11 March 2014

TOEFL Practice Online 托福 TPO Speaking Q1 Q2 練習題

托福口說第一二題,每一題都是回答時間四十五秒,換算成句數大概是四到五句,每一句都是簡短的句子。句型也不要用太複雜的句型。所以以下我提供一些回答範例,每一題都是回答四到五句話,用的句型也都是簡單的名詞加動詞的句型,用的單字也盡量用比較口語化的字。通常回答的時候,第一句可以直接抄題,這樣可以緩和一下緊張的感覺,也是一個比較作幣一點的方式。

從 Speaking Question 1 的 TPO 10開始,由於寫了很多題了,有一點悶,開始給一些無厘頭的答案。有一些答案是真的發生過,有一些是發生在我朋友身上,有一些則是虛構的。

同學考試的時候,還是正常一點比較好,不要讓考官以為你是來亂的。ORZ

Speaking Question 1

TPO 30. A friend of yours is looking for a new place to live and has asked for your advice. What do you think is the most important characteristic of a good neighborhood? 

The most important characteristic of a good neighborhood is that it should be safe. A neighborhood should be safe because you want to feel safe when you go home late at night. Moreover, you want to feel that the house will not be burglarized when you leave the house and no one is at home. This is especially important if my friend is a woman. This is why I think the most important characteristic of a good neighborhood is safety.



TPO 29. Which of the following jobs or careers do you think would be most rewarding?

1. University professor        2. Environmental scientist 3. Newspaper journalist

Choose one career and explain why you think it would be most rewarding. 

I think the most rewarding job from the list is the university professor. There are three main reasons. Firstly, a university professor is highly respected in society. Secondly, though a university professor does not earn a lot, he/she earns enough to support a family. Thirdly, I enjoy doing research and teaching at university level. This is why I think being a university professor is the most rewarding job from the list.



TPO 28. Students have to complete various types of academic assignments in school. Choose one of the assignments below and explain why you think it is beneficial for students.

1. Research paper    2. Class presentation 3. Group project

I think that writing a research paper is the most beneficial for students. There are three main reasons. Firstly, writing a research paper can teach a student who to organize his/her ideas so that others can understand the paper easily. Secondly, writing a research paper can train a student in critical thinking skills. Thirdly, even if the student does not go to graduate school or become a researcher, writing a research paper trains the student's writing skills, which are still important in a job. This is why I think the research paper is beneficial for students.



TPO 27. Talk about a popular actor, musician, or artist whose work you do not admire. Explain why you do not like this person’s work. Use specific details and reasons in your response.

I do not like Justin Bieber. There are two main reasons. The first reason is that he is rude. He is often late for his own concerts, and he treats his fans, ex girlfriend, and basically everyone badly. The second reason is that he seems stupid. He misuses English words. For example, he said that he was 'detrimental' to his own success when he most likely wanted to say 'instrumental.'



TPO 26. Think of a book that you have not read but are interested in reading. Explain why the book was important to you. Give specific details and examples to explain your answer.

I would like to read Lord of the Rings. I have watched the movie version several times, and I really like the movies. I would like to compare what Tolkien writes in his books with what happens in the movies. Also, I have heard that Tolkien has created many languages and that he talks about many songs and stories in his books, which are not included in the movies.



TPO 25. Students often want to get better grades in their classes. Explain what students should do in order to improve their performance in a class.

There are three things that students can do to improve their performance in a class. Firstly, the students can preview before class. Secondly, the students can review after class. Thirdly, the students can read some articles or books related to the class material.



TPO 24. Talk about a popular gathering place in your town where people like to go. Describe the place and explain why people enjoy going there.

People in my town like to go to a pub which sells beers from around the world. The pub is quite large so it can hold many people. It sells different types of beer so people like to go there to try different beers. Finally, the pub is open till 3 AM, which is much later than most other pubs, which open only till midnight.



TPO 23. There can be several advantages to spend time living in another country. Talk about one advantage and explain how living in another country provides that advantage. Use details and examples in your response.

One advantage of living in another country is to learn a foreign language. For example, I am living in the UK now. I can learn how the British people use English in their daily lives. I can also practice speaking English with native English speakers. If people speak only English and not my native language, I will be forced to speak English. My English can improve rapidly. 



TPO 22. Talk about one way your personality has changed since you were a child.

