托福口语 Task 4

Today we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior called 'tool use'—when animals use objects from their environment to achieve a goal. Many people think this is unique to humans, but actually, several non-human animals do it too. One key point I want to emphasize is that tool use often arises as a solution to a specific environmental challenge, and it can be learned, not just instinctual. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the sea otter. Sea otters eat hard-shelled clams, but their teeth aren't strong enough to crack them open. So, they float on their backs, place a stone on their chest, and smash the clam against it. This is a learned behavior—pups watch their mothers and practice until they master it. Second, think about the woodpecker finch from the Galápagos Islands. This bird feeds on insects that hide deep in tree bark. Its beak is too short to reach them, so it picks up a cactus spine or a twig, holds it in its beak, and probes into the bark to poke out the insects. Again, this technique is not innate; young finches gradually improve by trial and error. So, in both cases, the animals use objects as tools to overcome a physical limitation, and they learn the skill through observation or practice.