托福真經月報-2023年12月報

01.托福寫作題型速覽 INTRODUCTION TO TOEFL WRITING QUESTIONS

📝托福寫作2種題型

• 第1題 (Writing Task 1) :整合寫作題型
• 第2題 (Writing Task 2) :學術討論寫作題型

第1題 整合寫作題 Writing Task 1

本題考生將用約3分鐘閱讀一篇文章，再用約2分鐘聽一段教授講課音檔，閱讀題目後在20分鐘內完成寫作，統整聽力中教授講課內容如何回應閱讀中的論點。

建議練習方向為練習閱讀資訊改寫(換句話說)，練習聽力資訊詳實轉述，與練習使用高分模板寫作(推薦克雷英文滿分寫作模板)。

閱讀 (3分鐘) ➤聽⼒ (約2分鐘) ➤閱讀寫作題⽬ ➤寫作 (20分鐘) 建議字數250-300字

第2題 學術討論寫作題 Writing Task 2

本題考生將在10分鐘內，閱讀教授在討論板上提出的問題與兩位同學的回覆後，完成寫作，寫作中須對於討論串有貢獻，並且附理由與舉例提出自己獨特的論點。

建議練習方向為練習快速構思立場，練習如何寫作支持細節來支持立場（推薦克雷英文托福衝刺課），與練習舉出具體事例扣題。

閱讀題⽬與寫作(10分鐘) 建議字數120-150字

02.托福整合寫作真題 TOEFL WRITING TASK 1 QUESTION

整合寫作真題題目(2023年12月真題)

閱讀題目 Reading Passage：

The North American bison, commonly known as the American buffalo, once roamed the vast plains of North America in immense herds. However, today there are very few bison remaining in the wild. Over time, a number of human activities contributed to a severe decline in bison populations, nearly driving them to extinction by the late 19th century.

Native American tribes and early settlers relied heavily on bison as a primary food source, leading to extensive hunting and overconsumption. At its peak, an estimated 20 to 30 million bison roamed the North American landscape, leading many to perceive them as an abundant and endlessly available food resource. However, as settlers migrated westward, the human population of these areas increased dramatically. The number of bison killed for food saw a corresponding increase, and overhunting and excessive consumption quickly depleted bison populations.

Moreover, the introduction of cattle and horses by humans intensified competition for resources and reduced the habitat areas of bison. Horses and cattle eat the same grasses as bison. Cowboys and ranchers led their herds through lands which previously had only had one large grazing animal: bison. As grasses got eaten up, the habitat of bison began to shrink. This had the added effect that bison were competing with each other for food resources, intensifying the problem.

Finally, increasing interest in hunting for sport further reduced already dwindling bison populations. Advancements in rifle technology made sport hunting less difficult and less dangerous, leading more people to engage in sport hunting. Improved rifles enhanced accuracy and extended shooting ranges, making it easier to hunt bison from greater distances. This meant that people could hunt bison without having to carry as much equipment, such as extra guns or bullets. The farther distance from which they could shoot bison also meant that they were unlikely to be harmed by an injured animal.

聽力題目逐字稿 Lecture：

While it may appear plausible that these human factors played a critical role in the significant decline of bison populations, they are not the primary reason for the decline.

First, archaeological evidence and historical records do not fully support the claim that overhunting was a major cause of bison declining. Archaeologists believe that Native American tribes practiced sustainable hunting methods, only hunting a small portion of any given bison herd. Though some settlers did eat bison, census records show that most moved to newly established towns and farmed for most of their food. The rapid increase in settler population caused more people to engage in agriculture, but cannot have been the cause of the bison’s decline.

Second, the introduction of cattle and horses did lead to competition for resources, such as grazing areas. However, bison are formidable animals that are adapted to harsh environments. When their traditional grazing areas were occupied by cattle and horses, their habitat did not shrink as much as shift. They simply began grazing in areas that they had previously not inhabited, such as the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Indeed, areas with the largest wild bison populations today once had nearly no bison at all.

