托福真經月報-2023年10月報

01.托福寫作題型速覽 INTRODUCTION TO TOEFL WRITING QUESTIONS

📝托福寫作2種題型

• 第1題 (Writing Task 1) :整合寫作題型
• 第2題 (Writing Task 2) :學術討論寫作題型

第1題 整合寫作題 Writing Task 1

本題考生將用約3分鐘閱讀一篇文章，再用約2分鐘聽一段教授講課音檔，閱讀題目後在20分鐘內完成寫作，統整聽力中教授講課內容如何回應閱讀中的論點。

建議練習方向為練習閱讀資訊改寫(換句話說)，練習聽力資訊詳實轉述，與練習使用高分模板寫作(推薦克雷英文滿分寫作模板)。

閱讀 (3分鐘) ➤聽⼒ (約2分鐘) ➤閱讀寫作題⽬ ➤寫作 (20分鐘) 建議字數250-300字

第2題 學術討論寫作題 Writing Task 2

本題考生將在10分鐘內，閱讀教授在討論板上提出的問題與兩位同學的回覆後，完成寫作，寫作中須對於討論串有貢獻，並且附理由與舉例提出自己獨特的論點。

建議練習方向為練習快速構思立場，練習如何寫作支持細節來支持立場（推薦克雷英文托福衝刺課），與練習舉出具體事例扣題。

閱讀題⽬與寫作(10分鐘) 建議字數120-150字

02.托福整合寫作真題 TOEFL WRITING TASK 1 QUESTION

整合寫作真題題目(2023年10月真題)

閱讀題目 Reading Passage：

In recent years, scientists have observed a sharp decline in the population of American burying beetles near in the central United States. This population drop has sparked considerable concern among scientists and conservationists. Several factors have been proposed to explain this troubling trend.

One prominent hypothesis attributes the decline to the excessive use of pesticides. Pesticides, while intended to control pests harmful to crops, can have unintended consequences on non-target species like the American burying beetle. In the central US, Many farmers use pesticides in corn fields near forests where the beetles live. Exposure to pesticides can directly harm beetles or indirectly affect their food sources, leading to population declines.

Another theory posits that habitat fragmentation plays a significant role in the decrease of beetle populations. Habitat fragmentation occurs when natural landscapes are divided into smaller, isolated patches due to human activities such as urbanization, agriculture, and deforestation. Recent construction projects, such as suburban housing projects, have divided the forests that American burying beetles live in, making it more difficult for them to find suitable breeding sites and resources. As a result, populations may become isolated, leading to decreased genetic diversity and increased vulnerability to environmental changes and threats.

Finally, the presence of competing species has been identified as a factor contributing to the disappearance of American burying beetles. In ecosystems where multiple species occupy similar ecological niches, competition for resources such as food, shelter, and mates can be intense. Carrion, that is, the bodies of dead animals, is a vital food source for the American burying beetle. In some areas, the presence of other scavengers and decomposers may reduce the availability of this food source. This heightened competition for carrion can ultimately lead to declines in beetle populations.

聽力題目逐字稿 Lecture：

In fact, the reason for the decline of American burying beetles is still a mystery. The reasons given do not adequately explain the phenomenon.

First, while some argue that the overuse of pesticides is to blame for the decline, there are compelling reasons to question this assumption. The use of pesticides in the area where the beetles are found has a long history, but the decline in the beetle population has occurred only in the most recent decades. If pesticides really were the problem, surely the beetle populations would have started to drop earlier. At the same time, in some other regions where similar amounts of chemical pesticides are applied, the American burying beetle population has not experienced a significant decrease. So, there does not seem to be much correlation between the use of insecticides and the beetle population.

Second, it is worth noting that American burying beetles actually do not need a very large habitat to survive. When humans build suburban housing projects, it essentially divides one big forest into many small forests with houses and streets in between them. This may pose challenges for some species, but the beetles can eat, mate and hibernate in a relatively small area. This fact challenges the notion that habitat fragmentation is the sole or primary cause of the decline in American burying beetles.

Third, American burying beetles have physical characteristics that give them a competitive advantage over other species. They possess a remarkably keen sense of smell, which enables them to locate carrion more quickly and efficiently than other competitor species. For example, they can smell a dead mouse from half a mile away within just three hours from the time of the mouse’s death. This heightened sense of smell gives them a competitive advantage over other competitive species.

