TOEFL TPO 19 Speaking Task 4 Sample: Using the examples of the albatross and the fulmar, explain two special adaptations that have developed to help seabirds find food.

1.Sub Scores

• Delivery: 3

• Language Use: 3

• Topic Development: 3

2.Estimated Scores

• Total Score: 23

3.Delivery The speaker's delivery is generally clear and fluid, with a consistent pace and only occasional pauses. However, there are a few instances where the pronunciation could be improved, such as "farmer" instead of "fulmar" and "platinum" instead of "plankton." To enhance delivery, the speaker should practice proper pronunciation and work on maintaining a natural flow throughout the response.

4.Topic Development The speaker provides a coherent and well-organized response, with clear connections between ideas and sufficient support or examples. They successfully explain the two special adaptations of seabirds using the examples of the albatross and fulmar. However, there is room for improvement in terms of providing more specific details about each adaptation. For example, the speaker could mention how the albatross's long wings allow it to glide on the wind with minimal energy expenditure. Additionally, they could explain how the fulmar's tube-shaped nostrils help it detect the scent of plankton from far away. By incorporating more specific details, the speaker can further strengthen their topic development.

5.Language Use

Original: One special adaptation is the length of birds' wings. For example, compared with other seabirds, albatross, they have extended long wings, which help them to hold still when flying without moving their wings up and down. Because sometimes they have to fly up to about 1,100 miles a day, and that requires tons of energy. And with the special feature of their long wings could help them to reserve energy. And another feature is the acute, highly developed sense of smell. For example, farmer, they eat platinum. And platinum is a tiny and tiny food that is difficult to see. But because farmer, they have this sense of smell, they could locate platinum without seeing them.

Corrected: One special adaptation is the lengthsize of birds' wings. For example, compared with other seabirds, albatross,the albatross has extended long wings(change "length" to "size" for better word choice; add "has" for proper grammar), which help them to hold still when flying without moving their wings up and down. Because sometimes they have to fly up to about 1,100 miles a day(remove comma for better flow), and that requires tons of energy. And with the special feature of their long wings(remove "And" for smoother transition), they can conserve energy. Another feature is the acute, highly developed sense of smell. For example, farmer,fulmars, they eat platinumplankton. And plankton is a tiny(remove "and" for smoother transition) food that is difficult to see. But because farmer,fulmars have this sense of smell, they can locate platinumplankton without seeing them(correct "farmer" to "fulmars" and "platinum" to "plankton" for accurate vocabulary).

Revised (140 words): One special adaptation is the size of birds' wings. For example, compared with other seabirds, the albatross has extended long wings, which help them to hold still when flying without moving their wings up and down. This allows them to glide effortlessly on the wind, using minimal energy. Sometimes they have to fly up to about 1,100 miles a day, and conserving energy is crucial. Another adaptation is the acute, highly developed sense of smell. For instance, fulmars eat plankton, which are tiny organisms that are difficult to see. However, fulmars have tube-shaped nostrils that enable them to detect the scent of plankton from far away. With their keen sense of smell, they can locate plankton without seeing them. These two adaptations – the albatross's long wings and the fulmar's heightened sense of smell – demonstrate how seabirds have evolved to find food more efficiently in their vast oceanic environment.

6.Mind Map

• Adaptations
  • Albatross
    • Long wings
    • Glide on wind
    • Conserve energy
  • Fulmar
    • Acute sense of smell
    • Tube-shaped nostrils
    • Locate plankton

7.Key Words