TOEFL TPO -1 Writing Task 1 Sample: Summarize the points made in the lecturer, being sure to explain how they respond to the specific concerns expressed 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
The Russian thistle has an unusual method of spreading its seeds. It lives for a year, and when it dies, the top part of the plant dries up and separates from its roots. This dried tangle of leaves and branches—known as a tumbleweed—is blown along the ground by the wind, releasing seeds as it travels. Russian thistle is not native to the United States but has become established there as an invasive species. Invasive species are often considered harmful, but some scientists point out that this plant offers a number of benefits. Food for Farmers’ Animals First, Russian thistle can grow in dry areas where many other plants cannot, and it can survive long periods of little or no rain. It also has some nutritional value and can be eaten by large animals such as cows. In times of drought, when other plants cannot grow because of lack of rain, farmers can sometimes help their animals get enough nutrition by feeding them Russian thistle. Habitat Creation Second, Russian thistle can grow up to a meter high. As it often grows in regions with no trees, its size sometimes makes it the largest plant in the area. It thus creates valuable habitats for animals that would otherwise have no place to live. Small mammals and birds can take shelter under Russian thistles. Soil Improvement Finally, Russian thistle can grow in damaged soil where many native plants cannot. Once Russian thistle begins to grow in damaged soil, a fungus sometimes infects its roots. This fungus does two things. It weakens the Russian thistle, and it benefits certain native plants. As the fungus spreads in the soil, it supports the return of native plants to damaged areas, where they can then grow and flourish in the soil again, thanks to the fungus.
Question
Summarize the points made in the lecturer, being sure to explain how they respond to the specific concerns expressed in the reading passage.
User Samples & Evaluation Results
User Sample
The author in the reading presents three benefits supporting that invasive species are useful sometimes. However, the lecturer contends that the benefits is actually not outweighed its shortcomings and refutes each claims made in the reading. Firstly, the author asserts that Russian thistle can grow in dry area but other plants cannot. Therefore, it can provide some nutritional value for animals that lives in the dry area. In contrast, the lecturer disagrees, claiming that Russian thistle is actually not safe. Because it can absorbe nitrogen in the soil, causing poisons for soil. So, the development of Russian thistle isn't beneficial for animals. Secondly, the text suggest that small mammals and birds can take shelter under Russian thistles which can grow up to a meter high. It thus creats valuable habitats for animals that would have no place to live. Conversely, the lecturer refutes this, claiming that the Russian thistles can absorber much water from soil. Thus, the soil get drier than before, easily causing nature fire, which could destroy many other plants. Tumble weeds can catch fire and be blown by the wind across natural barriers, start new fires in other area. And fewer plants and food could be eaten by mammals and bird. Lastly, the author maintains that Russian thistle can grow in damaged soil and at the same time a fungus benefits certain native plants and support native plants then grow and flourish in the soil again. However, the lecturer critiques this, arguing that Russian thistle can absorber more nutrition such as water from the soil. Thus it cause actually the worsen of soil. When soil get drier, the little other plants can live. Eventually, the fungus can't spread in the soil, on the other words, they can't have contribution in the soil improvement.
Evaluation Result
1.子项得分 任务完成度: 4 组织: 3 连贯与衔接: 3 语言使用: 3
2.预估分数
22. 3.任务完成度
整体来说，文章回应了题目要求，总结了听力中的观点并与阅读材料进行了对比。但是，有些地方表述不够准确，导致信息传递出现偏差。建议在写作时更加关注细节和准确性。
示例1： 原文：Because it can absorbe nitrogen in the soil, causing poisons for soil. 修改：Because it can absorb high levels of nitrogen from the soil and store it in the form of nitrate, which can be poisonous to certain animals such as cows.
示例2： 原文：Tumble weeds can catch fire and be blown by the wind across natural barriers, start new fires in other area. 修改：Tumbleweeds can catch fire and be blown by the wind across natural barriers, starting new fires in other areas.
4.文章结构与组织 文章的结构基本符合要求，包括引言、正文和结论。但是，在段落划分和衔接词的使用上还有待改进。建议在写作时注意段落的划分以及衔接词的使用，使文章更加清晰易懂。
示例1： 原文：In contrast, the lecturer disagrees, claiming that Russian thistle is actually not safe. 修改：In contrast, the lecturer disagrees and points out that feeding Russian thistle to farm animals is not always safe.
示例2： 原文：Thus, the soil get drier than before, easily causing nature fire, which could destroy many other plants. 修改：As a result, the soil becomes drier than before, making it easier for wildfires to occur and destroy many other plants.
