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The TOEFL iBT ® Reading section is designed to assess how well you can read and understand the kind of materials used in an academic environment. It includes 3 or 4 reading passages, each approximately 700 words long, with 10 questions per passage. You have 54 to 72 minutes to answer all the questions in the section.
Speaking task four is a verbal, fact-based argument. For this task, you will integrate two skills: listening and speaking objectively.
Task
Time
1. Listen to a lecture.
2-3 minutes
2. Read the prompt.
4. Prepare your response.
20 seconds
5. Deliver your response.
60 seconds
For this task, you must:
take notes as you listen to the lecture;
summarize the main points in the lecture;
paraphrase the main points in the lecture.
deliver a response for this task using
G+3TiC=C. argument map
OPDUL=C. a coherent integrated spoken response
ETS recycles this same testing method for Speaking Task #4. However, for Speaking Task #4, the general and the specific are combined in one lecture, as the maps illustrate.
Speaking Task #4
(listen + speak)
Lecture
general
+
specific
summarize
For speaking task four, the general and the specific are combined in the lecture. Use the following map to develop and deliver your response for speaking task four.
lecture
G =
Premise =
= General
TiC =
Example =
= Specific
Add to+ Support
C =
Conclusion =
Developing a Response: Step-by-Step
Step #1 Make a G+3TiC=C note map.
Narrator: For this task, you will listen to a lecture on an academic topic. After you listen to the lecture, you will summarize the main points. You will have 20 seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to speak.
make a note map.
G
1 — First
TiC
2 — Next
3 — Also
C —
C
Step #2 Listen to the lecture; (2-3 minutes)
When the narrator is finished, you will listen to the lecture.
As you listen, summarize the main points of the lecture, on your note map.
Animal behavior can be classified according to the time of day an animal is active. Animals, such as horses, elephants and most birds, are said to be diurnal because they are active during the day and rest at night. Those animals active at dawn and dusk are said to be crepuscular. Beetles, skunks and rabbits fall into this category. The third group are those animals that sleep during the day and are active at night. They are called nocturnal. A good example is the bat. Bats have highly developed eyesight, hearing and smell. This helps them avoid predators and locate food. Being nocturnal also helps them avoid high temperatures during the day, especially in deserts where temperatures can reach well over one hundred degrees Fahrenheit. There are two types of bat: micro bats, or true bats, and mega bats, also called fruit bats. Let’s start with mega bats.
Size wise, mega bats range from two to sixteen inches in length. Mega bats have extremely sensitive sight and smell. This helps them locate the flowers and fruit upon which they feed. It is while eating that mega bats play an important role in the distribution of plants. Like bees, mega bats serve as pollinators. When they lick nectar or eat flowers, their bodies become covered in pollen which they, in turn, carry to other trees and plants thereby acting as pollinators. In fact, many of the fruits and vegetables on our tables, such as bananas and peaches, would not be there if mega bats did not pollinate plants and trees.
Next are micro bats. As the name implies, micro bats are quite small, about the size of a mouse. To find food, micro bats use echolocation, high frequency sounds they bounce off insects. The most common micro bat is the vesper or evening bat. Like mega bats, micro bats play an important role in the environment. The average vesper bat, for example, can eat one thousand mosquitoes in one night. By doing so, they control the mosquito population.
Identifying the Main Topic
Identifying and summarizing the premise
premise is the main topic
It will be stated in the topic sentence.
The premise will be expressed using a rhetorical strategy. For example, a date in the premised will signal the rhetorical strategy of narration. Narration, in turn, will signal the start of a general description of an historical person or event, for example:
In 1878, Thomas Edison formed the Edison Electric Light Company in New
York City.
The premise might also employ the rhetorical strategy of classification, as does the premise in the topic sentence in the sample lecture.
Animal behavior can be classified according to the time of day an animal is active. Animals, such as horses, elephants and most birds, are said to be diurnal because…
After you identify the main topic, summarize it on your note map. To summarize means to identify and generally describe the main points. The main points are the premise and, in this example, a general description of each animal classification.
G animal behavior classified according to time of day
day is diurnal – eat during day, sleep at night, humans
horses, elephants
twilight is crepuscular – active dawn and dusk, beetles,
rabbits, skunks
night is nocturnal – sleep during day, active at night
In this lecture, notice how the general “nocturnal animal” transitions into the specific “the bat”, which is divided (classified) into two specific sub groups. The sub groups are the supporting illustrations (2TiC). They, in turn, develop the topic “nocturnal animal.” This demonstrates organization (OPDUL=C), progression (OPDUL=C), topical unity-synthesis (OPDUL=C), and coherence (OPDUL=C).
Next, summarize the supporting illustrations and conclusion. Notice the transitions of contrast (TiC) and the cause-and-effect relationship (TiC) in each body paragraph.
1
first mega bats, 2 – 16 inches
good eyesight and smell, helps bat find food = flowers and fruit
like bees mega bats pollinate plants + tree good for environment, we get peaches, bananas
2
next micro bats, size of mouse
use echolocation to find food = insects
micro bats eat 1,000 mosquitoes a night good for controlling mosquitoes
3
also
These examples add to and support the reading
O
Organization
• deduction or induction
Coherent Integrated Spoken Response
P
Progression
• general-specific or specific-general
D
Development-Summarization
• introduction, body, conclusion
U
Unity-Synthesis
• topical and grammatical
L
Language Use
• word choice, idioms, sentence variety Delivery: fluency automaticity pronunciation
Begin by reading the sample reading passage
Read the sample passage once again. Notice how the premise is stated in the topic sentence and is identified by the rhetorical signal words can be classified followed by a description of the classifying process.
