托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating concept in animal behavior called 'behavioral adaptation through social learning.' This is when animals learn new behaviors by observing and imitating others, rather than through instinct or trial and error. One key benefit is that it allows animals to solve problems more quickly and efficiently, especially in changing environments. Let me give you two examples. First, consider Japanese macaques, or snow monkeys. In the 1950s, on Koshima Island, a young female monkey named Imo discovered that she could wash sweet potatoes in the sea to remove sand. This behavior spread gradually through the troop—first to her playmates, then to their mothers, and eventually to most adults. This wasn't instinct; it was learned by watching others. Second, think about urban birds, specifically great tits in England. In the early 20th century, some great tits learned to pierce the foil caps of milk bottles left on doorsteps to drink the cream. This skill spread rapidly across the country through observation. Even today, birds in different areas have adapted this technique to new bottle types. So, social learning is a powerful tool for survival.