02.托福整合寫作範文 1 TOEFL WRITING TASK 1 SAMPLE ANSWER 1

問題：

Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they respond to the specific points made in the reading passage.（2023年10月真題）

👩‍🦱整合寫作美國老師滿分示範範文- 全文(字數:275字)

The reading passage discusses three factors of the declining American burying beetle population: the overuse of pesticides, habitat fragmentation and the presence of competitor species. However, the listening passage refutes each of these factors.

To begin with, the reading passage mentions that excessive pesticide use can harm beetles and affect their food sources, leading to a decline in population. However, the listening passage refutes this statement by explaining that pesticides have been used for decades and the beetle population did not experience any significant decrease. This suggests that pesticides may not be the main factor causing the decline of beetles.

Another factor highlighted in the reading passage is habitat fragmentation, resulting from suburban construction projects. The American burying beetles cannot find suitable breeding sites and resources in the small forests separated by houses and streets. However, the lecture points out that the American beetle only needs a small area to survive, so it seems unlikely that the construction is a significant driver of beetle decline.

Lastly, the reading passage suggests that competition with other species leads to the decline of beetles by depriving them of essential resources, such as the dead animals that they use for food. In contrast, the professor in the lecture explains that beetles possess a superior sense of smell, enabling them to locate food more efficiently than their competitors. For example, the beetles can quickly locate a dead animal, even from a distance. This refutes the idea that interspecies competition significantly impacts beetle populations.

In conclusion, while the reading passage presents convincing arguments regarding the factors contributing to the declining beetle population, the listening passage offers compelling rebuttals to each point.

👱‍♀️整合寫作滿分示範範文- 全文(字數:293字)

The reading passage explores the issue of the declining population of American burying beetles, and several reasons are provided in support of the argument. Although the statement in the reading seems convincing and substantiated, the lecturer casts doubts on it for the following reasons.

First, even though the reading passage suggests that the excessive use of pesticides may have directly hurt the beetle population or indirectly decreased their sources of food, the lecturer argues that pesticides had been used long before the number of American beetles started to decline. The timing was mismatched. Furthermore, he believes that pesticide usage is not correlated to the problem, as the other sites of pesticide use have not seen the decline of American burying beetles. Therefore, the lecturer’s argument disproves its counterpart in the reading.

Second, the statement held by the writer claims that human construction and development projects have divided the habitats of American burying beetles, thus leading to the decline. Conversely, the speaker refutes the idea by providing a solid reason that American burying beetles do not necessarily require a large habitat. A relatively small area, compared to other species, will suffice for their survival.

Last but not least, the lecturer acutely identifies the weakness in the reading that American burying beetles have a competitive advantage over other species. He convincingly points out that, being sensitive to the smells of carrion, they are able to locate dead animals from miles away. As a result, they can detect food sources more quickly and therefore remain competitive among the other species.

In conclusion, based on the evidence provided above, it can be clearly seen that stances on both sides are contradictory. Although the contents in the reading passage seem plausible, the speaker disproves them for solid reasons.

03.托福獨立寫作真題 TOEFL WRITING TASK 2 QUESTION

學術討論寫作真題 題目(2023年10月真題)

問題：

Your professor is teaching a class on environmental science. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.

In your response, you should do the following:
– Express and support your opinion.
– Make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.

An effective response will contain at least 100 words.

Doctor Diaz:

This week, we’ve discussed how carbon dioxide released by gasoline-powered (petrol-powered) cars pollutes the air and contributes to climate change. Let’s focus now on two proposals that governments can consider as they try to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from cars. One proposal is to improve and expand public transportation. The other is to provide financial support to companies that make electric cars and to consumers who buy them. Which proposal do you think is better? Why?

Claire (student 1):

I think improving public transportation would be more beneficial overall than giving tax breaks or rebates to particular companies and consumers. If taking a train or a bus is significantly easier, cheaper, and faster than driving a car, more people will want to use public transportation. With fewer cars on the road, there will be less air pollution.

Paul (student 2):

I believe that providing financial support to electric-car manufacturers and consumers is the better innovative long-term strategy. Many people live in rural areas, and they need their own vehicles to get around. These people would not benefit from, say, more train lines being built in a far-off city.

