingdom.
❓ 문제 What does the professor say about cuttlefish communication?
A. A. They primarily rely on sound to communicate with each other.
B. B. They use color changes only for camouflage, not for social signaling.
C. C. They can communicate using signals that are invisible to some predators.
D. D. Their visual signals are always the same regardless of the situation.
✅ 정답
C. They can communicate using signals that are invisible to some predators.
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