5. 语法批改
The author in the reading presents three benefits supporting that invasive species are useful sometimes. However, the lecturer contends that the benefits isare(Detects potentially wrong usage of "is") actually not outweighed its shortcomings and refutes each claimsall claims('each' or 'every' with plural nouns) made in the reading.
Firstly, the author asserts that Russian thistle can grow in dry area but other plants cannot. Therefore, it can provide some nutritional value for animals that lives in the dry area. In contrast, the lecturer disagrees, claiming that Russian thistle is actually not safe. Because it can absorbeabsorbed(misspelling) nitrogen in the soil, causing poisons for soil. So, the development of Russian thistle isn't beneficial for animals.
Secondly, the text suggestsuggests(punctuation + singular noun + plural verb) that small mammals and birds can take shelter under Russian thistlesthistles,(This rule identifies whether commas are missing in a sentence.) which can grow up to a meter high. It thus creatscreate(misspelling) valuable habitats for animals that would have no place to live. Conversely, the lecturer refutes this, claiming that the Russian thistles can absorber[No Replacement Word Found](missing verb after 'will/can/could/would') much water from soil. Thus, the soil getgets(punctuation + singular noun + plural verb) drier than before, easily causing nature fire, which could destroy many other plants. Tumble weedsTumbleweeds(Hyphenated words: Tumble weeds) can catch fire and be blown by the wind across natural barriers, start new fires in other area. And fewer plants and food could be eaten by mammals and bird.
Lastly, the author maintains that Russian thistle can grow in damaged soil and at the same time a fungus benefits certain native plants and support native plants then grow and flourish in the soil again. However, the lecturer critiques this, (Two consecutive spaces)arguing that Russian thistle can absorber[No Replacement Word Found](missing verb after 'will/can/could/would') more nutrition such as water from the soil. ThusThus,(Commas after conjunctive/linking adverbs in front of a new sentence.) (Two consecutive spaces)it causecauses('it' + non-3rd person verb) actually the worsento worsen(a infinitive) of soil. When soil get drier, the little other plants can live. Eventually, the fungus can't spread in the soil, on the other words, they can't have contribution in the soil improvement.
Section Title: 6.文章修订
The author in the reading presents three benefits of Russian thistle, suggesting that invasive species can sometimes be useful. However, the lecturer contends that these benefits do not outweigh its shortcomings and refutes each claim made in the reading.
Firstly, the author asserts that Russian thistle can grow in dry areas where other plants cannot, providing some nutritional value for animals living in these areas. In contrast, the lecturer disagrees, claiming that Russian thistle is not always safe for consumption by animals. This is because it can absorb nitrogen from the soil and store it as nitrate, which can be poisonous to certain animals such as cows. Therefore, the growth of Russian thistle may not be beneficial for animals.
Secondly, the text suggests that small mammals and birds can take shelter under Russian thistles which can grow up to a meter high, creating valuable habitats for animals that would otherwise have no place to live. Conversely, the lecturer refutes this claim by stating that Russian thistles absorb significant amounts of water from the soil, causing it to become drier than before and increasing the risk of wildfires. Tumbleweeds can catch fire and be blown by the wind across natural barriers, starting new fires in other areas. These fires destroy many plants and reduce available food sources for mammals and birds.
Lastly, the author maintains that Russian thistle can grow in damaged soil while a fungus infecting its roots benefits certain native plants and supports their growth and flourishing in the soil again. However, the lecturer critiques this argument by pointing out that Russian thistle absorbs essential nutrients such as water from the soil, causing further deterioration of soil quality. As a result, fewer plants are able to survive in these conditions. Consequently, the fungus cannot spread effectively within the soil and contribute to its improvement as suggested by the author in the reading passage. (317 words)
The author in the reading presents three benefits supporting of Russian thistle, suggesting that invasive species can sometimes be useful (changed "supporting that invasive species are useful sometimes. sometimes" to clarify the meaning). However, the lecturer contends that the these benefits is actually do not outweighed outweigh its shortcomings and refutes each claims claim made in the reading.
Firstly, the author asserts that Russian thistle can grow in dry area but areas where other plants cannot. Therefore, it can provide cannot, providing some nutritional value for animals that lives in the dry area. living in these areas (rephrased for clarity). In contrast, the lecturer disagrees, claiming that Russian thistle is actually not safe. Because always safe for consumption by animals (changed "not safe" to "not always safe" to provide a more accurate description). This is because it can absorbe absorb nitrogen in the soil, causing poisons for soil. So, the development from the soil and store it as nitrate, which can be poisonous to certain animals such as cows (added explanation for why it may be unsafe). Therefore, the growth of Russian thistle isn't may not be beneficial for animals.