👩‍🦱學術討論寫作滿分示範範文1（字數：146字）

I agree with Claire that the best way for governments to reduce vehicular emissions is to invest in public transportation. This is because such vehicles are far more fuel-efficient than personal cars, including electric ones.

Private cars often only carry one to four people, while buses and subways can transport many people at once. This means that private automobiles, whether gas-powered or electric, waste lots of energy compared to mass transit vehicles. Governments need to invest in making these alternatives fast, safe and convenient. For example, in Chicago, a bus arrives at each bus stop about once every thirty minutes, which is inconvenient and slow. If there were more buses in the city, more people would be willing to switch to this efficient, clean option.

Therefore, if a government wishes to reduce vehicle emissions, it should invest in making public transportation convenient, easy, and fast.

學術討論寫作滿分示範範文2（字數：142字）

I agree with Paul that governments should focus on providing financial support to electric vehicle manufacturers and consumers. This is because, in the United States, most people will be unwilling to change their current car-centered lifestyle.

Owning a car is deeply ingrained in US culture, and the cities and infrastructure are built around the assumption that everyone has a car. Many people live in suburban areas that are far from their workplaces, making alternative transportation options impractical. Driving is also the most effective way to travel between cities and states. Therefore, Americans are more open to switching to electric vehicles rather than giving up cars altogether. If governments can make electric cars more affordable through subsidies and tax incentives, this transition will happen quickly and smoothly.

Thus, governments wishing to reduce vehicular emissions should subsidize the production and purchase of electric vehicles.

學術討論寫作真題 2 題目(2023年10月真題)

問題：

Your professor is teaching a class on economics. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.
In your response, you should do the following.
– Express and support your opinion.
– Make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.

Doctor Diaz:

Our current unit looks at tourism and the benefit it has on a country’s economy. Many argue that while tourism can indeed be a money-making endeavor, it can do more harm than good, especially tourism to small, remote places that are not heavily populated. What is your opinion? Should local or national governments promote tourism to remote regions not typically visited by tourists before? Why?

Andrew (student 1):

Tourism has always been a lucrative business. Improving the economies of these rural regions, especially if those regions are poor, can only have a positive effect. People can have a better quality of life by showcasing their food and traditions to the outside world. It’s a chance the people might not get without promotion from the government.

Kelly (student 2):

I don’t think governments should promote tourism to remote regions. The people are likely not asking for this kind of industry or for this kind of attention. Instead, governments should develop other means of improving a region’s economic situation, like expanding agriculture or other industries. These efforts will have a stronger, more permanent impact on the region than bringing in groups of tourists.

學術討論寫作滿分示範範文1（字數：144字）

I agree with Andrew that governments should promote tourism to remote areas because it can provide a much-needed economic boost.

Tourism can create jobs and increase income in these areas, which often have lower incomes and higher unemployment rates compared to urban areas. By promoting tourism, governments can stimulate the development of hotels, restaurants, and infrastructure, leading to more job opportunities and higher wages for locals. For example, many Caribbean island countries rely on tourism for economic growth. If their governments had not promoted tourism by allowing visa-free entry and reducing taxes on tourism-related businesses, many of these islands would not enjoy the economic success that they do. Some countries or regions that have not taken such measures, even though they have similar climates, have lower wages and higher rates of unemployment.

Thus, it is economically beneficial when governments promote tourism in remote areas.

學術討論寫作滿分示範範文2（字數：144字）

I agree with Claire that governments should not promote tourism to remote regions. This is because it leads to economic dependence on outside forces, making these regions less stable.

Many countries and regions rely on tourism as their main economic sector. For instance, in the western US, many national parks are found far from major urban centers and have little other economic activity. The people living near Yellowstone National Park, for example, depend on jobs provided by the park or businesses catering to tourists. However, this reliance on tourism makes these communities more vulnerable to external factors that affect tourist flow. The COVID-19 pandemic is a prime example, as the closure of national parks and reduced travel greatly impacted the economy of these areas.

Thus, governments should avoid policies that promote tourism in remote regions, as it creates over-reliance on a single economic sector.

學術討論寫作真題 3 題目(2023年10月真題)

問題：

Your professor is teaching a class on allocation of school funds. Write a post responding to the professor’s question.
In your response, you should do the following.
– Express and support your opinion.
– Make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.
An effective response will contain at least 100 words.