Lastly, though there was an increase in sport hunting in the late nineteenth century, it was still limited to a small number of people. Hunting was an expensive hobby accessible almost exclusively to the very wealthy. Superior rifle technology did make hunting bison more appealing for those wealthy people, but their number remained small compared to the overall population. Furthermore, ecologists believe that bison populations had already reduced by half of their original number by the time these advancements in firearm technology occurred. It does not seem credible that a handful of rich hunters would be a major factor in the near extinction of bison.

02.托福整合寫作範文 1 TOEFL WRITING TASK 1 SAMPLE ANSWER 1

問題：

Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they respond to the specific points made in the reading passage.（2023年12月真題）

👩‍🦱整合寫作美國老師滿分示範範文- 全文(字數:297字)

The reading passage explores possible reasons for the decline of bison populations in North America. It provides three human activities that may have been the primary causes of the population decline. However, the professor in the lecture demonstrates that none of these factors could have been the main reason.

First, the reading passage argues that Native Americans and settlers killed countless bison for food. The professor refutes this by pointing out that Native Americans engaged in sustainable hunting practices, only killing a few bison in any herd at one time. Furthermore, settlers mainly farmed instead of hunting. Since their primary food source was not wild bison, they probably did not kill very many of the animals.

Second, the reading states that cowboys and ranchers brought large numbers of cattle and horses into bison habitats. The livestock ate up the grass in these areas and bison habitats shrank. However, the listening contends that bison were able to move into new areas when facing food competition. This means that their habitat changed, but did not necessarily shrink, so this cannot have been the primary cause of bison decline.

Finally, the professor refutes the idea that improved rifle technology led to an increased interest in hunting for sport that significantly impacted bison populations. While she concedes that more people became interested in hunting bison, she points out that this was a sport accessible only to the very wealthy. With only a very small number of people hunting bison as a hobby, it seems implausible that this was a major factor in the population reduction.

Thus, the lecture disproves each of the factors mentioned in the reading passage. The primary reason for the decimation of bison populations could not have been hunting for food, competition from other grazing animals, or sport hunting.

👱‍♀️整合寫作滿分示範範文- 全文(字數:295字)

The reading passage explores the issue of the declining population of American bison, and several reasons are provided in support of the argument. Although the argument seems convincing, the lecturer casts doubts on it for the following reasons.

First, though the reading passage suggests that the excessive hunting of Native Americans and early settlers caused the decline of American bison, the lecturer argues that this hypothesis is not supported by archeological and historical facts. He believes that the Native Americans hunted bison sustainably and that early settlers farmed instead of fully relying on bison for food. Therefore, the lecturer’s argument disproves its counterpart in the reading.

Second, the writer claims that humans’ introduction of cattle and horses threatened bison’s survival due to the competition for food. The speaker refutes the idea by explaining that the bison, with their ability to survive harsh environments, simply migrated to another grazing area. Some bison areas nowadays were previously not inhabited by any bison at all, suggesting how this human factor was overcome by the formidable animal.

Lastly, the lecturer identifies the weakness in the reading that sport hunting and firearm technology did not correlate to bison decline. He convincingly points out that only a minority of people were able to access such an expensive hobby, and the very small number of bison hunted could not have a huge impact on its population. Moreover, he states that the bison population had already largely shrunk before the advancement of firearms. As a result, sport hunting and firearm technology do not account for the decline.

In conclusion, based on the evidence provided above, it can be clearly seen that stances on both sides are contradictory. Although the contents of the reading passage seem plausible, the speaker disproves them with solid reasoning.

03.托福獨立寫作真題 TOEFL WRITING TASK 2 QUESTION

學術討論寫作真題 題目(2023年12月真題)

問題：

Your professor is teaching a class on business. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.

In your response, you should do the following:
– Express and support your opinion.
– Make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.

An effective response will contain at least 100 words.

Doctor Achebe:

In many countries, the standard work week consists of eight hours of work each day for five days per week. Now, though, some people advocate a shorter workweek: a four-day workweek with no decrease in workers’ pay. There are advantages and disadvantages to this of course. What is your opinion about instituting a shorter, four-day workweek, and why?

Andrew (student 1):

I like that idea, but on one condition: that the workday is no longer than eight hours. I have heard some plans require ten hours a day for a four-day week. Most employees would find that exhausting, and it could actually be counterproductive to tire out your workers. Yes to four-day weeks, but no to ten-hour days!