I used to be rather shy when I was a child. I am more open and outgoing now. As a child, I had trouble talking to strangers. I felt very nervous when I was forced to speak in public or talk to strangers. However, because I have given many presentations and talked to strangers,  I am not as shy as I was.



TPO 21. Talk about an important news event that happened recently in your country. Describe the event and explain why it was important.

An important news that happened recently is that a Malaysian airline plan vanished after it took off from Kuala Lumpur. It is important because more than 200 people were on the plane. They are still not yet found. Some have suspected terrorism because two people who boarded the plane were using stolen passports. The relatives and friends of those on board the plane are very worried. The officials still can't find the plane, and they do not know what happened to the plane. 



TPO 20. Choose a quality you think makes someone a valuable member of a team. Explain why you think it is an important quality for a team or group member to have.

I think the ability to work with others makes someone a valuable member of a team. Working in team involves a lot of communication and collaboration. If someone is very smart and has many advanced skills but keeps on getting into fights with his team members, he actually becomes more of a liability for the team as a whole. It is more useful to have someone who has average level of skills but can work with others. 

TPO 19. Talk about a skill or ability that you consider especially important for a student to have. Use details and examples to explain your answer.

A skill that is especially important for a student to have is the ability to read quickly. Students in university are expected to supplement what they learn in class with papers and books which are not assigned by the professors. It is important for students to be able to read through a lot of materials quickly. It is especially essential for students doing more advanced studies like a master's degree or PhD since there are even more extra materials they are expected to read. 



TPO 18. Imagine your life ten years in the future. Talk about one way you think your life will be different in ten years than it is now. Use details to explain your answer.

Whatever I do in the future, I will have less flexibility with my time. Since I am now a PhD student, I can manage own time. When I feel like working, I will work on that day. When I feel like taking a day off, I can do so. In the future, I will most likely be working for a company or in a university. I will have lectures to give or deadlines to meet, thus I will have less flexibility in my schedule.



TPO 17. Talk about a special opportunity that was given to you. Explain why the opportunity was important.

A special opportunity that was given to me is the opportunity to study in the UK. This opportunity is important to me because it has changed my life forever. Firstly, I can see first-hand how research is conducted in a world-class institution. Secondly, I have made many European friends and learned much about the European cultures. Thirdly, I have drastically changed my attitude towards life.



TPO 16. If you could have any job or career you wanted. Which would you choose and why? Give specific details to explain your response.

 If I could have any job, I would like to become a university professor. Firstly, I really enjoy reading books and doing research in history. If I become a university professor, I will be paid to do what I enjoy doing most. Secondly, a university professor is sufficiently paid. Though I will not be rich, I will have enough money to support a family.



TPO 15. People make friends in many different ways. What do you think is a good way to make new friends? Use specific details and examples in your response.

A good way to make new friends is to join societies. You generally meet people who have similar interests in a society. You have a starting point or a common topic to talk about. For example, I like photography, animals, and going on short walking trips so I joined the Animal Welfare Society. On a short trip to a natural reserve, I enjoyed the walking trip and taking photos of seals. I also made some friends who shared my interests.



TPO 14. People enjoy reading many different types of books such as mystery, biography, romance, etc. Of all the different types of books that there are. What type do you most enjoy? Explain why.

I enjoy children's fantasy the best. Such books include The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and Hunger Games. Even though they are children's books, they still convey deep meanings. However, there is still a child-like element to them. You can read these books on many different levels.



TPO 13. Talk about a game, sport or other group activity that is played in your country. Explain why you think the activity is enjoyable.

A popular game that is played in my country is mahjong. It is enjoyable because it is a group game and you need at least four people to play it. Secondly, it is enjoyable because the Chinese like to gamble. It provides a way for people to get together and gamble.  Thirdly, it is a popular game that is played during the Chinese New Year holidays. It is part of the Chinese tradition.


TPO 12. What is the most efficient type of transportation in your country? Explain why you think it is efficient. Include specific reasons or examples.

The most efficient type of transportation in my country, Taiwan, is the MRT, or the subway. It is efficient because it is usually very punctual and dependable. The MRT is not affected by traffic jams. The government also invests a lot of money to ensure that the MRT runs smoothly. Moreover, the MRT stations usually have station personnel. There are staff members at hand to deal with all sorts of emergencies.



TPO 11. Talk about an interesting book you have read. Explain why you thought the book was interesting. 

