TOEFL TPO -1 Speaking Task 3 Sample: Explain how the example from the lecture ilustrates the concept of buffering.

Historical user samples and AI evaluation results from an older TOEFL format.

1 archived user samples

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

Buffering Some animals live in social groups where contain animals are stronger, more dominant, and have better access to resources. Weaker animals, when trying to access resources, may provoke the aggression of the stronger animals. In order to avoid such confrontation, weaker animals may use an infant to help them interact with stronger animals in the group. This technique is called buffering because the infant acts as a buffer, or protective presence, between the two animals, enabling the weaker animal to approach more dominant animals without causing a fight. Scientists believe that buffering works because animals are usually less likely to behave aggressively in the presence of infant animals.

Question

Explain how the example from the lecture ilustrates the concept of buffering.

User Samples & Evaluation Results

Evaluation Result

1.子项得分

交付 (Delivery): 3
语言使用 (Language Use): 3
话题发展 (Topic Development): 3

2.预估分数

总分: 23

3.表达回答中的发音大部分清晰，但在某些地方可能需要稍作改进。为了提高发音的准确性，请注意正确发音单词，如“illustrates”和“strategy”。此外，尝试保持一致的语速，并减少不必要的停顿。练习朗读和模仿母语人士的发音可以帮助您在这方面取得进步。

4.话题发展回答内容基本上是连贯和组织良好的，但可以通过更清晰地表达观点和提供更多细节来进一步改进。例如，在描述弱势猴子如何利用婴儿猴子作为缓冲时，可以更详细地解释这种策略是如何起作用的。此外，在总结时，可以强调缓冲策略对弱势猴子获得更多食物的重要性。通过提供更多具体细节和清晰地表达观点，您的回答将更加完整和有说服力。

5.语言使用

Original: The article discusses about buffering, it's a strategy that weaker animals interact with stronger animals for resources. The professor gives an example about monkey in Japan, they live in groups and stronger male always eats the food first and they will hit those weaker males away if those weaker males want to get some food. So the weaker male must wait for the strongest to finish the food. So they may borrow a baby from a female and with the baby they can try to get closer to the stronger males and the stronger male will share food with them without hurting them. So this is a kind of a strategy of buffering which helps the weaker male have more food.

Corrected: The article ~~discusses about~~ addresses buffering, ~~it's~~ a strategy in which weaker animals interact with stronger animals for resources. The professor gives an example ~~about monkey~~ of monkeys in Japan, ~~they~~ which live in groups,. Stronger males always eat the food first,; they will hit those weaker males away if those weaker males want to get some food. So,, the weaker male must wait for the strongest to finish the food. They may borrow a baby from a female,; with the baby,, they can try to get closer to the stronger males,; the stronger male will share food with them without hurting them. So,, this is a kind of a strategy of buffering which helps the weaker male have more food.

(将“discusses about”改为“addresses”，使句子更自然。将“it's”改为“a strategy in which”，使句子结构更清晰。将“about monkey”改为“of monkeys”，使语法正确。将“they”改为“which”，使句子更连贯。在适当的地方添加或删除逗号，使句子更自然。)

Revised (140 words): The article addresses buffering, a strategy in which weaker animals interact with stronger animals for resources. The professor gives an example of monkeys in Japan, which live in groups. Stronger males always eat the food first; they will hit those weaker males away if those weaker males want to get some food. Consequently, the weaker male must wait for the strongest to finish the food. They may borrow a baby from a female; with the baby, they can try to get closer to the stronger males; the stronger male will share food with them without hurting them. This is a kind of strategy of buffering which helps the weaker male have more food. By employing this tactic, weaker animals can successfully access resources without provoking aggression from dominant animals, ultimately improving their chances of survival within their social group.

6.思维导图

Buffering
├─ Strategy
│   ├─ Weaker animals
│   └─ Stronger animals
├─ Example
│   ├─ Monkeys in Japan
│   ├─ Social groups
│   └─ Food sharing
└─ Benefits
    └─ Access to resources without aggression

7.关键词

Word	Phonetic Symbols	Parts of Speech	English definitions	Simplified Chinese translations	Sample sentences
Buffering	/ˈbʌfərɪŋ/	Noun	The use of an infant animal as a protective presence between two animals to avoid aggression.	缓冲策略	Buffering is an effective strategy for weaker animals to access resources without provoking stronger animals.
Dominant	/ˈdɒmɪnənt/	Adjective	Having power and influence over others.	占优势的，支配的	In social groups, dominant animals often have better access to resources, making it difficult for weaker animals to compete.
Aggression	/əˈɡrɛʃən/	Noun	Hostile or violent behavior or attitudes toward another.	侵略，攻击性行为	Weaker animals must find ways to avoid aggression from dominant members in their group in order to survive.
Confrontation	/kənfrʌnˈteɪʃən/	Noun	A hostile or argumentative meeting or situation between opposing parties.	对抗，冲突	Buffering helps prevent confrontation between weaker and stronger animals, allowing them to coexist peacefully.
Tactic	/ˈtæktɪk/	Noun	An action or strategy carefully planned to achieve a specific end.	策略，手段	Employing the tactic of buffering enables weaker animals to access resources without risking harm from dominant animals.