TOEFL Writing
The Tasks for the writing section, is the same for both the integrated and independent sections. Take a look at some questions below and practise your answers
TOEFL Writing Independent
You will be asked a question about your personal opinion and be given 30 minutes.
REMEMBER:
- Questions can be about any topic.
- There is no minimum or maximum word count, you should write between 380 and 400 words.
The government is somewhat underfunded economically, which part or two of the city could be cut? Reduce the redundancy of personnel in the city hall; Replace the plants that require frequent maintenance in the park lawn with plants that do not require frequent care to reduce costs in this area.
Young students have much free time during the evenings after school or on days off school. Which of the following three activities are the MOST beneficial for young students (age 14-18) to do in their spare time? Gaining work experience by working part-time or volunteering in communities; Learning a sport or a musical instrument.
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Should the government raise taxes on junk food and drink?
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People think people are spending too much on their pets these days and that money could be used better.
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Governments should not financially support artists (like painters, writers, musicians, etc.) because the arts do not improve people’s lives. Instead, they should let artists support themselves.
Is it better to classify students according to their test scores or not?
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People are more friendly in the past than today.
Multinational companies are becoming increasingly common in developing countries. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this?
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement： It is much easier to be well-educated than it was in the past?
Growing children must engage in new experiences to stimulate their imagination and mental development. Schools should help children have exciting new experiences in other ways. For example, offer children trips to cultural events (art shows, museum exhibitions)or natural locations(parks, nature reserves); help children read interesting books outside the classroom. Which of these two ways is better? Why?
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Nowadays, the young people (12-16) misbehave (rude) more often than the young people do fifty years ago.
If the income of rural farmers has declined and the population has been lost, what should the government do to revitalize the countryside? Give money directly; develop new businesses; do nothing.
Some people prefer to go shopping in a big supermarket. Some people like to go shopping in small stores near the community. Which do you prefer? Explain why.
In their free time, many young people (ages 14-18) regularly take part in activities such as music lessons, dance classes, or competitive sports.Some young people participate in several different activities, dividing their free time among the various things they like to do. Others choose to spend most of their free time focusing on only one activity that is very important to them. In your view, which approach is better, and why?
Should the government support artists, such as musicians, writers, and painters? Is it economically beneficial or is it just a waste of money? Why or why not?
When learning to play an instrument or sport, some people believe it is better to practice regularly (for a certain amount each day), while others believe they should practice as much as they want. Which do you think is better and why?
Integrated Writing
In the TOEFL Integrated Writing task (Writing Task 1), you’ll read a passage about a topic and then listen to a short lecture on the same topic but from a different perspective. You’ll then be asked to summarize the points made in the lecture and explain how they relate to specific points made in the reading passage. You’ll have a total of 20 minutes to plan and write your response.
Remember:
- make sure you answer the question.
Organize your response
In a vote that took place at the International Astronomical Union Conference on August 24th, 2006, Pluto lost its status as a planet in our solar system. Pluto was originally discovered in 1930 when scientists were searching for something that was interfering with Uranus’s orbit. Though Pluto was estimated to be similar in size to Earth, it was later discovered that it was even smaller than our own moon, as well as many other moons. It is now known that there are thousands of planetary objects similar to Pluto, including Eris which is slightly larger than Pluto. Choosing to reclassify Pluto to a dwarf planet honors the fact that science is about making new discoveries. While it was a sad day for Pluto lovers, people in general have accepted the idea, and the next generation of children will grow up knowing only eight planets and thinking nothing of it. As Mike Brown, the astronomer who discovered Eris, noted following the IUC’s decision, “science is self-correcting.”
In 1939, David O Selznick produced a film of Margaret Mitchell’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Gone with the Wind. The movie proved to be among the most important in the history of world cinema. To this day, in fact, it remains the American box office champion when adjusted for inflation. In 1940, the film won a record-breaking eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Recently, however, Gone with the Wind has increasingly come under fire due to allegations of racism in the movie. Consequently, its reputation has fallen in many critical circles.
The film tells the story of a Southern family who fight on the side of the Confederacy in the American Civil War. Scarlett O’Hara, the main character, is a slave owner whose civilization goes to war to preserve the right to own and degrade African Americans. Life before the Civil War, during the days of slavery, is depicted as a golden age.
Scarlett’s maid and confidante, Mammy, is not even given a first name in the script. Meanwhile, Butterfly McQueen, who portrayed Prissy, a house servant whom Scarlett slaps across the face at one point in the film, was told by the director to deliver a hysterical performance emphasizing the character’s dim-wittedness, speaking to age-old negative stereotypes. Civil rights activist Malcolm X wrote of his embarrassment seeing Butterfly McQueen’s performance as Prissy that it made him want to crawl under the rug of the theater.
For all of these reasons, when watching Gone with the Wind today, modern viewers cannot help but feel admiration for how far the movie industry has come since its infancy. There is much to be embarrassed about in the early days of Hollywood films.
The idea of colonizing asteroids has long been a topic of fascination and speculation in science fiction and popular culture. In recent years, however, the idea of asteroid colonization has become more realistic and feasible, thanks to advances in technology and space exploration. There are many potential benefits to colonizing asteroids, and these benefits make the pursuit of asteroid colonization a worthwhile endeavor.
One of the most obvious benefits of asteroid colonization is the scientific potential. Asteroids provide a unique environment for scientific research due to their small size, low gravity, and lack of atmosphere. Research conducted in these environments could provide valuable insights related to many different academic fields. Not only that, but asteroids could also serve as stepping stones for future missions to other destinations in the solar system, such as Mars or the moons of Jupiter and Saturn.
