TOEFL TPO 70 Writing Task 1 Sample: Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they cast doubt on the specific points made in the reading passage.
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Older TOEFL Format
This task is from a previous version of the TOEFL exam. The current TOEFL has a different structure. These archived samples remain available as a reference for practice.
Task Overview
Reading Passage
Palm oil, a liquid produced by palm trees and used for cooking and other purposes, has become very popular in recent years. As a result, the palm oil industry has had a dramatic impact on the economies and landscapes of countries in which it operates. When asked to make a recommendation about whether expanding palm oil production even more would be good or bad for the environment and the economy, many experts have stated that palm oil production has several positive and should be expanded. First, the experts point out that palm tree farming helps preserve the world's forests. Palm trees have a very high oil yield- - far higher than that of other crops. For this reason, farming palm trees requires less land than farming other crops to produce the same economic value. Since palm tree farms require relatively little (compared with many other crops), palm tree plantations require the clearing of smaller areas of forest than many other crops would, In other words, palm tree farms cause less deforestation and therefore have a lesser negative impact on the environment than other types of crops. Second, palm oil is sometimes used to produce biodiesel, a fuel for motor vehicles. Using biodiesel in vehicle engines creates fewer carbon emissions than using traditional fossil fuels does. Carbon emissions are known to contribute to climate change. Biodiesel from palm oil, when used as an alternative to fossil fuels, can help reduce this effect. Third, palm oil production helps reduce poverty among small-scale farmers. About 50 percent to 70 percent of land used for farming in palm-oil- producing countries is actually cleared by small-scale low-income family farmers. Growing palm trees is usually more profitable for such farmers than growing other crops, and it has in many cases helped improve the farmers' standard of living.
Question
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they cast doubt on the specific points made in the reading passage.
User Samples & Evaluation Results
User Sample
According to the passage, the palm oil industry has shown great benefits, and three reasons are provided to support the claim. However, the lecture challenges all of them and offers altenative explanations. Firstly, the reading text argues that planting palm trees require less land to yield same profit than other plantations do, so it can help to reduce the deforestation. By contrast, the lecture expresses concerns that sinece the palm oil industry is getting prosperous, the market needs more palm oil more than ever, which will boost farmers to grow more palm trees to keep up with the needs. As a result, more land will be taken up to plant palm trees and the deforestation will be increased in worldwide range. Secondly, the passage holds a standpoint that when palm oil is used to produce biodiesel, which is beneficial to decrease the carbon emissions of motor vehicles. To counter it, the lecture states that in the course of making biodiesel out of palm oil, more carbon emissions could be generated, considering that people tend to clear the land with burning fire before planting palm trees. Thirdly, the reading points out that growing palm trees will bring farmers more income due to their high economic value. The lecture opposes it by explaining that the giant companies will buy more land and hire people, especially people in low-income, to grow palm trees for them. This will enable the poor farmers lose control to the land and the profits of growing palm trees will be cut down either. In light of the lecture, the initial claim made in the passage is less convincing.
Evaluation Result
1.子项得分 任务完成度:4 组织:4 连贯性和衔接:4 语言使用:3
2.预估分数
25. 3.任务完成度
整体来说,你的文章在任务完成度方面表现得相当不错。你成功地总结了听力材料中的观点,并对阅读材料中的论点进行了质疑。然而,为了进一步提高任务完成度,你可以尝试更详细地解释听力部分的论据以及它们是如何与阅读部分产生冲突的。
示例1: 原文:“To counter it, the lecture states that in the course of making biodiesel out of palm oil, more carbon emissions could be generated, considering that people tend to clear the land with burning fire before planting palm trees.” 改进:“To counter it, the lecture states that in the course of making biodiesel out of palm oil, more carbon emissions could be generated due to the land-clearing process. This is because farmers often burn vegetation and peat on the land before planting palm trees, which releases a significant amount of carbon into the atmosphere.”
示例2: 原文:“This will enable the poor farmers lose control to the land and the profits of growing palm trees will be cut down either.” 改进:“This will result in poor farmers losing control over their land and receiving only a small portion of profits from growing palm trees, as large companies take over and dominate the industry.”
