托福真經月報-2024年12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(2024年12月真題)

閱讀題目 Reading Passage：

The stone tower structures found in Zimbabwe, commonly known as the Great Zimbabwe ruins, date back to the 11th century and serve as a testament to the advanced engineering and architectural skills of the Shona people who built them. These structures are believed to have had several potential functions, symbolizing an era of economic and cultural prosperity in southern Africa.

One possible function of these stone towers is related to grain storage. The structures were designed in a way that made them useful for preserving surplus crops. Their enclosed spaces helped protect stored grain from harsh weather conditions and pests. Given Zimbabwe’s agricultural history, this practical usage would have been crucial for ensuring food security during times of scarcity.

Another compelling theory ties these towers to gold mining. Zimbabwe was home to ancient gold mines, and evidence of nearby mining activity suggests that these towers could have been built near gold deposits. The towers may have served as landmarks or protected areas associated with gold extraction. In ancient times, gold was not only valuable as a trade commodity but also held significant cultural and ritualistic importance, making these locations vital to local economies.

In addition to their practical purposes, some researchers believe the stone towers functioned as simple, basic structures used to observe the sky and track celestial movements like the stars and planets. Ancient Zimbabweans could have observed these celestial patterns to monitor seasonal changes, helping them predict rainfall or harvest times. This early form of astronomy would have been crucial in shaping agricultural and ceremonial practices, connecting the towers not only to the earth but also to the sky.

聽力題目逐字稿 Lecture：

Well, what you have just read about the possible functions of Zimbabwe’s stone towers might seem intriguing, but there’s significant evidence that challenges these theories.

Firstly, while the idea of these towers being used for grain storage sounds logical, archaeological evidence doesn’t support this. Excavations of the sites have primarily uncovered debris and waste material, not grains or other food-related remains. Additionally, the towers are too small to serve as large-scale granaries. Most of them have only two rooms, far from enough space to store surplus crops for an entire community. So, the suggestion that these structures were used for preserving grain doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.

Secondly, the theory that the stone towers were linked to gold mining is also questionable. Carbon dating has shown that the ancient gold mines and the towers were constructed in different eras. The gold mines predate the towers by a significant period, which makes it highly unlikely that the two were connected. While it’s true that Zimbabwe was a center for gold, there is little evidence to suggest these specific structures were directly associated with mining activities.

Lastly, the proposal that these towers were used as astronomical observatories also falls short. The towers’ alignment doesn’t correspond to any significant celestial patterns. The angles of the structures are irregular, and the distances between them vary considerably, making it practically impossible for them to have been used for precise star tracking or other astronomical purposes. The random orientation of the towers strongly suggests they weren’t built with the sky in mind.

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.（2024年12月真題）

👩‍🦱整合寫作美國老師滿分示範範文- 全文(字數:260字)

The reading passage explores the functions of Zimbabwe’s stone towers, and several reasons are provided in support of this argument. Although the argument seems convincing and substantiated, the lecturer casts doubts on it for the following reasons.

First, even though the reading passage suggests that Zimbabwe’s stone towers would have been used for grain storage to maintain food availability during lean seasons, the lecturer argues that rubble and discarded items were found at these sites, with little evidence of stored food. Moreover, she asserts that the towers are compact, typically containing merely two rooms, which would not accommodate enough harvest to support a community.

Second, the reading passage claims that, according to traces of mining nearby and ancient gold found in Zimbabwe, these towers might have been constructed close to gold sources. In contrast, the lecturer refutes this by arguing that the ancient gold mines were built long before the towers, showing little connection between them. These particular structures have not been proven to be directly linked to mining operations.

Last but not least, the lecturer acutely identifies the weakness in the reading passage that stone towers were neither used for observing the sky and tracking celestial events nor for helping ancient Zimbabweans predict seasonal changes. She points out that the alignment of the towers does not match any notable celestial formations. Their uneven angles and varying distances between structures indicate that they were not intended for accurate star observation or astronomical use.

In conclusion, the lecturer casts doubts on the arguments made in the reading passage with concrete statements.

03.托福學術討論寫作真題 TOEFL WRITING TASK 2 QUESTION

學術討論寫作真題 題目(2024年12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 Gupta:
As we consider the distribution of social resources, a key question arises: should these resources be primarily dedicated to supporting families with young children, who are shaping the future of society, or should they be focused on the elderly population, who have contributed to society over the course of their lives and now face unique challenges in their later years?

Paul (student 1):
I believe that social resources should primarily be allocated to families with young children. Investing in early childhood development is critical for the future of society. Children represent the next generation of workers, innovators, and leaders. Providing them with access to quality education, healthcare, and childcare not only ensures their well-being but also contributes to long-term economic growth.

