TOEFL TPO 12 Speaking Task 4 Sample: Using the points and examples from the talk, explain how substitute goods and complement goods influence the demand for a particular product.
Historical user samples and AI evaluation results from an older TOEFL format.
10 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
Question
Using the points and examples from the talk, explain how substitute goods and complement goods influence the demand for a particular product.
User Samples & Evaluation Results
Evaluation Result
1.Sub Scores
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Delivery: 3
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Language Use: 3
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Topic Development: 3
2.Estimated Scores
- Total Score: 23
3.Delivery The speaker's delivery is generally clear and fluid, with a consistent pace and only occasional pauses. However, there are some minor issues with punctuation and pronunciation that could be improved. For example, the phrase "the price of the relative products" should be "the price of related products." Additionally, the phrase "the demand of the measure" should be "the demand for margarine." To improve delivery, the speaker should focus on proper pronunciation and appropriate pauses to enhance clarity.
4.Topic Development The speaker provides a coherent and well-organized response, with clear connections between ideas and sufficient support or examples. The explanation of substitute goods (butter and margarine) and complement goods (CDs and CD players) effectively demonstrates how these factors influence product demand. However, there is room for improvement in terms of elaborating on these examples to provide a more in-depth understanding. The speaker could also benefit from using more varied sentence structures to enhance the overall flow of the response.
5.Language UseIn the lecture, the professor explained two factors that affect the demand of the products. It is believed that the price itself is a major factor to influence the demand of the products. But there are second factors also that will result in different demands. The first is the price of the relative related products ("related" is more appropriate than "relative" in this context). For example, if the price of a butter is increased, then people will choose a cheaper one. So the demand of the measure margarine will increase (corrected "measure" to "margarine" for clarity). And secondly, the complementary goods, the price, will also influence the demand. Such as CD and CD players. If one of the CD or CD player's price is invariant increased, the demand of both will be influenced (changed "invariant" to "increased" for better understanding).
Revised Answer (140 words):
In the lecture, the professor discussed two factors that affect product demand: price and related products. While price is a significant factor, related products can also impact demand in different ways. The first type of related products are substitute goods, such as butter and margarine. When butter's price increases, people may opt for a cheaper alternative like margarine, leading to an increase in margarine's demand.
The second type of related products are complementary goods, like CDs and CD players. These goods require each other to function properly. If either product's price increases, it can negatively affect the demand for both items. In summary, understanding the relationship between substitute and complementary goods is crucial to predicting how changes in the price of one product can influence the demand for another.
6.Mind Map
- Factors affecting product demand
- Price
- Related products
- Substitute goods
- Example: Butter and margarine
- Price increase of one leads to increased demand for the other
- Complementary goods
- Example: CDs and CD players
- Price increase of one negatively affects demand for both
- Summary: Importance of understanding substitute and complementary goods relationships in predicting demand changes.
7.Key Words
| Words | Phonetic Symbols | Parts of Speech | English Definitions | Sample Sentences |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substitute | ˈsʌbstɪtjut | Noun | A product that can be used instead of another. | The rise in butter prices led consumers to choose margarine, a more affordable substitute. |
| Complementary | ˌkɒmplɪˈmɛntəri | Adjective | Products that are used together. | CDs and CD players are complementary goods, as they require each other to function properly. |
| Invariant | ɪnˈveəriənt | Adjective | Unchanging in form or nature. | Despite the fluctuating market, the price of essential goods remained invariant. |
| Affordability | əˌfɔrdəˈbɪlɪti | Noun | The quality of being inexpensive or reasonably priced. | Affordability is a key factor for consumers when choosing between substitute goods like butter and margarine. |
| Elasticity | iːlæsˈtɪsɪti | Noun | The degree to which demand for a product changes in response to a change in price. | Understanding the elasticity of demand for complementary goods can help businesses make informed pricing decisions. |
Current TOEFL Format
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