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 actively adjust their behavior to control their body temperature, rather than relying solely on physiological mechanisms like sweating or shivering. The main point is that these behaviors are often surprisingly simple yet highly effective. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the desert iguana. When the sun gets too intense, the iguana doesn't just stay in the open; it climbs onto a rock and then shifts its body position so that only a small part of its body faces the sun. By doing this, it minimizes the surface area exposed to direct sunlight, reducing heat absorption. Second, think about the honeybee. On hot days, worker bees collect water and bring it back to the hive. They then spread the water on the surface of the honeycomb and fan their wings rapidly. This creates evaporative cooling, which lowers the temperature inside the hive, protecting the developing larvae. Both examples show how animals use specific actions to regulate their thermal environment.