为督促自己，记下iBT复习经历-six speaking templates are available from post 27 to 32

ritta

Just back from vacation. One week on the beach almost makes me forget the ibt.

it's time to work on the ibt from now on. I will focus on the listening and speaking part in the following month.

水滴石穿

加油.

cocoshi

I'm IBT testtaker next month.But I almost forget the test during these days.

Wish we could have a good spirit.

lucyzeng

me too,
just back from a vacation and totally forget about ibt
restart my review schedule today.
good luck for us

tropicalfish

加油加油!

ritta

In the afternoon,  I took the listening part of a PBT as practice test.
I found myself easily distracted. In a long conversion, I even didn't hear the introduction part.
I got 3 incorrect out of 50 questions.
But it seems that the listenging part in the iBT is more difficult than that in PBT.
Practice makes perfect. Hope I can concentrate in the real test.

ritta

Template #1 from te princeton reviewbook

    

Template#1: personal preference question

    

The first speaking task on the TOEFL typically asks you to
describe something that you would prefer to do, see, or experience. These tasks
may also ask you to talk about something important to you. Regardless of the
exact question, these tasks require you to pick the thing, person, or event you
are going to discuss.

    

Here’s a typical example.

    

Describe a place you would like to visit, and explain why
you chose this location. Use details and examples to support your position.

    

For this type of question, we’ll use the following template:

    
        
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
        

State personal preference	I would like to   visit Italy.
Reason #1	I would choose to   visit Italy                             because it has a lot of history.
Specific detail for reason #1	For example, Italy has many interesting Roman ruins. It   would be interesting to see these historic sites.
Reason #2	Another reason I would like to visit Italy is for the culture.
Specific detail for reason #2	Italy has been home to many great artists and the museums there contain some   of the most famous works of art.
Reason #3	Finally, I would like to visit Italy to sample the food.
Specific detail for reason #3	I love Italian   food and would really like the chance to try some authentic Italian cooking.

    

 

    

The boldfaced words are examples of transitions and other
phrases you can use in your speech.

    

Depending on how fast you speak, you may only be able to
provide two reasons in the time given. That’s okay. And although this response
may appear simple, it is much harder when you are under pressure. Now, try to
use the template for the following prompt. Time yourself. Give yourself 15
seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to respond.

    

Describe your favorite hobby, and explain why you enjoy
it. Use details and examples to support your point.

    
        
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
        

State personal preference
Reason #1
Specific detail for reason #1
Reason #2
Specific detail for reason #2
Reason #3
Specific detail for reason #3

    

 

    

Practice using this template on your own. Think of your
favorite food, color, article of clothing, activity, and so on, and try to
provide reasons and details as to why they are your favorites. Don’t forget to
use transitions.

    

ritta

    

Template #2: Choose on option question

    

The second type of task on the TOEFL presents you with two
options. You’ll have to decide which one is best and support your decision.
Here’s an example.

    

Some universities give financial aid in the form of
grants, which don’t have be paid back, whereas others provide financial
assistance in the form of loans, which must be paid back. Which option do you
think is better and why? Support your decision with reasons and examples.

    

Here’s the template we’ll use.

    
        
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
        

State personal preference	I think it is better   to offer students loans.
Reason #1	I prefer   loans because they make the student responsible.
Specific detail for reason #1	A student who has   to pay back a loan becomes personally responsible for his or her education.
Reason #2	Furthermore, loans are safer for the school.
Specific detail for reason #2	Grants require   the school to give away large amounts of money, and there is no guarantee   that the school will get the money back.
Reason #3	Lastly, a student with a loan is probably more   likely to stay in school.
Specific detail for reason #3	If the student   doesn’t complete the degree, it will be harder to pay back the money.

    

 

    

Try this template out. As before, keep track of your time.
Give yourself 15 seconds to prepare and 45 seconds to respond.

    

Some people believe that universities should require
students to take classes on ethics, whereas others believe a school should
focus on academic issues. Which do you think is better? Support your decision
with reasons and examples.