Kelly (student 2):
I argue that social resources should be directed more toward the elderly population. As life expectancy increases, many seniors face financial insecurity, healthcare needs, and social isolation. Elderly individuals have contributed to society throughout their lives, and it is our responsibility to ensure that they live with dignity and access to necessary care in their later years.

👩‍🦱學術討論寫作滿分示範範文1（字數：148字）

Paul mentioned that investing in early childhood development is critical for the future of society. To add to his point, I believe that allocating resources to families with young children has a greater long-term impact than directing them to the elderly. Early childhood investments benefit children, their families, and future generations, fostering a positive cycle where educated and healthy children grow up to raise the same. Take Finland as an example, the country provides free or affordable childcare and offers universal pre-primary education for children. These policies have resulted in outstanding educational outcomes, with Finnish children consistently ranking among the top performers in global education assessments. This success clearly demonstrates how early investments in children can yield significant long-term benefits for society.
Hence, I strongly advocate for prioritizing social resources to support families with young children, as it is essential for building a strong foundation for sustainable growth.

學術討論寫作滿分示範範文2（字數：141字）

I agree with Kelly that elderly population should be prioritized regarding the distribution of social resources. To add to her point, I believe that neglecting the care of the elderly can lead to deteriorating living conditions for the whole society. Many older individuals lack savings, which can result in losing their homes after retirement and ending up on the streets. A large number of homeless people can create litter on the streets, urinate in public spaces, and occupy parks. For instance, when my former neighbor John retired, he could not afford rent, so he moved to a nearby park, took over a bench, and rummaged through trash bins for food, causing problems for local residents. After John received social assistance, he moved out of the park, which relieved the nearby residents.
Therefore, the government should allocate resources to the elderly population.

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：

Some students choose to enter the university immediately after finishing high school, others prefer to take time off before beginning the university class. Which do you prefer? Explain why.
(2024年12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 prefer to start university right after finishing high school for two main reasons. First, continuing education without taking a break helps keep up the momentum. For example, my friend Sarah continued her degree in engineering immediately after high school. Since she was still used to managing homework and exams, she quickly adapted to the demands of university. As a result, she graduated with first-class honors without struggling to catch up. Second, starting earlier means you can finish your degree and enter the workforce sooner. For instance, my cousin Mike began his business degree right after high school and graduated at 22. By the time his peers who took a gap year were entering the job market, he already had a year of work experience and was promoted to a managerial role. This is why I feel this way.

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

口說第2題 真題(2024年12月真題)

閱讀題目 Reading

School Encourages Students to Participate in Internships
The school encourages students to participate in internships, as they provide valuable real-world experience and help bridge the gap between education and career. Many students who have completed internships say they gained practical skills and made important professional connections. While balancing internships with other commitments, such as part-time jobs, can be challenging, the long-term career benefits often outweigh these difficulties. By participating in internships, students can enhance their resumes, gain a competitive edge in the job market, and apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-world settings.

聽力題目逐字稿 Conversation

Listen to a conversation between two students

A: I’ve been thinking about doing an internship this semester, but I’m not sure if it’s worth it. What do you think?

B: Well, my younger brother did an internship last year, and honestly, it wasn’t that beneficial. He mostly did really basic tasks, like printing documents and running errands. It didn’t help him gain any real skills for his career.

A: That sounds frustrating. I guess not all internships provide valuable experience.

B: Right, and for my brother, the internship wasn’t even a stepping stone to a job. He didn’t make any important connections or gain skills that stood out to future employers.

A: That’s disappointing. I guess it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before jumping into an internship.

B: Exactly. And the university doesn’t really offer financial support for internships, so if you need to work to support yourself, it could be hard to manage both. For some students, it just isn’t practical.

A: Yeah, that’s a good point.

B: Internships can take up a lot of time, and if you’re not learning much, it might not be worth sacrificing a paying job. Maybe the university could do more to support students financially, though, so internships are more accessible.

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

問題：

The student expresses her opinion of the announcement. State her opinion and explain the reasons she gives for holding that opinion.（2024年12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 campus announcement mentions that the school encourages students to participate in internships because they provide valuable real-world experience and help bridge the gap between education and career. The woman in the listening disagrees with this for the following two reasons. First, she believes that not all internships provide meaningful experience. She mentions that her brother did an internship where he mostly did basic tasks like printing documents and running errands, which didn’t help him gain valuable skills for his career. Second, she thinks internships can be impractical for students who need to work to support themselves. She points out that the university doesn’t offer financial support for internships, and balancing both an internship and a paying job could be difficult for some students. This is why she thinks so.