Doctor Achebe:

Today we will discuss a topic that is important for students and the public at large: namely, how to prioritize spending, given the limited funding available for schools. Some people think schools should spend more money on school teachers salaries because, if the salaries improved, more qualified people will be attracted to the profession. Others believe the money should be spent on additional resources such as books and computers. Which viewpoint do you agree with, and why?

Kelly (student 1):

I believe that increasing schoolteachers’ pay would increase the quality of education. If they made more money, people would consider teaching as a profession instead of going into private industry. We need our smartest people in the classroom.

Paul (student 2):

I think school teachers already make enough money and already deliver high-quality education. I’m not sure that increasing their salaries would have much effect. However, schools are always in need of new equipment or facilities.Knowledge and technology are always growing and changing.and we need to prepare students with the most up-to-date materials possible.

學術討論寫作滿分示範範文1（字數：183字）

I agree with Kelly that schools should increase the salaries of teachers to enhance the quality of education. Increasing teachers’ salaries is a practical strategy for improving education by investing in professional development. Continuous learning enhances educators’ skills and knowledge, enabling them to implement innovative teaching strategies and stay abreast of best practices in education. Moreover, higher salaries can boost job satisfaction among educators, leading to a more positive work environment, which in turn translates into improved teaching effectiveness and student engagement.

For example, higher salaries enable teachers to pursue advanced degrees and specialized certifications related to their field of expertise. By investing in further education, teachers deepen their subject knowledge and acquire additional qualifications, ultimately benefiting their students’ learning experiences. Additionally, higher salaries alleviate financial stress among teachers, allowing them to focus more on their teaching responsibilities and less on financial worries. This improved job satisfaction and overall well-being create a more positive work environment.

Thus, schools should increase teachers’ salaries as it not only improves the skills and knowledge of teachers but also enhances the quality of teaching and overall well-being.

學術討論寫作滿分示範範文2（字數：160字）

Paul mentioned that schools should always prepare students with the most up-to-date materials. To add to his point, schools often face challenges in providing adequate resources, such as updated textbooks, technology, and facilities, to support effective teaching and learning.

Therefore, investing in these resources can directly impact student engagement, academic performance, and overall educational experience. Moreover, knowledge and technology are continuously evolving, requiring schools to adapt and equip students with suitable materials and tools. Investing in new equipment, facilities, and educational technologies ensures that students are prepared for the demands of the modern world and future workforce. For example, schools in low-income countries such as Cambodia may struggle to provide basic resources like textbooks and technology, despite teachers’ efforts to deliver high-quality education. Research studies have shown that access to updated materials and technology positively correlates with student achievement and engagement.

Hence, schools should invest their money in providing relevant resources for students to enhance the quality of education.

04.托福口說題型速覽 INTRODUCTION TO TOEFL SPEAKING QUESTIONS

👄托福口說部分總共有4題：

• 第1題➤獨立題型 ➤個人意見題
• 第2題➤整合題型 ➤校園情境題
• 第3題➤整合題型 ➤觀念例子題
• 第4題➤整合題型 ➤學術講課題

第1題 Speaking Task 1

題目中會提供兩個立場論述，請你擇一立場附理由解釋你的觀點，或是提供單一論點，請你附理由解釋自己同意或不同意。

看到題目➤準備 (15秒)➤口說回答 (45秒)

第2題 Speaking Task 2

題目中將提供一篇閱讀篇章(學生陳情信、校園公告等)，後播放一段聽力音檔，內容主要為2位學生的對話。閱讀以及聽完之後，考生須統整閱讀與聽力資訊作口說摘要。

閱讀 (45-50秒)➤聽力 (約1-1.5分)➤準備 (30秒)➤口說回答 (60秒)

第3題 Speaking Task 3

題目中將提供一篇閱讀篇章，內容主要為學術文章，後播放一段聽力音檔，內容主要為教授講課片對。閱讀以及聽完之後，考生須統整閱讀與聽力資訊作口說摘要。

閱讀 (45-50秒)➤聽力 (約1-1.5分)➤準備 (30秒)➤口說回答 (60秒)

第4題 Speaking Task 4

題目將播放一篇聽力音檔，內容主要為學術講課，聽完後考生須作口說摘要。

聽力 (約1-2分)➤準備 (20秒)➤口說回答 (60秒)

