TOEFL Speaking Task 3 Sample: Explain how the example from the professors lecture illustrates the concept of cumulative culture.

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

4 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

Cumulative Culture Not all animal behaviors are instinctual. Some animals display culture in the sense that within a particular group of animals, a new behavior may arise and then be learned by other members of the group. Recently, some scientists have suggested that certain animals may even be capable of a complex for of culture called cumulative culture. With cumulative culture, a shared behavior that may have benefits is modified and added to and becomes increasingly complex over time. The behavior may first be learned by members of the group after one individual begins performing it. Later, future generations pass on the behavior and continue to modify it, increasing its benefits or effectiveness.

Question

Explain how the example from the professors lecture illustrates the concept of cumulative culture.

User Samples & Evaluation Results

Evaluation Result

1.子项得分

交付：2
语言使用：2
话题发展：2

2.预估分数

总分：19

3.表达在回答中，发音不够准确，语速较慢，有些词汇使用不当。建议在练习时注意提高发音的准确性，加快语速，并多加练习以提高口语表达的流利度。同时，要注意在句子之间适当地停顿，以便让听众更好地理解你的观点。

4.话题发展回答中虽然提到了阅读材料中的累积文化概念，但在解释教授讲座例子时，没有明确说明这个例子如何体现累积文化。建议在回答时更详细地描述例子中的行为变化过程，如猴子们从河水洗土豆到用海水洗土豆，再到选择特定地点洗土豆以防被偷等。这样可以更清楚地展示累积文化的特点，并使回答更有说服力。

5.语言使用

原文：In the reading, we know that the term of cumulative culture, long-haired animals, they are instinctual, and when they introduce a larger species to their species, they will become more and more complex their behaviors, and to pass on this behavior. In the reading passage, we learn about the concept of cumulative culture in animals. This is not an instinctual behavior but rather a learned behavior that becomes more complex as it is passed on within a species. (修改了句子结构，使表达更清晰；更正了错误的词汇和语法。)

原文：For example, the monkeys, to wash the potatoes, first, the female monkey, she washing the potatoes with seawater, and later, more and more monkeys, they wash potatoes with seawater, and just to copy the female's behavior. For example, in the case of monkeys washing potatoes, it started with a female monkey who washed her potatoes in seawater. Later on, more monkeys began to adopt this behavior by washing their potatoes in seawater as well, imitating the female monkey's actions. (修改了句子结构，使表达更自然；更正了错误的词汇和语法。)

修订后的回答（140字）：

In the reading passage, we learn about the concept of cumulative culture in animals. This is not an instinctual behavior but rather a learned behavior that becomes more complex as it is passed on within a species. For example, in the case of monkeys washing potatoes, it started with a female monkey who washed her potatoes in seawater. Later on, more monkeys began to adopt this behavior by washing their potatoes in seawater as well, imitating the female monkey's actions. This example from the professor's lecture illustrates the concept of cumulative culture, as the behavior of washing potatoes in seawater became more complex and widespread among the monkeys over time.

6.思维导图

Cumulative Culture
├─ Reading Passage
│   ├─ Concept
│   └─ Learned behavior
└─ Example
    ├─ Monkeys washing potatoes
    │   ├─ Female monkey
    │   └─ Seawater
    └─ Imitation and spread of behavior

7.关键词

Word	Phonetic Symbols	Parts of Speech	English definitions	Simplified Chinese translations	Sample sentences
cumulative	/kəˈmjuːlətɪv/	adjective	increasing or increased in quantity, degree, or force by successive additions.	累积的，逐渐增加的	Cumulative culture in animals leads to the development of more complex behaviors over time.
instinctual	/ɪnˈstɪŋ(k)ʃ(əw)əl/	adjective	relating to or denoting an innate, typically fixed pattern of behavior; based on instinct.	本能的，天生的	Unlike learned behaviors, instinctual behaviors are present from birth and do not change over time.
imitation	/ɪmɪˈteɪʃ(ə)n/	noun	the action of using someone or something as a model and copying their behavior or appearance.	模仿，仿效	The monkeys' imitation of the female monkey's potato-washing technique is an example of cumulative culture.
widespread	/ˈwaɪdspred/	adjective	found or distributed over a large area or number of people.	广泛的，普遍的	The widespread adoption of the potato-washing behavior among the monkeys demonstrates the power of cumulative culture.
seawater	/ˈsiːwɔːtər/	noun	water from the sea.	海水	The female monkey washed her potatoes in seawater, which led to other monkeys following her example.