Another benefit of asteroid colonization is the potential for economic growth and development. Natural resources mined on asteroids could create new industries and job opportunities, which would generate significant revenue for both governments and private companies. Asteroid mining could also reduce the need for resource extraction on Earth, which could help to preserve our planet’s natural environment.
In addition to economic benefits, asteroid colonization could also have important implications for the long-term survival of humanity. Asteroids could serve as potential refuge for humans in the event of a large-scale disaster on Earth, such as an asteroid impact or a nuclear war. Even if such a disaster doesn’t occur, asteroids could provide valuable information regarding the origins and evolution of the solar system, and how life emerged here in the first place.
For hundreds of years, several civilizations flourished in the Eastern Mediterranean region. However, around the end of the twelfth century BCE almost all of these civilizations suddenly collapsed. Historians call this event the Late Bronze Age Collapse. The suddenness and mysteriousness of this collapse have given rise to a few theories about what actually caused it.
One of the leading theories suggests that climate change was a significant factor in the collapse. It is possible that climate change caused a long period of drought and famine, which negatively affected agricultural production. This, coupled with earthquakes and other natural disasters, could have led to widespread food shortages and migration away from impacted areas. The combination of all these factors may have weakened the governments of the area, making them extremely vulnerable.
Another theory suggests that the collapse occurred when a group of seafaring pirates called the “Sea Peoples” invaded the region. The Sea Peoples came from outside of the Mediterranean and were known for their advanced sailing technology and military tactics, advantages which allowed them to raid and plunder coastal cities and settlements. The attacks of the Sea Peoples may have disrupted trade routes and slowly weakened the militaries of the local civilizations.
A third theory suggests that the collapse was caused by the instability of the political and economic systems of all Late Bronze Age civilizations. Empires of the time were highly centralized and wealth and power were almost entirely in the hands of a few elites. This may have created social and economic inequalities that eventually led to widespread dissatisfaction and rebellion. The inability of the governments of the time to deal with these factors may have ultimately led to their collapse.
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 attacks by predators.
At first it seemed as if the pollution was the most likely cause for 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 factor, might have created uneven concentrations of pollutants along the coast.
Critics say that current voting systems used in the United States are inefficient and often lead to the inaccurate counting of votes. Miscounts can be especially damaging if an election is closely contested. Those critics would like the traditional systems to be replaced with far more efficient and trustworthy computerized voting systems. In traditional voting, one major source of inaccuracy is that people accidentally vote for the wrong candidate. Voters usually have to find the name of their candidate on a large sheet of paper
containing many names—the ballot—and make a small mark next to that name. People with poor eyesight can easily mark the wrong name. The computerized voting machines have an easy-to-use touch-screen technology: to cast a vote, a voter needs only to touch the candidate’s name on the screen to record a vote for that candidate; voters can even have the computer magnify the name for easier viewing. Another major problem with old voting systems is that they rely heavily on people to count the votes. Officials must often count up the votes one by one, going through every ballot and recording the vote. Since they have to deal with thousands of ballots, it is almost inevitable that they will make mistakes. If an error is detected, a long and expensive recount has to take place. In contrast, computerized systems remove the possibility of human error, since all the vote counting is done quickly and automatically by the computers.
Finally, some people say it is too risky to implement complicated voting technology nationwide. But without giving it a thought, governments and individuals alike trust other complex computer technology every day to be perfectly accurate in banking transactions as well as in the communication of highly sensitive information.
Your professor is teaching a class on social studies. Write a post responding to the professor’s question. In your response, you should
- express and support your personal opinion
- make a contribution to the discussion in your own words
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Your professor is teaching a class on business. Write a post responding to the professor’s question. In your response, you should
- express and support your personal opinion
- make a contribution to the discussion in your own words
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.
Tourism has undeniably become a cornerstone of Thailand’s economy, contributing significantly to its GDP. However, overreliance on this sector can make the country vulnerable to economic fluctuations and crises. When external factors disrupt global travel, Thailand’s economy suffers, affecting jobs, businesses, and overall stability.
The influx of tourists often takes a toll on Thailand’s natural beauty and ecosystems. Overdevelopment, deforestation, and pollution are common consequences. Popular destinations, such as Phuket and Koh Samui, have witnessed the degradation of once-pristine beaches and waters due to overcrowding and improper waste disposal.
Mass tourism can lead to cultural erosion. As tourists flock to Thailand, traditional values and practices can be overshadowed or commodified for commercial gain. Local communities may struggle to preserve their cultural heritage, adapting to cater to tourists’ preferences and expectations.
While tourism generates substantial revenue, the benefits do not always trickle down to the entire population. Income inequality can widen, with profits often concentrated in the hands of a few large corporations or foreign investors. Many local communities remain marginalized, facing challenges in accessing the economic benefits of tourism.
One of the foremost arguments against entirely free education is its economic sustainability. Maintaining high-quality educational institutions requires substantial resources. When education is completely free, it can strain government budgets, potentially leading to reduced quality and overcrowding in schools and universities.
Education that comes with a cost often fosters a sense of responsibility and commitment among students. When individuals invest their resources, whether through tuition fees or loans, they tend to take their studies more seriously, ensuring better outcomes and greater personal growth.
Fully free education can result in the overallocation of resources to higher education. While higher education is essential, other sectors such as primary and secondary education, healthcare, and infrastructure also require funding. Striking a balance between these needs can be challenging if education is entirely free.
Completely free education may lead to instances of abuse, with some individuals pursuing degrees or courses without genuine interest or commitment. This could result in a mismatch between graduates’ skills and the job market’s demands, contributing to unemployment or underemployment.
Many countries have implemented alternative funding models, such as scholarships, grants, and income-based repayment plans, to ensure that education remains accessible without burdening students with excessive debt. These models strike a balance between affordability and sustainability.