05.托福口說第1題真題與示範答案 TOEFL SPEAKING TASK 1 QUESTION, SAMPLE ANSWER

問題：

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Talking face-to-face to a person is usually a better way to communicate than by using email or text messages.
Use specific examples and details to support your opinion. (2023年10月真題）

🎙口說第1題 示範答案音檔

口說第1題 示範答案 逐字稿

I agree that talking face-to-face is a better way to communicate than using email or text messages. First, I think that face-to-face communication allows people to understand each other better. For example, when I was in college, there was a disagreement between my team members regarding a project deadline. In a face-to-face meeting, they can see each other’s facial expressions and body language, which helps in understanding the underlying emotions and perspectives behind their arguments. Second, face-to-face communication can address issues more efficiently than using email or text messaging. For instance, after the physical conversation between my team members, they effectively clarified the points of confusion and worked towards a better solution together.

06.托福口說第2題真題 TOEFL SPEAKING TASK 2 QUESTION

口說第2題 真題(2023年10月真題)

閱讀題目 Reading

Stop Serving Junk Food in Dining Hall
The university’s dining hall currently offers many healthy foods but also a lot of unhealthy snacks and junk food, like cookies and potato chips. I think the university should stop serving unhealthy items and offer only healthier options, like fruits and vegetables. Students would benefit from the change in two ways. First, they’d be healthier, because they’d eat lots of nutritious food. Also, students would save money. Many students buy unhealthy snacks and desserts, like ice cream, even if they’re full after a meal. But with the new plan, they will no longer waste money on food that they really don’t need.
Sincerely,
Mary Jacobs

聽力題目逐字稿 Conversation

Listen to a conversation between two students

A: Did you see Mary’s letter in the paper?

B: Yeah, but I totally disagree with her.

A: Really? Why?

B: Well, personally, I think what she proposes is kind of unnecessary. I mean most of us are healthy enough. We should be able to have a little junk food from time to time if we want,
shouldn’t we?

A: I’m with you there.

B: I mean eating it occasionally is not going to hurt us or cause any serious health issues, right?

A: I agree, just keep it in moderation.

B: Like toward the end of the semester, when everybody’s studying and finishing their papers and stuff, it’s nice to have a little treat, like ice cream right.. We need to reward ourselves for the hard work sometimes.

A: Definitely! I tend to crave for some treats too after finishing a project.

B: Yeah, and the argument about the money?

A: Well that seemed to make sense, didn’t it?

B: I don’t think so. If we can’t buy it here, we’re just going to go to a store off campus and it’s more expensive there.

A: That’s true.

B: Yep, I mean, we’re going to buy this stuff occasionally, right? So, it’ll end up costing us more money by forcing us to go to an off-campus store, which is the opposite effect from what the letter says.

06.托福口說第2題示範答案 TOEFL SPEAKING TASK 2 SAMPLE ANSWER

問題：

The student expresses his opinion of the announcement. State his opinion and explain the reasons he gives for holding that opinion.（2023年10月真題）

🎙口說第2題 示範答案音檔

口說第2題 示範答案逐字稿

The letter that the student wrote suggests that the school should stop serving unhealthy items and offer only healthier options, like fruits and vegetables. The student in the listening disagrees for the following two reasons. First, she says that students are actually healthy enough to have some junk food from time to time. For example, during the end of the semester when students have completed their schoolwork, it’s normal for them to treat themselves to some ice cream. Second, she says that students won’t save any money from being unable to purchase snacks and desserts on campus. Instead, they will end up spending more money buying food outside of campus, where prices are actually higher. Therefore, the plan is not beneficial for students in the long run. That’s why she feels this way.

07.托福口說第3題真題 TOEFL SPEAKING TASK 3 QUESTION

口說第3題 真題(2023年10月真題)

閱讀題目 Reading

Rational Ignorance
The concept of rational ignorance refers to a deliberate choice made by individuals to remain uninformed about certain topics or issues. This decision stems from the belief that the cost of acquiring knowledge outweighs its potential benefits. Nowadays there is so much information available that people may choose not to invest time and effort in understanding every aspect of a subject, particularly if they perceive it irrelevant to their daily lives or decision-making processes. This happens because people understand that they only have a limited amount of time and attention. So, they only focus on things they think are most useful and important.