-------------------

以下開始無厘頭答案。不知道考官聽到這種答案會做何感想? 


TPO 10. Talk about a time when you accomplished something you didn't think you could do. What did you accomplish? Why did you think you couldn't do it?

Once I tried to pretend that I was from North Korea. Since I was in the UK and most British people could not tell the difference between different types of Asians, I claimed that I was from North Korea. I thought I could not do this because I did not know much about actual life in North Korea. However, I managed to come up with a convincing story about how my parents escaped from the country through China when I was a child.


TPO 09. Talk about an important experience that you recently had. Describe what happened and explain why it was important to you.

I visited Loch Ness a few weeks ago. I finally saw Nessie with my own eyes. I was on a boat tour on the loch and saw a glimpse of the monster as we were about to disembark. I only saw its back coming out of the water for a brief moment. It looked like a whale but greyish black. 



TPO 08. Talk about a time when a friend or family member helped you in the past. Describe how the person helped you. Then explain why this was important to you.

I once went to a cross-dressing party. One of my friend helped me to dress up like a man. He lent me his suit, tie, leather shoes, and even hair wax. He then coached me in how to walk and talk like a man. This was important to me because behaving like a man is more about the clothes; it is also about the way you carry yourself. 



TPO 07. If friends from another country were going to spend time in your country, what city or place would you suggest they visit? Using details and examples, explain why.

If friends from another country were to spend time in Taiwan, I would suggest that they visit Taichung. This is because the city has many hot beetle-nut girls. They are girls dressed in bikinis or short dresses selling beetle-nut to passing drivers. They are quite a unique phenomenon, and I am sure my foreign friends would find the trip unforgettable.



TPO 06. Talk about a photograph or painting you have seen that was memorable. Explain what you liked or disliked about it.

I went to a formal dinner in a posh house. There was an enormous painting on the wall of their dining room. The painting depicts a hunting scene. There is a dead goose about the size of a human being. The goose is actually bigger than the hounds. I found that un-appetising. However, I was intrigued by the giant goose.



TPO 05. Talk about a place you enjoyed going or visiting when you were a child. Describe the place. Explain why you enjoyed it.

I enjoyed going to the Red Light District of Amsterdam when I was a child. There were always many tourists there, and men would stare at the ladies in the windows or make sex jokes amongst themselves. I did not understand the jokes at that time but some of the ladies were nice to me if they were off work. I enjoyed going there because it was always lively.



TPO 04. What do you miss most about your home when you are away?

I miss beef noodles the most when I am away from home. Taiwanese beef noodles are excellent; they are also relatively cheap. It is difficult to find good and cheap beef noodles in the UK. This is why I miss beef noodles a lot.



TPO 03. What characteristics do you think make someone a good parent? Explain why these characteristics are important to you.

A characteristic that makes someone a good parent is the ability to beat up the child's bully at school. If I am a child and I get bullied in school, I want my parent to be able to stand up for me and give the bully a lesson. In this way, I will never get bullied again in school. 



TPO 02. Choose a place you go to often that is important to you and explain why it is important. Please include specific details in your explanation.

I often go to the Botanic Garden. It is important to me because that is where my boyfriend proposed to me. He is dead now so going there reminds me of the good times we had. I especially like to go to the part of the garden where there is a cherry tree. It blossoms every spring. It reminds me of how life goes on even if a particular human life does not.



TPO 01. Talk about a book you have read that was important to you for some reason. Explain why the book was important to you.

I read The Hobbit. It was important to me because I can now say for sure that the film version is drastically different from the original book. I often get into long discussions with Lord of the Rings fans about how the films do not represent the books. Now I have proof. Not only do the Lord of the Rings films deviate from the books but also The Hobbit. The Hobbit might even be much worse in this respect.

Speaking Question 2
 
TPO 30. Parents should be involved in the process of helping their children to choose a career.

Parents should not only be involved in the process of helping their children to choose a career, they should choose a career for their children and even manage their lives. Our parents are much older than us so they know so much more. If they choose their children's career and partner, then the children do not have to make all the difficult choices. If something goes wrong, the children can just blame their parents.



TPO 29. Some people like to study in public places where there are other people around. Others prefer to study in places where there are few or no people around. Which kind of place do you prefer? Explain why.