Claire (student 2):

In my country, the workweek is Monday to Friday plus half a day on Saturday, so moving to a four-day workweek would be too drastic a change! Workers might struggle to complete their tasks in a four-day workweek. It seems less stressful to spread work out over more days rather than trying to condense it all into a shorter week.

👩‍🦱學術討論寫作滿分示範範文1（字數：135字）

I agree with Andrew that a four-day workweek is a better option. I believe that having a shorter workweek allows employees to improve their work-life balance and increase their productivity.

People can have more time for personal activities and relaxation, which can lead to reduced stress levels and improved overall well-being. For example, companies like Microsoft Japan implemented a four-day workweek experiment and reported a 40% increase in productivity. This indicates that employees were able to maintain or even improve their performance with fewer workdays. Contrary to traditional working hours, working fewer hours can lead to increased productivity. When employees have shorter workweeks, they tend to focus more during their working hours and find ways to accomplish tasks more efficiently.

Thus, I believe that instituting a shorter workweek brings more benefits than working longer hours.

學術討論寫作滿分示範範文2（字數：148字）

I agree with Claire that transitioning to a four-day workweek might be difficult for workers. To add to her point, I believe that implementing this change could be challenging for industries that rely heavily on customer service.

With a shorter workweek, businesses may find it challenging to manage employee schedules to ensure that there are enough workers available to serve customers during operating hours. This can lead to potential gaps in service and dissatisfaction among customers. For example, a clothing store might find it hard to have enough staff to help customers, especially on busy weekends. This could mean longer waits and unhappy customers, leading to lost sales. To deal with this, the store might need to hire more part-time staff or change schedules to cover busy times while still keeping the four-day workweek.

Hence, I believe that a shorter workweek brings more challenges than working regular hours.

學術討論寫作真題 2 題目(2023年12月真題)

問題：

Your professor is teaching a class on history. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.
In your response, you should do the following.
– Express and support your opinion.
– Make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.

Doctor Achebe:

This week we are talking about how different cities choose to either preserve or replace older, historic buildings. Some cities have strict rules about preserving older buildings and homes, especially those with historic architecture. Others tend to encourage new construction to replace structures that are aging and decaying. Should cities try to save historic buildings or replace them with more modern ones?

Paul (student 1):

I think the preservation of old historic buildings involves a lot of problems, especially in densely populated cities. In modern cities, land is very valuable, and old buildings just do not provide as much living and working space as modern high-rise buildings. Also, they were not built to modern standards, so they may waste energy through insufficient heat insulation.

Kelly (student 2):

It’s important to preserve historic buildings. Keeping original architecture helps preserve a city’s culture. Even on the practical side, most big cities get an economic benefit from tourism, and historic buildings like hotels and theaters are big attractions. Who wants to visit a city where all the buildings are glass and steel and look like buildings in every other city?

學術討論寫作滿分示範範文1（字數：126字）

I support Kelly’s perspective on prioritizing the preservation of historic buildings within cities. Historic structures not only serve as tangible links to a city’s past but also contribute significantly to its cultural identity, tourism appeal, and economic growth.

Historic buildings tell stories of the past, with diverse architectural styles and memories of important city events. For example, Georgetown in Washington, D.C., known for its well-kept 18th and 19th-century buildings, attracts tourists to see its historical charm. Preserving such buildings helps cities maintain their cultural identity. By preserving such architectural gems, cities can not only maintain their unique cultural heritage but also stimulate economic growth through increased tourism and support for local businesses.

Therefore, I firmly believe that cities should prioritize the preservation of historic buildings.

學術討論寫作滿分示範範文2（字數：143字）

I agree with Paul’s perspective on the challenges of preserving old historic buildings, especially in densely populated urban areas. While these buildings boast unique historical significance, they often lag behind in meeting current safety and accessibility standards.

Their outdated infrastructure and structural deficiencies pose risks to occupants, lacking necessary features for individuals with disabilities. In such cases, replacing them with modern structures becomes imperative to address safety concerns and ensure compliance with contemporary building codes. For example, the Grenfell Tower fire in London, which tragically claimed 72 lives in 2017 due to the building’s outdated infrastructure. This catastrophic event emphasizes the urgent need to replace old buildings with modern ones to meet safety standards and building codes.