4.文章结构与组织 你的文章结构和组织方面表现良好,有明确的引言、主体和结论。每个段落都集中在一个特定的观点和支持细节上。然而,为了提高文章的组织性,你可以在段落之间加入更明确的过渡词或短语,以帮助读者更好地理解各个观点之间的关系。
示例1: 原文:“By contrast, the lecture expresses concerns that sinece the palm oil industry is getting prosperous, the market needs more palm oil more than ever, which will boost farmers to grow more palm trees to keep up with the needs.” 改进:“On the other hand, the lecture expresses concerns that since the palm oil industry is becoming increasingly prosperous, the market demand for palm oil is higher than ever. This will encourage farmers to grow more palm trees to keep up with the demand, ultimately leading to increased deforestation.”
示例2: 原文:“To counter it, the lecture states that in the course of making biodiesel out of palm oil, more carbon emissions could be generated…” 改进:“However, the lecture counters this point by stating that during the process of making biodiesel from palm oil, more carbon emissions could be generated…”
5. 语法批改
According to the passage, the palm oil industry has shown great benefits, and three reasons are provided to support the claim. However, the lecture challenges all of them and offers altenativealternative(misspelling) explanations.
Firstly, the reading text argues that planting palm trees require less land to yield samethe same(This rule identifies whether the article 'the' is missing in a sentence.) profit than other plantations do, so it can help to reduce the deforestation. By contrast, the lecture expresses concerns that sinecesince(misspelling) the palm oil industry is getting prosperous, the market needs more palm oil more than ever, which will boost farmers to grow more palm trees to keep up with the needs. As a result, more land will be taken up to plant palm trees and the deforestation will be increased in worldwide range.
Secondly, the passage holds a standpoint that when palm oil is used to produce biodiesel, which is beneficial to decrease the carbon emissions of motor vehicles. To counter it, the lecture states that in the course of making biodiesel out of palm oil, more carbon emissions could be generated, considering that people tend to clear the land with burning fire before planting palm trees.
Thirdly, the reading points out that growing palm trees will bring farmers more income due to their high economic value. The lecture opposes it by explaining that the giant companies will buy more land and hire people, especially people in low-income, to grow palm trees for them. This will enable the poor farmers loseto lose(This rule identifies whether the preposition 'to' is missing in a sentence.) control to the land and the profits of growing palm trees will be cut down either.
In light of the lecture, the initial claim made in the passage is less convincing.
Section Title: 6.文章修订
The passage asserts that the palm oil industry offers significant benefits, providing three reasons to support this claim. However, the lecture disputes each of these points and presents alternative explanations.
Firstly, the reading contends that palm tree farming requires less land to yield the same profit compared to other crops, thus helping to reduce deforestation. In contrast, the lecture expresses concern that as the palm oil industry prospers, market demand for palm oil has increased dramatically. Consequently, farmers are compelled to cultivate more palm trees to keep up with this demand, leading to greater deforestation on a global scale.
Secondly, the passage maintains that using palm oil for biodiesel production is advantageous in decreasing carbon emissions from motor vehicles. Countering this argument, the lecture states that during the process of creating biodiesel from palm oil, additional carbon emissions are generated. This is due to the common practice of burning vegetation to clear land before planting palm trees.
Lastly, the reading suggests that cultivating palm trees generates higher income for farmers due to their substantial economic value. The lecture opposes this view by explaining that large corporations often acquire more land and employ low-income individuals to grow palm trees for them. As a result, impoverished farmers lose control over their land and see a reduction in profits from growing palm trees.
Considering the points raised in the lecture, the initial claims made in the passage appear less convincing. (240 words)
According to the passage, Revised essay: Article Revision
The passage asserts that the palm oil industry has shown great offers significant benefits, and providing three reasons are provided to support the claim. this claim (changed "7.文章批改" to "Article Revision" for a more natural English title). However, the lecture challenges all disputes each of them and offers altenative these points and presents alternative explanations.
Firstly, the reading text argues that planting contends that palm tree farming requires less land to yield the same profit compared to other crops (rephrased "planting palm trees require less land to yield same profit than other plantations do, so it can help do" for clarity and proper grammar), thus helping to reduce the deforestation. By In contrast, the lecture expresses concerns that sinece concern that as the palm oil industry is getting prosperous, the prospers, market needs more demand for palm oil more has increased dramatically (replaced "more than ever, which will boost ever" with "dramatically" for better word choice). Consequently, farmers to grow are compelled to cultivate more palm trees to keep up with the needs. this demand, leading to greater deforestation on a global scale (rephrased "in worldwide range" for proper grammar).
