托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating phenomenon in animal behavior known as 'tool use'—specifically, how some animals use objects in their environment to solve problems, and why this is more common than we once thought. One classic example is the sea otter. Sea otters float on their backs and use rocks to crack open hard-shelled prey like clams and crabs. They place the rock on their chest and smash the shell against it, a skill they learn from their mothers. Another example is the New Caledonian crow. These birds fashion hooks from twigs and leaves to extract insects from tree bark. They even adjust the shape of the tool if the first attempt fails, showing remarkable problem-solving ability. Both examples illustrate that tool use is not just a human trait—it's an adaptive behavior that has evolved independently in different species to meet specific survival needs. So, the main point is that tool use in animals demonstrates advanced cognitive abilities, and it arises when species face particular ecological challenges.