    
        
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
        

State personal preference
Reason #1
Specific detail for reason #1
Reason #2
Specific detail for reason #2
Reason #3
Specific detail for reason #3

    

 

    

You can try out this template on your own as well. Newspaper
editorial pages often present two sides of an issue. Also, political issues are
good t practice on.

ritta

    

Template #3: summarize an option question

    

The third type of task requires you to read a brief passage
and listen to a conversation about it. You’ll then have to summarize the
opinion or position given in the conversation. This task is different from the
first two in that it has both reading and listening elements.

    

While reading the passage, you most likely won’t need to
take notes. The passage will usually discuss some sot of campus life issue. While
listening to the conversation, pay attention to the speaker’s opinion or
attitude about the reading. You should pay particular attention to the reasons
the speaker give for his or her position. Write them down if you can.

    

Here’s an example.

    

Read the following announcement form the university
president.

    

Due to recent budget constraints, the university has
decided to close the computer labs during weekends and reduce their operating
hours during the week from 8:00 A.M.
to 10:00 P.M. to 9:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. These changes are necessary in order
to compensate for an unexpected budget shortfall. Without these cutbacks, the
school would be forced to reduce service in other important areas, such as the
library and the cafeteria.

    

Now listen to two students discuss the announcement.

    

Woman: Did you hear the announcement? They’re cutting
back the computer lab hours!

    

Man: Yeah, but it’s better that they cut down there than
at the library or the cafeteria.

    

W: Maybe for you, but I don’t have a computer. I use the
computer lab a lost. Plus, I need to have access to a computer for my economics
class.

    

M: Well, they’ll still be open during the week.

    

W: I know. But I get most of my work done during the
weekend. The labs are usually empty then. They’ll probably be filled with
students now. It’s going to make it really hard for me to get all my class work
done.

    

M: Hmm. I didn’t really think of it.

    

The woman offer her opinion of the announcement. State
what her opinion is and what reasons she give for having that view.

    
        
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
        

State opinion	The woman believes   that the decision to reduce the hours of the computer lab is a bad   idea.
Reason #1	Her first reason   for claiming this is that she needs a computer for her class work.
Detail for reason #1	The woman states   that she doesn’t have a computer and that some of classes require her to   use one.
Reason #2	Also, the woman claims it will be harder   to complete all of her work.
Detail for reason #2	According to the woman, the best time to do work is on   the weekends. Now she fears that the labs will be too full during the week.

    

 

    

As you can see, all you have to do is basically repeat the
reasons given by the speaker. You won’t be required to do anything else. Now,
it’s your turn to try the template with the following example. Give yourself 30
seconds to prepare your response and 60 seconds to respond.

    

Read the following announcement from the president of a
university.

    

Effective immediately, the university is instituting a
new policy on off-campus visitors. Any guests are now required to register with
campus security and obtain a guest pass which must be worn at all times. This
new policy is necessary in order to keep all the students safe and to increase
campus safety’s knowledge of who is on campus.

    

Now listen to the following conversation about the
announcement.

    

Man: I think the university’s new policy is great.

    

Woman: Really? I think it’s going to be annoying. I have
some friends visiting, and they’re going to have to spend all this time
registering. And what if they lose their passes?

    

M: True. But that’s a minor inconvenience. It’s worth it
if the campus is safer. Remember that vandalism that took place at the library
was done by someone from off-campus.

    

W: I still think the school is overreacting. One bad
thing happens, and they go and change the policy.

    

M: No, there have been other incidents. A couple months ago,
there were some things stolen from one of the dorms. And the students reported
seeing a suspicious figure.

    

W: I guess you’re right.

    

The man give his opinion on the announcement. State the
man’s opinion and provide the reasons he gives for holding it.

    
        
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
        

State opinion
Reason #1
Detail for reason #1
Reason #2
Detail for reason #2

ritta

    

Template #4: Summarize/ Contrast question

    

The fourth template involves your response to a reading and
an academic lecture. The goal of this task is to show how the lecture relates
to or contrasts with the reading. Both the lecture and the reading will present
some characteristics of a given topic. While reading the passage, note down the
characteristics mentioned—typically there will be three to five of them. While listening to the lecture,
listen for the characteristics and note them down if you can. Think about how
the characteristics in the lecture agree or disagree with the information in
the reading.

