Loading…
TOEFL Speaking Task 3 Practice 001
Science
TOEFL Speaking Task 3 Practice #001 - Science
Show transcript
Narrator: Now listen to part of a lecture in a biology class. Professor: Ok. So for example, there are these two different types of ants in Africa that share space in this way. Living inside a hollow tree branch. And one of these types of ants is very small, and the other type is much bigger, so they're different. And what's interesting is that the bigger ants collect food and bring it back to the hollow tree branch and eat it there. But some of the pieces of food end up scattered around small bits of waste that the bigger ants don't eat. And the tiny ants go around and eat these leftover scraps of food. So the tiny ants get their food this way from the scraps left behind by the bigger ants, and they don't have to go out to collect their own food. Scientists think that this arrangement works out nicely for the bigger ants too. See when the small ants eat up all the little crumbs and scraps left behind, they're actually helping to keep the home inside the tree branch clean. And keeping the inside clean like this prevents harmful bacteria from growing. Bacteria which could cause sickness and threaten the survival of the bigger ants.
Compound Nesting
In the insect world, it is not uncommon for two distinct species to inhabit the same general area, sometimes even coexisting within a shared nest. These species are typically dissimilar enough in their ecological needs that direct competition for food or other resources is minimal. This phenomenon, referred to as compound nesting, enables both species to benefit from one another's presence. By living in close association, each group may gain unique survival advantages, thereby enhancing the overall fitness of both species.
Speed
1. Explain Compound Nesting and how the example from the lecture illustrates the concept.
Audio transcript
Narrator: Now listen to part of a lecture in a biology class. Professor: Ok. So for example, there are these two different types of ants in Africa that share space in this way. Living inside a hollow tree branch. And one of these types of ants is very small, and the other type is much bigger, so they're different. And what's interesting is that the bigger ants collect food and bring it back to the hollow tree branch and eat it there. But some of the pieces of food end up scattered around small bits of waste that the bigger ants don't eat. And the tiny ants go around and eat these leftover scraps of food. So the tiny ants get their food this way from the scraps left behind by the bigger ants, and they don't have to go out to collect their own food. Scientists think that this arrangement works out nicely for the bigger ants too. See when the small ants eat up all the little crumbs and scraps left behind, they're actually helping to keep the home inside the tree branch clean. And keeping the inside clean like this prevents harmful bacteria from growing. Bacteria which could cause sickness and threaten the survival of the bigger ants.
Record up to 60 seconds. Nothing is uploaded until you submit it.