TOEFLスピーキング練習模試07
You have 15 seconds to prepare for the answer.
- The university wants to provide students more types of entertainment and three choices provided below.
- Which do you prefer? (1) A theater performance by the student actors (2) A concert provided by a professional musician (3) A lecture from a professor.
You have 45 seconds to record your answer.
Task 2 Integrated Speaking
Read a passage below. You have 50 seconds to read through:
A CAMPUS ANNOUNCEMENT
The university has decided to erect a bronze sculpture of a sleeping woman in front of the campus library. The sculpture is an ugly, abstract figure that does not look like any normal woman. It is also a complete waste of university money. Students who are struggling to pay their fees have had to accept a 10% increase in fees this year, despite their pleas for lower fees. Now university management wants to spend money on expensive, ugly art! What is more, the sculpture does not fit in with the surrounding architecture – it is too modern. We should organize a protest against the erection of this statue.
Now listen to the conversation below.
Prepare your answer in 30 seconds. Then answer the question below:
- Explain why the male student disagrees with the arguments expressed in the letter.
You have 60 seconds to record your answer.
Task 3 Integrated Speaking
Read a passage below. You have 50 seconds to read through:
Majority Influence
The idea of a majority influence is the circumstances under which people alter their behavior to fit in with the majority of people, such as inadvertent peer pressure. This occurs when people want to fit in with a crowd. The inverse of that, a minority influence, is when a small group of people is able to alter the perceptions of a larger group of people. This can occur when a small group or individual garners enough respect to change a larger group.
Now listen to the lecture below.
Prepare your answer in 30 seconds. Then answer the question below:
- Use the main points and examples from the lecture to describe two types of influences: majority and minority.
You have 60 seconds to record your answer.
Task 4 Integrated Speaking
Now listen to the lecture below.
Prepare your answer in 20 seconds. Then answer the question below:
- Using the main points and examples from the lecture, describe Oil Shale Environment Effects.
You have 60 seconds to record your answer.
Sample Answer
If the university wanted to provide more entertainment and was deciding between a theater performance by student actors, a concert provided by professional musicians, or a lecture from a professor, I would prefer a concert provided by professional musicians.
First, it is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I think that seeing a professional singer in real life would be a memory I would never forget. I wouldn’t choose a performance because every day, you can go see performances by student actors. It doesn’t really seem that special.
In addition to this, lectures by a professor can be incredibly boring. Day in and day out, students go to sit in on lectures, and it is nothing special.
So, for these reasons, I would prefer to attend a concert provided by professional musicians.
The author of the letter thinks the university’s plan of putting up an abstract sculpture in front of the campus library is a waste of money, especially when seen against the context of steeply rising student fees. He also thinks the sculpture does not fit in with the surrounding architecture. The male student disagrees with this opinion.
He points out that the sculpture will not cost the university any money because it is a donation by an ex-student. He disagrees with the view that modern art should not be placed in front of historic buildings.
In addition, he mentions the Louvre in Paris as an example where a modern structure in a historic context becomes a landmark. He feels that people will get used to the sculpture in front of the library.
The professor describes the majority influence as a larger group of people influencing an individual or smaller group of people to change their attitudes or beliefs. and this is the most common form of influence. The example the professor used in the lecture was about an introverted individual influenced by the majority of his new colleagues to go out to drink.
Even though he may not enjoy going out drinking, he went against his belief to fit in and not seemed like the odd one out. A minority influence was described as an individual or smaller group changing the belief of a larger group.
This influence is more difficult than the majority influence because smaller groups must be steadfast in their belief and able to explain why their belief was worth adopting. The example the professor used in the lecture was about musicians or actors creating a new fashion trend that was a little weird getting the majority of people to follow it.
In this lecture, the professor explains the negative damaging effects of mining for shale oil. He explains his reasoning through two examples of the lasting damage this process has.
In the first example, he outlines how the process by which shale oil is combusted is bad for the environment. When it’s combusted, it releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This carbon dioxide is produced at a quicker rate than the trees, water, and ground can reabsorb it, meaning it just builds up in the atmosphere. This is one factor that is leading to what we know of as global warming. The second example has to do with the process by which three liters of fresh water are used to produce one liter of shale oil.
While being a large amount of freshwater, this water is also contaminated and undrinkable or left underground where it seeps into other water sources and contaminates those. So, the professor uses these examples to highlight the negative effects of shale oil mining.
Transcript
| Student 1: | Did you read Eric’s letter about the new sculpture the university wants to put up in front of the library? |
| Student 2: | Yes, I agree with him. I don’t like abstract art. Also, it is insensitive of the university to spend money on sculptures when so many students are under financial pressure. |
| Student 1: | He does not have all the facts, though. The statue was donated by one of the university’s ex-students who studied art here many years ago. |
| Student 2: | Oh, so the university is not paying for it! |
| Student 1: | No. Eric’s assumptions were all wrong. |
| Student 2: | Still, I don’t think the space in front of the library is the right spot for the sculpture. It is too modern and does not fit in with the rest of the buildings. |
| Student 1: | There are many instances of modern art placed in front of historic buildings. People usually oppose it, but then they get used to it. Think about the glass pyramid in front of the Louvre in Paris – a very modern structure in front of an old royal palace. |
| Student 2: | Yes, and many people hated the idea. |
| Student 1: | I know, but now no-one can think of that famous art museum without the pyramid. It has become a landmark. It will be the same with this new sculpture they are putting up in front of our library. In a few years, no-one will be able to imagine that space without the statue. |
| P: | Okay! If you take a look at majority influence and minority influence, you will see that the key word between them is influence. Influence entails one entity affecting another entity and usually causing a change of attitude or belief.
In the case of majority influence, the majority influences the minority. A larger group of people influences a smaller group of people or even just one person. This is the most common form of influence. |
| An example is an introvert person going out to drink and have fun with his new colleagues at work even though he or she doesn’t really enjoy it, he doesn’t want to seem like the odd one out. We all have stories of things we did as kids in the name of fitting in. | |
| Minority influence is less common and therefore much more impressive. It involves one person or a small group of people influencing a larger group of people. To achieve this, the person or the smaller group of people must be steadfast in their belief and withstand majority influence. Also, the person or small group of people must be able to demonstrate why their beliefs are worth adopting. | |
| A good example is when a popular musician or actor creates a fashion trend and even though it is a little weird, everybody seems to follow it. Another example are missionaries who go to new places to spread their religion. They are usually grossly outnumbered but they still manage to convert a great number of people. |
| P: | Okay! Today I want to talk about oil shale, which is a type of rock containing petroleum that can be burned for energy. We’ve been relying on mining oil shale for producing fuel. But as we keep doing that, we realize that mining oil shale is actually having two negative impacts on our environment. |
| First, when oil shale is burned, it releases a large amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. And we all know that carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that absorbs and retains heat in the Earth’s atmosphere. Okay! So! When we burn too much oil shale, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere at a much faster rate than can be absorbed by the trees, water, and ground. So, what does this lead to? It puts the earth’s carbon budget out of balance and inevitably leads to rising temperatures on earth. | |
| Alright! Moving on, other environmental damage that’s the result of taking out shale oil, is the huge amounts of fresh water required. We know that water is necessary for drilling, mining, refining, and generating power, right? So, some experts estimate that three liters of water are required to produce just one liter of shale oil, and this is an outrageously large waste of our water resources. Some of this water is polluted by toxic compounds and is costly to clean up. | |
| In addition, in the course of the mining process, contaminated by-products are left underground which may filter into other sources of water, making them dangerous for drinking, hygiene, or development. |