    

Here’s a sample.

    

Read the following passage about captive breeding:

    

Both environmentalists and animal rights activists
consider captive breeding a solution to the threat of extinction of certain
endangered species. In captive breeding, endangered animals, are caught and
bred, and the offspring is then released back into the wild. Unfortunately, the
results of this program have been mixed. In many years, the animals that are
released back into the wild are unable to survive. The time spent in human
captivity makes it more difficult for them to acquire food and to fit in with
other members of their species.

    

Now listen to a professor lecture about the same topic.

    

Okay, so we’ve been talking about some problems faced by biologists
when they try to reintroduce species into the wild. As we’re um… ah, talked
about, sometimes the animals aren’t ready or able to go…to fit into their
native habitats. But there have been some new strategies used which seem to be,
uh, working out. For example, biologists recently reintroduced four lynx—you
guys know what a lynx is, right?—into the wild. The first time they tried it,
the cats died of starvation—they didn’t know how or where to hunt. This time, they
kept the animals longer and let them mature. They also forced the animals to
hunt for food instead of giving them the food directly. And finally, they kept
the lynx together in a big pen so they know how to get along with other members
of their species.

    

The professor describes the results of a captive breeding
experiment. Explain how the results of the experiment relate to the reading on
the topic.

    

For this response, we need to combine information from the lecture
and the reading, so our template will be a little different. Here’s how we’ll
do it.

    
        
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
        

Main response	The experiment   with the lynx shows that captive breeding can be successful.
Characteristic #1 from reading	One problem with captive breeding, according to   the reading, is that animals do not always survive when reintroduced into the   wild.
Detail #1 from lecture	But the scientists were able to successfully   reintroduced the lynx into the wild.
Characteristic #2 from reading	The reading states   that a major problem is that the animals don’t know how to hunt.
Detail #2 from lecture	However, for the experiment, biologists first   taught the animals how to hunt before releasing them.
Characteristic #3 from reading	Another problem   in the reading is that the animals don’t know how to interact with other   members of the species.
Detail #3 from lecture	Scientists were   able to get around this, however, by keeping the lynx together in a   group.

    

 

    

For this type of question, it’s okay if you run out of time
before you list all of the characteristics. Your goal while speaking is to be
as clear as possible, so don’t rush through the details as it may make you
harder to understand.

    

Try the template for the following example. You have 20
seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to respond.

    

Read the following passage about methane.

    

Methane is a colorless, odorless gas that occurs naturally
as a result of the decomposition of plant and animal matters. Methane is a
hydrocarbon like coal and oil, and it’s all that remains of long-dead plants,
dinosaurs, and other prehistoric animals. Although methane can be produced by
volcanic activity, scientists usually connect the presence of methane with the
presence of biological life. Many microorganisms excrete methane as a waste
product, and scientists often infer the presence of these creatures by
measuring the amount of methane in the air.

    

Now listen to a professor give a talk about the same
topic.

    

So, there’s been some interesting news for those of you
who dream of life on other planets. It turns out that Mars has a pretty high
concentration of methane in its atmosphere. Now, usually when we think of life,
we associate it with oxygen, right? But that’s because we’re kind of prejudiced.
A whole host of creatures need no oxygen whatsoever.

    

The reason that this is important is that it looks like
Mars has very little geologic activity. Methane can be produced without life,
but as far as we know, there are no active volcanoes on Mars. Plus, here’s
another interesting point—methane only lasts about 300 years in the atmosphere.
So that means the methane we’re seeing now is fairly new… and it’s being
replenished somehow.

    

The professor presents some facts about Mars. Explain how
these facts may indicate life.

    
        
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
            
                
                
            
        

Main response
Characteristic #1 from reading
Detail #1 from lecture
Characteristic #2 from reading
Detail #2 from lecture
Characteristic #3 from reading
Detail #3 from lecture