Animal behavior can be classified according to the time of day an animal is active. Animals, such as horses, elephants and most birds, are said to be diurnal because they are active during the day and rest at night. Those animals active at dawn and dusk are said to be crepuscular. Beetles, skunks and rabbits fall into this category. The third group are those animals that sleep during the day and are active at night. They are called nocturnal. A good example is the bat. Bats have highly developed eyesight, hearing and smell. This helps them avoid predators and locate food. Being nocturnal also helps them avoid high temperatures during the day, especially in deserts where temperatures can reach well over one hundred degrees Fahrenheit.
Step #2 Listen to the lecture; summarize it.
Listening script
Good afternoon. In this lecture, we’ll focus on a common nocturnal animal, the bat. There are two types of bat: micro bats, or true bats, and mega bats, also called fruit bats. Let’s start with mega bats. Size wise, mega bats are from two to sixteen inches in length. Mega bats have extremely sensitive sight and smell. This helps them locate the flowers and fruit upon which they feed. It is while eating that mega bats play a important role in the distribution of plants. Like bees, mega bats serve as pollinators. When they lick nectar or eat flowers, their bodies become covered in pollen which they, in turn, carry to other trees and plants thereby acting as pollinators. In fact, many of the fruits and vegetables on our tables, such as bananas and peaches, would not be there if mega bats did not pollinate plants and trees. Next are micro bats. As the name implies, micro bats are quite small, about the size of a mouse. To find food, micro bats use echolocation, high frequency sounds they bounce off insects. The most common micro bat is the vesper or evening bat. Like mega bats, micro bats play an important role in the environment. The average vesper bat, for example, can eat one thousand mosquitoes in one night. By doing so, they control the mosquito population.
Next, look at the lecture notes. Notice the cause-and-effect relationship in the concluding sentence of each body paragraph (TiC).
R
Do not summarize every sentence in the reading. You will waste time.
You only have 45 seconds. Only summarize the main topic.
Next, look at the lecture notes. Notice the cause-and-effect
relationship in the concluding sentence of each body paragraph (TiC).
good eyesight and smell, helps bat find food = flowers
and fruit
like bees mega bats pollinate plants + tree good for
environment, we get peaches, bananas
micro bats eat 1,000 mosquitoes a night good for
controlling mosquitoes
Step #3 Read the prompt; prepare your response (20 seconds).
When the lecture ends, it will leave your screen. You cannot replay it. The lecture will be replaced by the prompt. The narrator will read it.
Prompt Identify and summarize the main topic in the lecture and show how that topic is developed and supported by specific examples.
Step #4 Prepare your response (20 seconds).
After the narrator reads the prompt, you will have 20 seconds to prepare your response. The countdown clock will countdown (20, 19, 18…).
Mapped out, you can see how G+2TiC=C gives the speaking raters what they are trained to listen for: a coherent integrated spoken response that demonstrates OPDUL=C. Note: Transitions (T) are in bold, the supporting illustration (i) in italics, the premise (G) and the conclusions (C) underlined.
Step #5 Speak (60 seconds)
Sample Response
15
seconds
general =
The reading classifies animal behavior three ways.
Diurnal animals are active during the day and sleep at night. Crepuscular animals are active at dawn and dusk. Nocturnal animals hunt at night and rest during the day. An example of a nocturnal animal is the bat.
The lecture says there are two kinds of bats:
mega bats and micro bats.
Summary
transition
40
specific=
First are mega bats. They eat fruit and flowers. As
they eat, seeds fall to the forest floor. This is good for the environment because new trees grow. Mega bats also pollinate. When they eat, their bodies get covered with pollen which they carry to other flowers. The lecture says without mega bats pollinating, we would not have peaches or bananas.
summary
Next are micro bats. They use echolocation to find
insects. A micro bat can eat 1,000 mosquitoes a night. This controls mosquitoes and is good for the
environment.
5
general=
These examples illustrate how bats are an important part of the environment.
conclusion
Practice Real toefl practice test. Prepare yourself.
The TOEFL iBT ® Speaking section is designed to measure your ability to speak English effectively in academic settings. It is composed of 4 tasks that resemble real-life situations you might encounter both in and outside of a classroom.
TOEFL Listening Introduction. The listening section is the second section of the TOEFL iBT test. It normally contains 3 conversations and 4 lectures.
The listening section of the TOEFL internet-based test (iBT) includes 4-6 academic lecture excerpts (each 3-5 minutes in length) and 2-3 conversations on a variety of general topics relevant to university life (approximately 3 minutes each). Students answer six questions per lecture and five questions per conversation, and total section timing ranges from 60 to 90 minutes. Listening section exercises are delivered by audio recording, and pictures on the computer screen indicate both the context of the exercise and the number of speakers. Listening section scaled scores are from 0 to 30.
The TOEFL Writing section lasts 50 minutes and contains two tasks: Integrated Writing and Independent Writing. It’s the final section of the TOEFL. After this, you’re done! You’ll have 20 minutes to plan and write the Integrated Writing Task and 30 minutes to plan and write the Independent Writing Tasks.
Blackboard English Grammar and Vocabulary. Preaparation for TOEFL, IELTS, GRE
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