Integrated Writing – 反対型のテンプレート

前回に続いて、リーディングのトピックに対して教授が「反対を示した場合」のテンプレート表現をみていきましょう。

「反対を示すパターン」は出題頻度が多いので、より重点的に対策をしておくと良いでしょう。

リーディングの文章に対して否定的な意見を述べるので、「譲歩」や「逆説」表現などを用いて文章を構成していくことがスコアアップのポイントです。

テンプレート表現

• The reading and the lecture are both about __________. Whereas the author of the reading states that ___________, the lecturer suggests that __________. The lecturer casts doubts on the main points made in the reading by providing (three) reasons.
• First of all, according to the reading, ___________. However, the lecturer disputes this point. He claims that ___________. Furthermore, he mentions that ___________.
• Secondly, the reading states that ___________. Nevertheless, the lecturer refutes this argument. He argues that ___________. In addition, he points out ____________.
• Finally, the reading claims that ___________. On the other hand, the lecturer believes that ___________. He/She thinks that ____________. Moreover, he/she feels that ___________.
• In conclusion, although the reading and the lecture are both about ____________, the three main points made in the reading are effectively challenged by the lecturer.

サンプル問題

• READING:
• Sea otters are a small mammal that lives in the waters along North America’s west coast from California to Alaska. A few years ago some of the sea otter populations off of the Alaskan coast started to decline rapidly and raised several concerns because of their important role in the coastal ecosystem. Experts began investigating and came up with two possible explanations. One explanation was environmental pollution and the second was attacked by predators.
• At first, it seemed as if pollution was the most likely cause of the population decline. One reason pollution was more likely was because of the known pollution sources along the Alaskan coast such as oil rigs. Also, water samples taken in the area showed increased levels of chemicals that could decrease the otters’ immune systems and indirectly result in their deaths.
• Another thing that pointed to pollution as the culprit was the decline of other sea mammals such as seals in the same areas. This indicated that whatever was affecting the otters was also affecting the other sea mammals. Environmental pollution usually affects an entire ecosystem instead of just one species. Only predators that occurred in a large area, such as orcas (a large predatory whale), could cause the same effect, but they usually hunt larger prey.
• Finally, scientists believed the pollution hypothesis would also explain the uneven pattern of otter decline. In some Alaskan locations, the otter population declined greatly while other populations remained stable. Some experts suggested this could be explained by ocean currents, or other environmental factors might have created uneven concentrations of pollutants along the coast.

• QUESTION:
• Summarize the point made in the lecture and explain how the speaker cast doubt on specific points made in the reading passage.

解答例

• The reading and the lecture are both about the decline in sea otter populations. While the reading’s author states that pollution is a cause of their populations declining, the lecturer suggests that the greatest factor is predation. The lecturer casts doubts on the main points made in the reading by providing three reasons.
• First of all, according to the reading, higher levels of pollutants in water samples support the pollution theory. However, the lecturer disputes this by explaining that if sea otters had been killed by pollutants in water, their remains would appear on shores, which indicates predators ate the sea otters.
• Secondly, the reading states that populations of other small sea animals have been hurt by pollution. Nevertheless, the lecturer refutes this argument. He argues that because the whale population decreased, nearby orcas had to eat otters instead.
• Finally, the reading claims that pollutant concentration can explain the uneven pattern of diminishing sea otter populations. On the other hand, the lecturer believes that this uneven population decline corresponds with the prevalence of orcas in different areas. He thinks that the otter population declines more in places with orcas, and less in those inaccessible to orcas.
• In conclusion, although the reading and the lecture both concern hypotheses about diminishing sea otter populations, the three main points made in the reading are effectively challenged by the lecturer.