TOEFL TPO -1 Speaking Task 3 Sample: Explain the effort heuristic and how it is illustrated in the professor's example of the two paintings.

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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

The Effort Heuristic It can be difficult to evaluate the quality of certain works or objects. So some people may unconsciously rely on heuristics, or mental shortcuts, to do so. One such mental shortcut is known as the effort heuristic . People who use the effort heuristic evaluate the quality of an object according to the effort that was put into creating it. They therefore assume that objects that required more effort must be of higher quality while neglecting to consider other factors that may also influence quality. As a result, the effort heuristic can lead people -even experts in a particular field-to make naccurate judements about the value of certain objects or works.

Question

Explain the effort heuristic and how it is illustrated in the professor's example of the two paintings.

User Samples & Evaluation Results

Evaluation Result

1.子项得分 Delivery: 3 Language Use: 3 Topic Development: 3

2.预估分数 Estimated Score: 23

3.表达在回答中，发音大部分清晰，但有时会出现停顿。为了提高发音的准确性，请多加练习，注意语速保持一致。同时，尽量减少不必要的停顿，让语言更流畅。

4.话题发展 The response provides a clear explanation of the effort heuristic and its illustration in the professor's example. However, the answer could be improved by providing more specific details from the listening passage, such as mentioning that the participants were asked to rate which painting they thought would sell for a higher price. Additionally, it would be helpful to emphasize the conclusion that both groups couldn't be right, showing the flaw in using the effort heuristic for evaluation.

5.语言使用

Original Answer: ~~Thank you, Charles.~~ The effort heuristic is a mental shortcut that people use to evaluate the quality of an object based on the effort put into creating it. (感谢您，查尔斯。努力启发式是人们用来根据投入创造某物的努力来评估物品质量的一种心理捷径。) According to the professor in the lesson materials, he provided an example about this. Say there are a bunch of people who have some knowledge about art and they are divided into two groups. And then they are needed to create two paintings which are very different. In the professor's example, participants with some knowledge of art were divided into two groups and shown two different paintings by the same artist. (根据课程材料中的教授所说，他提供了一个关于这个的例子。在教授的例子中，有一些艺术知识的参与者被分为两组，展示了同一位艺术家创作的两幅不同的画作。) The first group told that the first one took several months and the second one only took a few days. And the second group told the opposite information. And then the research find that the first group will rate the first as high price and the second group will rate the second as high price. The first group was informed that the first painting took several months to complete, while the second painting took only a few days. The second group received the opposite information. The study found that the first group rated the first painting as more valuable, while the second group rated the second painting as more valuable. (第一组被告知第一幅画花了几个月时间完成，而第二幅画只花了几天。第二组则收到相反的信息。研究发现，第一组认为第一幅画更有价值，而第二组认为第二幅画更有价值。)

Revised Answer (140 words): The effort heuristic is a mental shortcut that people use to evaluate the quality of an object based on the effort put into creating it. In the professor's example, participants with some knowledge of art were divided into two groups and shown two different paintings by the same artist. The first group was informed that the first painting took several months to complete, while the second painting took only a few days. The second group received the opposite information. The study found that both groups rated the painting they believed took longer to create as more valuable, demonstrating how the effort heuristic can influence people's judgments. However, this method of evaluation is flawed, as both groups could not be correct in their assessments. This example highlights the limitations of relying solely on effort when evaluating quality.

6.思维导图


- Effort Heuristic
  - Mental shortcut
  - Evaluate quality based on effort

- Professor's Example
  - Participants with art knowledge
  - Two groups, two different paintings
  - Informed about effort put into each painting
  - Study results
    - Both groups rated the painting with more effort as valuable
    - Flawed evaluation method
    - Limitations of relying on effort heuristic

7.关键词

Word	Phonetic Symbols	Parts of Speech	English Definition	Simplified Chinese Translation	Sample Sentence
heuristic	/hjʊəˈrɪstɪk/	noun	A problem-solving technique that uses a practical approach to find a solution quickly.	启发式	The effort heuristic can lead to flawed evaluations when people rely solely on the amount of effort put into a creation.
evaluate	/ɪˈvæljueɪt/	verb	To judge or determine the significance, worth, or quality of something.	评估	Art experts evaluate paintings based on various factors such as technique, color usage, and subject matter.
flawed	/flɔːd/	adjective	Having or characterized by a fundamental weakness or imperfection.	有缺陷的	Relying only on the effort heuristic can result in flawed judgments about the value of an object or work.
limitation	/ˌlɪmɪˈteɪʃən/	noun	A restriction or constraint that limits the effectiveness or scope of something.	局限性	The limitation of the effort heuristic is that it neglects other factors that may influence the quality of an object.
assessment	/əˈsesmənt/	noun	The act of making a judgment about something, usually after careful consideration or examination.	评估	Both groups in the professor's example made assessments based on the effort put into each painting, leading to discrepancies.