托福口语 Task 4

Today, we're going to talk about a fascinating phenomenon in animal behavior called 'tool use.' While many people think tool use is unique to humans, it actually appears in various animal species. The key point is that animals use tools to solve specific problems in their environment, and this behavior is often learned, not innate. Let me give you two examples. First, consider the sea otter. Sea otters eat hard-shelled clams, but they can't crack them open with their teeth. So, they float on their backs, place a stone on their chest, and then smash the clam against the stone to break it open. This is a deliberate use of a tool to obtain food. Second, think about the woodpecker finch from the Galápagos Islands. This bird feeds on insects that hide deep inside tree bark. To reach them, it uses a cactus spine or a small twig. It holds the spine in its beak and pokes it into holes to pry out insects. Interestingly, if the spine is too long, the finch will break it to a usable length. Both examples show that animals can plan and adapt their tool use to meet their needs, which challenges the idea that only humans possess such intelligence.