Secondly, the text suggest suggests that small mammals and birds can take shelter under Russian thistles which can grow up to a meter high. It thus creats high, creating valuable habitats for animals that would otherwise have no place to live. live (rephrased for clarity). Conversely, the lecturer refutes this, claiming that the this claim by stating that Russian thistles can absorber much absorb significant amounts of water from soil. Thus, the soil get the soil (corrected "absorber" to "absorb"), causing it to become drier than before, easily causing nature fire, which could destroy many other plants. Tumble weeds before and increasing the risk of wildfires. Tumbleweeds can catch fire and be blown by the wind across natural barriers, start starting new fires in other area. And fewer areas. These fires destroy many plants and reduce available food could be eaten by sources for mammals and bird. birds.
Lastly, the author maintains that Russian thistle can grow in damaged soil and at the same time while a fungus infecting its roots benefits certain native plants and support native plants then grow and flourish in the soil again. supports their growth and flourishing in the soil again (rephrased for clarity). However, the lecturer critiques this, arguing this argument by pointing out that Russian thistle can absorber more nutrition absorbs essential nutrients such as water from the soil. Thus it cause actually the worsen soil (corrected "absorber" to "absorbs"), causing further deterioration of soil. When soil get drier, the little other soil quality. As a result, fewer plants can live. Eventually, are able to survive in these conditions (rephrased for clarity). Consequently, the fungus can't cannot spread in the soil, on the other words, they can't have contribution in the soil improvement.effectively within the soil and contribute to its improvement as suggested by the author in the reading passage (rephrased for clarity).
8. Mind Map
Mind Map:
- Introduction
- Reading: Benefits of Russian thistle
- Lecture: Disadvantages outweigh benefits
- Point 1: Nutritional value for animals
- Reading: Grows in dry areas, provides nutrition
- Lecture: Can be poisonous to animals (nitrate)
- Point 2: Shelter for small mammals and birds
- Reading: Creates valuable habitats
- Lecture: Increases risk of wildfires, destroys food sources
- Point 3: Growth in damaged soil and support for native plants
- Reading: Fungus benefits native plants, improves soil quality
- Lecture: Absorbs essential nutrients, deteriorates soil quality, limits fungus spread
- Conclusion
9. Keywords
| Word | Phonetic Symbol | Part of Speech | English Definition | Simplified Chinese Translation | Sample Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive | /ɪnˈveɪsɪv/ | Adjective | Tending to spread prolifically and undesirably or harmfully | 入侵性的 | The invasive species has caused damage to the local ecosystem. |
| Thistle | /ˈθɪsəl/ | Noun | A wild plant with prickly leaves and a purple flower head | 蓟 | The field was covered in thistles and other weeds. |
| Nitrate | /ˈnaɪtreɪt/ | _Noun | _A salt or ester of nitric acid, containing the anion NO3− or the group —NO3 | _硝酸盐 | _The presence of high levels of nitrate in the soil can be harmful to some plants and animals. |
| Wildfire | /ˈwaɪldfaɪər/ | Noun | A large, destructive fire that spreads quickly over woodland or brush | 野火 | The wildfire destroyed thousands of acres of forest. |
| Tumbleweed | /ˈtʌmbəlwiːd/ | Noun | A plant of arid regions that breaks off near the ground in late summer and is rolled about by the wind, scattering its seeds as it goes | 风滚草 | The tumbleweed rolled across the dry landscape, spreading its seeds. |
| Deterioration | /dɪˌtɪriəˈreɪʃn/ | Noun | _The process of becoming progressively worse | _恶化 | _The deterioration of soil quality has led to reduced crop yields. |
| Fungus | _ /ˈfʌŋɡəs/ | _Noun | _Any of a group of spore-producing organisms feeding on organic matter, including molds, yeast, mushrooms, and toadstools | _真菌 | _The fungus growing on the tree is a sign that it's not healthy. |
| Absorb | _ /əbˈzɔrb/ | _Verb | _To take in or soak up (energy or a liquid) by chemical or physical action | _吸收 | _Plants absorb water and nutrients from the soil through their roots. |
| Nutrient | _ | /ˈnuːtriənt/ | _ | Noun | _ |
| Contribute | _ /kənˈtrɪbjuːt/ | _Verb | _To help to cause or bring about | _有助于 | _Volunteers contribute their time and energy to help improve the community. |
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