托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating behavior in the animal kingdom called 'cooperative hunting.' This is when animals work together to catch prey, which they couldn't do alone. The main point I want to emphasize is that cooperative hunting requires complex communication and role specialization among group members. Let me give you two examples. First, consider lions. In a pride, lionesses work in a coordinated way. Some act as 'drivers,' flanking the prey and steering it toward the center. Others, the 'ambushers,' hide in tall grass and wait. When the prey is close enough, the ambushers spring out, while the drivers cut off escape routes. Each lioness has a specific role, and they communicate through subtle body movements and even vocalizations. Second, think of dolphins. When hunting schools of fish, dolphins use a technique called 'herding.' One dolphin creates a mud ring around the fish, while others circle the perimeter to keep the fish from escaping. The 'mud-ring' dolphin then signals the others to take turns swimming through the ring, grabbing fish. This requires precise timing and a clear division of labor. So, in both cases, cooperation isn't just about being together; it's about specialized roles and effective communication.