In conclusion, while preserving historical charm is important, it must be balanced with ensuring the safety, accessibility, and functionality of urban spaces in the present day.

學術討論寫作真題 3 題目(2023年12月真題)

問題：

Your professor is teaching a class on public policy. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.
In your response, you should do the following.
– Express and support your opinion.
– Make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.

Doctor Gupta:

This week, we will be discussing a shortage of affordable housing that exists in many countries. In these places, housing-both apartments (flats) and houses-are expensive, because populations are growing faster than new housing is being built. Now, think about places in your country that have a housing shortage. In your post, I would like you to indicate the most effective way for the government to address a housing shortage in your country. Please explain why you think so.

Claire (student 1):

In my country, there is a lack of affordable housing in the big cities. Low-cost housing exists in areas outside of the cities, but that means workers have long commutes to reach their jobs in the cities. I recommend that my government create initiatives to encourage the construction of large buildings with many affordable apartments in cities.

Paul (student 2):

Claire’s recommendation is fine, but many people prefer to live in a house rather than an apartment, even if they have longer commutes. Living in a house can be quieter and more private. So, I believe my government should give subsidies or tax relief to construction companies to build small, affordable single-family houses on unused land that surrounds many cities.

學術討論寫作滿分示範範文1（字數：176字）

I agree with Claire that governments should encourage the construction of inexpensive housing. This is because real estate developers typically only build new projects that market toward upper-income customers.

In my country, there is enough housing total for all people to live in a home. However, many houses and apartments are too expensive for low-income families to afford. At present, the private sector is not providing any solutions to this problem. When real estate developers break ground on new housing, they hope to earn as much money as they can on their investment, and so they build large, expensive homes. As a result, no new housing is made available for poorer people. In order to counteract this, governments must take action to create more apartments or small houses. This might take the form of paying private companies or the government directly establishing an institution that would build these new homes.

In the end, the most effective way for the government to alleviate the housing issue in my country is to increase the supply of affordable housing.

學術討論寫作滿分示範範文2（字數：175字）

Though Paul’s perspective is interesting, I think it is not the best way to reduce the housing crisis in my home country. This is because, even though many people would prefer to live in independent houses, they simply are not economically practical. Instead, I think that the government should provide tax breaks to lower-income renters.

In my country, a homeowner with a mortgage pays lower taxes than a renter. Our taxation system favors homeowners because people with mortgages can deduct the amount they paid on their debts from their income taxes. However, if the government wishes to combat the housing shortage, it should extend this tax benefit to all people, including those who rent their homes. This will indirectly make it cheaper to live in rented houses or apartments, therefore reducing the barrier to housing for many of our poorest citizens. The end result will be that more people will be permanently housed.

Thus, the best method for the government of my country to alleviate the housing shortage is to grant tax breaks to renters.

04.托福口說題型速覽 INTRODUCTION TO TOEFL SPEAKING QUESTIONS

👄托福口說部分總共有4題：

• 第1題➤獨立題型 ➤個人意見題
• 第2題➤整合題型 ➤校園情境題
• 第3題➤整合題型 ➤觀念例子題
• 第4題➤整合題型 ➤學術講課題

第1題 Speaking Task 1

題目中會提供兩個立場論述，請你擇一立場附理由解釋你的觀點，或是提供單一論點，請你附理由解釋自己同意或不同意。

看到題目➤準備 (15秒)➤口說回答 (45秒)

第2題 Speaking Task 2

題目中將提供一篇閱讀篇章(學生陳情信、校園公告等)，後播放一段聽力音檔，內容主要為2位學生的對話。閱讀以及聽完之後，考生須統整閱讀與聽力資訊作口說摘要。

閱讀 (45-50秒)➤聽力 (約1-1.5分)➤準備 (30秒)➤口說回答 (60秒)

第3題 Speaking Task 3

題目中將提供一篇閱讀篇章，內容主要為學術文章，後播放一段聽力音檔，內容主要為教授講課片對。閱讀以及聽完之後，考生須統整閱讀與聽力資訊作口說摘要。

閱讀 (45-50秒)➤聽力 (約1-1.5分)➤準備 (30秒)➤口說回答 (60秒)

