托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating adaptation in the animal kingdom called 'behavioral thermoregulation.' This is when animals actively change their behavior to control their body temperature, rather than relying solely on physical traits like fur or fat. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the desert lizard. In the scorching heat of the day, when the sand can reach 60 degrees Celsius, the lizard doesn't just lie there and bake. Instead, it performs a 'thermal dance'—it lifts one foot off the hot ground, then the other, alternating quickly. This minimizes contact with the hot surface, keeping its body from overheating. Second, think of the honeybee. On a hot summer day, bees need to keep their hive at a stable temperature for the larvae. When it gets too warm, some worker bees act as 'water carriers.' They collect water and bring it back, while others fan the hive with their wings, causing evaporative cooling. This coordinated behavior lowers the hive temperature by several degrees. So, as you can see, these behaviors are crucial for survival.