Secondly, the passage maintains that using palm oil for biodiesel production is advantageous in decreasing carbon emissions from motor vehicles (corrected grammar and phrasing). Countering this argument, the lecture states that during the process of creating biodiesel from palm oil, additional carbon emissions are generated. This is due to the common practice of burning vegetation to clear land before planting palm trees (clarified sentence structure).
Lastly, the reading suggests that cultivating palm trees generates higher income for farmers due to their substantial economic value (improved phrasing). The lecture opposes this view by explaining that large corporations often acquire more land and employ low-income individuals to grow palm trees for them. As a result, more land will be taken up to plant palm trees and the deforestation will be increased in worldwide range. ¶ Secondly, the passage holds a standpoint that when palm oil is used to produce biodiesel, which is beneficial to decrease the carbon emissions of motor vehicles. To counter it, the lecture states that in the course of making biodiesel out of palm oil, more carbon emissions could be generated, considering that people tend to clear the land with burning fire before planting palm trees. ¶ Thirdly, the reading points out that growing palm trees will bring farmers more income due to their high economic value. The lecture opposes it by explaining that the giant companies will buy more land and hire people, especially people in low-income, to grow palm trees for them. This will enable the poor impoverished farmers lose control to the land and the over their land and see a reduction in profits of from growing palm trees will be cut down either. ¶ In (corrected grammar and clarified sentence structure).
Considering the points raised in the lecture, the initial claims made in the passage appear less convincing (rephrased "In light of the lecture, the initial claim made in the passage is less convincing.lecture" for better word choice).
8. Mind Map
1. Introduction
- Palm oil industry benefits
- Lecture disputes these claims
2. Land usage and deforestation
- Reading: Less land needed for palm trees
- Lecture: Increased demand leads to more deforestation
3. Biodiesel production and carbon emissions
- Reading: Palm oil biodiesel reduces emissions
- Lecture: Additional emissions generated during production process
4. Farmer income and economic value
- Reading: Higher income due to palm tree value
- Lecture: Large corporations exploit low-income farmers, reducing profits
5. Conclusion
- Passage claims less convincing due to lecture points
9. Keywords
| Word | Phonetic Symbol | Part of Speech | English Definition | Simplified Chinese Translation | Sample Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deforestation | /ˌdiːfɒrɪˈsteɪʃən/ | Noun | The act of cutting down or burning the trees in an area | 森林砍伐 | Deforestation is a major environmental issue affecting many countries around the world. |
| Biodiesel | /ˈbaɪoʊˌdiːzəl/ | Noun | A type of diesel fuel made from vegetable oils or animal fats | 生物柴油 | Biodiesel is considered a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional diesel fuels. |
| Carbon Emissions | /ˈkɑr.bən ɪˈmɪʃənz/ | Noun | The release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, typically from burning fossil fuels | 碳排放 | Reducing carbon emissions is crucial in the fight against climate change. |
| Cultivate | /ˈkʌltɪveɪt/ | Verb | To prepare and use land for growing crops or raising animals | 耕种 | Farmers cultivate the land to grow a variety of crops. |
| Prosper | /ˈprɒspər/ | Verb | To be successful, especially in terms of money | 繁荣 | The economy began to prosper as new industries were developed. |
| Substantial | /səbˈstænʃəl/ | Adjective | Large in amount, value, or importance | 大量的,重大的 | The project received substantial funding from the government. |
| Impoverished | /ɪmˈpɒvərɪʃt/ | Adjective | Poor; without money or resources | 贫困的 | Impoverished communities often struggle to access basic necessities like clean water and healthcare. |
| Vegetation | /ˌvedʒəˈteɪʃən/ | Noun | Plants considered collectively, especially those found in a particular area or habitat | 植被 | The dense vegetation in the rainforest provides a habitat for many unique species. |
| Acquire | /əˈkwaɪər/ | Verb | To gain possession or control of something, often by buying it | 获得 | The company acquired several smaller businesses to expand its market share. |
| Exploit | /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/ | Verb | To take advantage of someone or something, often unfairly or unethically | 剥削 | Some companies exploit their workers by paying them very low wages. |
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