聽力題目逐字稿 Lecture

Ok, well, recently I was thinking about buying a new car. I looked at several different cars and took a lot of time researching the advantages and disadvantages of each one. I searched for several models, and looked at their exterior and interior designs. I also checked the safety features, gas mileage, and durability of each option before finally making up my mind to buy one particular car. However, it was a different matter yesterday when I had to go to the store to buy some batteries for a flashlight. As I entered the store, there were various types of battery brands. There were at least four or five different brands of batteries at the store, all made by different companies and have different packaging. Well, no doubt, some batteries may last longer than others and some might be higher quality or cost slightly more or slightly less, but do you think I stood there reading each battery’s package? Or do you think I asked the sales people questions so I could compare them? Of course not, because frankly, they all cost around the same and they probably last about the same amount of time and well, I didn’t want to waste ten minutes standing there trying to figure out which batteries were best. I just grabbed the first ones I saw and paid for them.

07.托福口說第3題示範答案 TOEFL SPEAKING TASK 3 SAMPLE ANSWER

問題：

Using the example provided in the lecture, explain the concept of rational ignorance.（2023年10月真題）

🎙口說第3題 示範答案音檔

口說第3題 示範答案逐字稿

The reading passage discusses the concept of rational ignorance, which is when a person believes that the cost of acquiring knowledge outweighs its potential benefits. The professor in the lecture provides a perfect example to illustrate this concept. The example is when the professor wanted to buy a car, he invested a significant amount of time researching the advantages and disadvantages of various models before deciding which one to purchase. However, the professor’s approach was different when he went to a store to buy batteries for a flashlight. In this case, there were multiple brands of batteries available, each made by different companies. Unlike the thorough research process for buying a car, the professor did not read each battery’s package or ask a salesperson to compare the batteries. Instead, he simply grabbed the first battery he saw and paid for it, as he did not want to expend additional time figuring out which option was the best.

08.托福口說第4題真題 TOEFL SPEAKING TASK 4 QUESTION

聽力題目逐字稿 Listening

Scientists have noticed that female animals that are mothers are better at finding food than those that don’t have young. They think it’s because the female’s mental abilities improve when they become mothers. In particular, research has shown that the mother’s memory actually improves, which makes her better at caring for her young, better at finding food for her young. What’s the evidence for this? Well, scientists did an experiment with mother rats and rats that weren’t mothers, non-mother rats, using a maze that the scientists had built. The objective was for the rats to find their way through the network of paths in order to get to the food at the end. The rats had to explore a bit because only one path in the maze led to the food. What the scientists were interested in was the speed. They tested the time it took the rats to find the food and it turned out that mother rats were faster and spent less time finding their way through the maze than non-mother rats. Mother rats were much better at remembering which places in the maze they had already checked. They didn’t waste time repeating the same wrong turn or returning to the same dead end over and over. What did scientists learn from this? Well, they concluded that these enhanced mental abilities help a mother care for her young in the wild. With her improved memory, a mother is faster at finding food in the woods, fields, wherever she and her young are living. Because she can remember where the best places are to look, she’ll spend less time searching, which is good for the survival of her young because it means she’ll be able to get back to the place where they live faster to protect her young, which are vulnerable to attack by predators when she’s away.

08.托福口說第4題示範答案 TOEFL SPEAKING TASK 4 SAMPLE ANSWER

問題：

Using points and examples from the lecture, explain what scientists have learned about the mental abilities of some mother animals.（2023年10月真題）

🎙口說第4題 示範答案音檔

口說第4題 示範答案逐字稿

The lecture discusses how female animals that are mothers are better at finding food compared to those without young. Research shows that the female’s mental abilities improve when they become mothers, which makes them better at caring for their young. The professor illustrates this phenomenon with an experiment involving mother rats and non-mother rats. A maze was constructed with food placed within it, and the objective was to measure the time it took for the rats to locate the food. Results revealed that mother rats were faster and spent less time navigating the maze compared to non-mother rats. They would not waste time going back to places they had been before. Consequently, researchers concluded that these heightened mental abilities aid mothers in caring for their young in the wild. With improved memory, mother rats spend less time searching for food, thus reducing the vulnerability of their young to predator attacks during their absence.