第4題 Speaking Task 4

題目將播放一篇聽力音檔，內容主要為學術講課，聽完後考生須作口說摘要。

聽力 (約1-2分)➤準備 (20秒)➤口說回答 (60秒)

05.托福口說第1題真題與示範答案 TOEFL SPEAKING TASK 1 QUESTION, SAMPLE ANSWER

問題：

Some people prefer to work in an office setting. Others prefer to work from their home away from the traditional office or workplace. Which do you prefer? Explain why. (2023年12月真題）

🎙口說第1題 示範答案音檔

口說第1題 示範答案 逐字稿

I personally prefer working from home for several reasons. Firstly, working from home offers greater flexibility in managing my schedule. For instance, during a recent project, I needed to collaborate with colleagues across different time zones. By working from home, I could adjust my work hours to fit their schedules. Second, working from home can save commuting time, allowing me to focus better on my work. For example, I used to spend around thirty minutes traveling to the office every day, but now I can use that time to complete work tasks. I’m able to get more done this way. That’s why I prefer working from home.

06.托福口說第2題真題 TOEFL SPEAKING TASK 2 QUESTION

口說第2題 真題(2023年12月真題)

閱讀題目 Reading

Poetry Writing Course to be Canceled
For many years now, the humanities department has offered a poetry writing course every fall semester. Beginning next year, however, the poetry writing course will no longer be offered. According to the chair of the department, the course is being canceled because of declining enrollment in recent years. “The classes have gotten a lot of absences,” she said, “So it’s not worthwhile to continue offering them.” She added that students who want to take a poetry writing course in the future will be able to register for a similar course at a nearby Central State University.

聽力題目逐字稿 Conversation

Listen to a conversation between two students

A: Hey didn’t you take that course last year?

B: Yes, I did. It’s such a shame they’re canceling it.

A: But wasn’t the class really small like the article says?

B: Well, sure. There weren’t that many of us, but in fact I think the small size actually made it more worthwhile, not less.

A: How do you mean?

B: Well, I think with this kind of class it really helps if it’s small. You get lots of attention from the professor. That’s important because you really need the professor’s feedback and comments to become a better writer.

A: I see your point. But at least students will be able to take a similar class at another university.

B: Well, I don’t think that’s such a great idea either.

A: How come?

B: Well, it’s pretty far! Unless you have a car it’s pretty hard to get there. If you want to take the bus, you have to change buses twice. It takes more than hour to get there from our campus.

A: Oh yeah, that’s true. I guess it’s not that close if you’re taking public transportation.

B: Exactly. Even if you do have a car, you have to deal with traffic and then find a parking space.

A: So that would be really inconvenient.

B: Exactly.

06.托福口說第2題示範答案 TOEFL SPEAKING TASK 2 SAMPLE ANSWER

問題：

The man expresses his opinion of the letter. State his opinion and explain the reasons he gives for holding that opinion.（2023年12月真題）

🎙口說第2題 示範答案音檔

口說第2題 示範答案逐字稿

The campus announcement mentions that the poetry writing course will no longer be offered due to declining enrollment in recent years. The man in the listening disagrees with it for the following reasons. First, although the class is small, he thinks that this actually made it more worthwhile. For example, in a small class, students are able to get lots of attention and feedback from the professor. So, it’s very helpful for them, especially with their writing. Second, he states that the option to take a similar class at another university is not going to work because of the time necessary to travel between the two schools. It takes over an hour to get there by bus and though some students can drive cars, they still have to worry about finding parking. This is why he feels this way.

07.托福口說第3題真題 TOEFL SPEAKING TASK 3 QUESTION

口說第3題 真題(2023年12月真題)

閱讀題目 Reading

Releasers
Certain behaviors that are essential to an animal’s survival are innate. These behaviors do not need to be learned before being performed. Most of these innate behaviors, such as feeding, reproduction, parenting, and self-defense are initiated by releasers, a specific stimuli that release, or trigger, a behavioral response in an animal. Various types of stimuli can serve as releasers. In some cases, visual stimuli such as certain shapes and body movements can be releasers that prompt the instinctive reaction that is crucial to the animal’s survival.