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

口說第3題 真題(2024年12月真題)

閱讀題目 Reading

Müllerian Mimicry
Müllerian mimicry is a survival strategy in the animal kingdom. It occurs when multiple species evolve similar warning traits, such as bright colors, to signal their poisonous or harmful nature. These traits serve as a universal warning system that predators quickly learn to associate with danger. It reduces the likelihood of predators targeting any one species. Over time, Müllerian mimicry enhances the protection of each species and contributes to their survival in the wild.

聽力題目逐字稿 Lecture

The mimic frog, like many other species, uses bright colors to signal that it’s toxic. This simple strategy is key to its defense against predators. Its skin features bold orange and blue stripes, which are typical warning signs in nature. These bright colors serve as a clear message to predators, particularly snakes: “Stay away, I’m dangerous!” This clever use of color helps the frog avoid being eaten, just as many other poisonous animals do.

But here’s where it gets interesting. The mimic frog isn’t just relying on its own poisonous nature to stay safe. It also mimics the appearance of another poisonous species living in the same area. This other species has the same striking colors, making it hard for predators to tell them apart. Imagine you’re a snake. If you’ve already had a bad experience eating one of these brightly colored poisonous frogs, you’re going to avoid anything that looks like it in the future.

By mimicking the look of its poisonous neighbor, the mimic frog gains an extra layer of protection against potential threats. This clever adaptation takes advantage of the predator’s learned behavior, as many animals instinctively avoid prey with specific warning colors or patterns associated with danger. Even though the mimic frog is poisonous on its own, it uses this visual trick to confuse predators, like snakes, into avoiding it altogether. This strategy gives the frog a much better chance of survival.

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 Müllerian mimicry.（2024年12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 Müllerian mimicry. It explains that this survival strategy occurs when animals use bright colors to signal their poisonous or harmful nature to help protect themselves from predators. The professor in the lecture gives a perfect example. The mimic frog has bold orange and blue stripes, which signal its toxicity to predators. These bright colors send out a message to predators, particularly snakes, like saying “stay away, I’m dangerous!” However, it also mimics the appearance of another poisonous species in the same area that has similar colors. So, the snakes already had a bad experience eating one of these brightly colored poisonous frogs, they are going to avoid anything that looks like it. By mimicking the look of other poisonous neighbors, the mimic frog uses visual tricks to confuse predators, like snakes, to gain a better chance of survival. This example clearly illustrates the concept.

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

聽力題目逐字稿 Listening

Today, let’s talk about how animals navigate, which is an incredible skill essential for survival. Animals use various methods to find their way across vast environments, often traveling great distances. Two common navigation techniques involve using landmarks and relying on their sense of smell. One of the most common ways animals navigate is by using landmarks—specific features of the landscape that stand out. These could be mountains, rivers, or coastlines. For example, coastal birds like seagulls can follow the shape of the shoreline to stay on course. Seagulls often combine visual cues from the coastline with their remarkable memory, allowing them to recognize specific features and maintain their route even during long flights. Additionally, seagulls have excellent eyesight, which enables them to spot these landmarks from great distances, ensuring they remain oriented even when flying high above the water. This strategy is particularly helpful when flying over open water, where landmarks are fewer but still visible from a distance. By using these natural features, coastal birds can navigate vast areas with precision, often returning to the same nesting or feeding grounds year after year. But landmarks aren’t the only tools animals use. Some species rely on their highly developed sense of smell. Take salmon, for instance. Salmon are known for their remarkable ability to swim thousands of miles back to their birthplace to spawn. How do they manage this? By following the unique scent of the water. Each river has a distinct smell, created by the plants, rocks, and other molecules in the water. Salmon recognize these scents and can retrace their steps, or in this case, their swim paths, back to their original spawning grounds. Their olfactory system is incredibly sensitive, allowing them to detect even subtle changes in the water’s composition. This keen sense of smell is so precise that salmon can differentiate between different rivers and even specific locations within the same river system. This method of scent navigation is essential for the species’ life cycle, as it ensures that they return to the exact spot where they first hatched to spawn, completing the circle of life.

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 how animals navigate as an essential survival skill.（2024年12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 lecturer discusses how animals navigate, an essential survival skill. It mentions that animals use various methods to travel across vast environments, often over long distances. First, the professor states that many animals use landmarks to navigate. For example, coastal birds, like seagulls, follow the shape of the shoreline to stay on course. This helps them to fly over open water where landmarks are fewer but still visible at a distance. Seagulls often combine visual cues from the coastline with their memory, so they can recognize specific features and remain oriented while flying high above the water. Second, the professor notes that some animals rely on their highly developed sense of smell to navigate. The example of salmon is given. Salmon are known for their remarkable ability to swim thousands of miles to return to their birthplace to spawn. Their olfactory system is very sensitive, allowing them to detect subtle changes in the water’s composition.They can recognize these scents and retrace their steps, swimming back to their original spawning grounds to complete the circle of life. These are the two main methods of animal navigation provided in the lecture.