托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior called 'behavioral thermoregulation.' This is when animals deliberately adjust their behavior to control their body temperature, rather than relying solely on physiological mechanisms like sweating or shivering. One clear example comes from desert lizards. When the morning sun is too weak, they bask on sun-warmed rocks to raise their body temperature. But as the day gets hotter, they shift to shaded areas or burrow into the sand to avoid overheating. Another example is seen in honeybees. In a hive, worker bees fan their wings to circulate air and cool the hive when temperatures rise. Conversely, when it's cold, they cluster tightly together, shivering their flight muscles to generate heat. In both cases, the animals are actively managing their environment through specific behaviors to maintain an optimal internal temperature for survival.