聽力題目逐字稿 Lecture

Let’s look at a couple of examples. First, let’s talk about feeding behavior. Consider the European toad. Now, one type of animal that the toads catch and eat regularly is the worm. Worms are its prey. However, studies have shown these toads will actually attack anything that is long and thin like a worm and that moves similarly; that is, horizontally on the ground. So, if you move, let’s say, a pencil from side to side in front of this toad, it’ll probably attack the pencil just like it would on a worm. It’s as if the toad has been programmed to try to eat things based only on visual cues. An object which is similar to the toad’s typical prey because of how it looks and moves acts as a stimulus that triggers a response.

Let’s think about another example. Certain geese exhibit an instinctive behavior to protect eggs. Whenever they see objects that are spherical, basically roundish like an egg, they automatically use their beaks to try to roll this object onto their nest. It’s the exact behavior that is needed to rescue an egg that has rolled away from the nest, only rather than exhibiting the behavior only with an actual egg, the geese are stimulated to perform this activity simply by the appearance of any object that’s shaped like an egg.

07.托福口說第3題示範答案 TOEFL SPEAKING TASK 3 SAMPLE ANSWER

問題：

Using the example provided in the lecture, explain what a releaser is.（2023年12月真題）

🎙口說第3題 示範答案音檔

口說第3題 示範答案逐字稿

The reading passage discusses the concept of releasers. This is a specific stimulus that triggers a behavioral response in an animal. The professor in the lecture gives two examples. First, European toads regularly catch and eat worms as their prey. However, toads not only attack worms but also anything that looks like a worm. For example, a toad will attack a long and thin pencil as if it were a worm. Another example is certain geese protecting their eggs. So, whenever they see something that looks like an egg, they will use their beaks to try to roll this object into their nest to protect it. These examples show how toads and geese are stimulated to perform certain actions by the appearance of an object that looks similar to their natural stimulus.

08.托福口說第4題真題 TOEFL SPEAKING TASK 4 QUESTION

聽力題目逐字稿 Listening

A person who is in a group will think and behave differently than they would if they were alone. In particular, if most of the people in a group, the majority, think the same thing then I, if I’m in the group, will be affected by what the majority thinks. This effect is called majority influence. So, let’s talk about two types of majority influence: informational influence and normative influence.
First, there’s informational influence. Now this happens when what’s important to you is information; getting the right answer to a question. Say you’re driving a car, taking a group of people to a restaurant. Now at one point, you’re not sure which way to go. You think you need to turn left, but when you ask the people in the car, everyone says, ‘Go straight.’ Do you turn left?
No, you don’t. Since the majority thinks you should go straight, you assume that’s probably correct. You change what you think is the correct answer and go straight.

Then there’s normative influence. Normative influence occurs when a person wants to be accepted by a group. To gain approval, the person goes along with the norm, the popular opinion. Say you go to a movie with some people you’re hoping to become friends with. After the movie, they’re all saying how great it was, but you thought the movie was awful. The acting was robotic and the special effects looked fake. Do you say that? No. Instead, you agree with everyone else and say you liked it. Why would you do this? Not because you think the movie was good, you just want to get along with the group. If you say you thought the movie was lousy, you might seem like you’re not part of the group.

08.托福口說第4題示範答案 TOEFL SPEAKING TASK 4 SAMPLE ANSWER

問題：

Using points and examples from the lecture, explain two of the types of majority influence.（2023年12月真題）

🎙口說第4題 示範答案音檔

口說第4題 示範答案逐字稿

The lecture discusses majority influence. It refers to how people in a group tend to think and behave differently than they would when alone. There are two types of majority influence, which are informational influence and normative influence. Informational influence happens when we look to the group for guidance, especially when we’re uncertain about something. For example, if you’re driving with friends to a restaurant and you’re not sure which way to turn, if everyone suggests going straight, you’re likely to follow their advice, assuming they know the correct route. On the other hand, normative influence occurs when we want to be accepted by the group, so we conform to their opinions or behaviors to fit in. For instance, if your new friends rave about a movie you actually disliked, you might pretend to agree with them to avoid standing out or feeling rejected. In this case, you’re conforming to the group’s norm to gain approval.

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