I like to study in places where there are few or no people around. In this way, I can go around harassing people to the greatest effect. If there are too many people around, the others might stop me. I like to drink other people's coffee and reset their computers when they go to the toilet. 



TPO 28. To protect the health of young children, advertisements for candy and junk food should not be shown on television. 

I disagree with this argument because young children need to know the jingles and slogans which appear in advertisements in order to understand what their friends are talking about in school. It is part of growing up and part of modern culture. Life would not be the same without fat children.



TPO 27. Parents should be involved in the process of helping their children to choose a University. Use specific reasons and details in your response.

Parents should be involved in the process of helping their children to choose a university. In this way, they can make an impact on how happy their children will be. If they have several children, they can pick a more lucrative subject such as medicine or law for their favourite child. If one of the children keeps misbehaving, the parents can pick a career that has low job prospects. For example, archaeology or history. 



TPO 26. Some people like to have their cell or mobile phone with them at all time. Other people prefer not to bring their cell or mobile phone with them everywhere they go, or they choose not to own one at all. Which do you prefer? Explain why.



I do not own a mobile phone at all. I think the government and the phone companies spy on us on our phone. It collects data about our locations at all times and sends this information so we are targeted for advertisements. It makes kidnapping me quite easy.

TPO 25. Some people do not enjoy shopping and shop only when they have a specific purchase to make. Others like to go shopping for pleasure whether or not they have something to buy. Which do you prefer and why?



TPO 24. Students benefit more from classes with a large number of students than they do from smaller classes.



TPO 23. Some people enjoy spending their free time alone in activities such as reading, thinking or writing. Others enjoy spending their free time in shared activities with other people. Which do you prefer and why?



TPO 22. Children should be required to learn practical skills in school, such as cooking or personal finance, in addition to academic subjects. Use details and examples to explain your opinion.



TPO 21. Your friends are the most important influence in your life. Use details and examples to explain your opinion.



TPO 20. Some people prefer to learn about current events from watching television news programs. Others prefer to read about current events in newspaper or on the Internet. Which do you think is better: watching the news or reading the news? Explain why.



TPO 19. More and more people are buying items on the Internet and from magazines or catalogs. Other people prefer shopping in a store. Which do you prefer and why?



TPO 18. It is important to learn about other cultures. Use details and examples to explain your opinion.



TPO 17. Students should not be allowed to bring cell phones (mobile phones) into the classroom. Explain your reasons, using specific details in your explanation.



TPO 16. Some people who unexpectedly received a large amount of money spend it on practical things, while others spend it for pleasure only. Which do you think is better and why?



TPO 15. It's important to remember and learn from the past.



TPO 14. One of the best ways to learn is by making mistakes.



TPO 13. When looking for information for a research project, some students prefer to get their information mainly from the Internet. Others prefer to mainly use printed materials such as books and academic journals. Which do you prefer, and why?



TPO 12. Some people believe it's essential for a person's education to learn to play a musical instrument. Others don't believe music education is important. Which view do you agree with? Explain why.



TPO 11. Some people think that children should be allowed to watch whatever television programs they choose to. Others think that parents should exercise control over the television programs their children watch. Which do you agree with? Explain why.



TPO 10. All children should be required to learn a second language in school.



TPO 09. Some people think that family members are the most important influence on young adults. Others believe that friends are the most important influence. Which do you agree with? Explain why.



TPO 08. Some people enjoy taking risks and trying new things. Others are not adventurous: they are cautious and prefer to avoid danger. Which behavior do you think is better? Explain why.



TPO 07. Learning through online courses is more effective than learning in the traditional classroom setting. 


TPO 06. Some people have one career throughout their lives. Other people do different kinds of work at different points in their lives. Which do you think is better? Explain why.



TPO 05. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Why or why not? Use details and examples to explain your answer. It is more important to study math or science than it is to study art or literature.



TPO 04. Many universities now offer academic courses over the Internet. However, some people still prefer learning in traditional classrooms. Which do you think is better? Explain why.



TPO 03. Some students prefer to work on class assignments by themselves. Others believe it is better to work in a group. Which do you prefer? Explain why.



TPO 02. Some college students choose to take courses in a variety of subject areas in order to get a broad education. Others choose to focus on a single subject area in order to have a deeper understanding of that area. Which approach to course selection do you think is better for students and why.



TPO 01. Some people believe that television has had a positive influence on society. Others believe it has had a negative influence on society. Which do you agree with and why?