The audio transcripts and the key points are below. At the real TOEFL iBT test, you do not have access to them. We’re including them here so you can learn from the transcripts and the key points, but you should look at them after you complete the tasks.


Exercise 4.2.A

For this task, you will write a response to a question about a reading passage and a lecture. You may take notes, and you may use your notes to help you write your response. Your response will be scored on the quality of your writing and on how well you connect the points in the lecture with points in the reading.

Typically, an effective response will have 150 to 225 words.

Reading Time – 3 minutes

Click here for the reading passage

Now listen to the recording. When you hear the question, begin your response. You may look at the reading passage during the writing time.

Click here for the prompt

Writing Time – 20 minutes

Click to see the key points

Exercise 4.2.B

For this task, you will write a response to a question about a reading passage and a lecture. You may take notes, and you may use your notes to help you write your response. Your response will be scored on the quality of your writing and on how well you connect the points in the lecture with points in the reading.

Typically, an effective response will have 150 to 225 words.

Reading Time – 3 minutes

Click here for the reading passage

Now listen to the recording. When you hear the question, begin your response. You may look at the reading passage during the writing time.

Click here for the prompt

Writing Time – 20 minutes

Click to see the key points

Do not look at the transcripts until after you finish the tasks.

Transcript for Exercise 4.2.A

Transcript for Exercise 4.2.B

Extension

1

With your teacher and classmates, discuss symbols, shortcuts, and abbreviations that will help you take notes quickly while you are listening.

2

Review your response to the writing question in Exercise 4.2.A or 4.2.B. Analyze and evaluate your response by answering the following questions:

a. What important points from the lecture does my response convey?

b. What examples and explanation does my response include?

c. How can I improve my responses for this type of question in the future?

3

Share and discuss your response to the writing question in Exercise 4.2.A or 4.2.B. Work in a group of three students. Make copies of your response, and give a copy to everyone in your group. Read and discuss each student’s writing. Answer the following questions about each:

a. What important points from the lecture does the response convey?

b. What examples and explanation does the response include?

c. Does the response answer the question effectively?

Make suggestions that will help each student improve in the future.

4

Obtain permission to make a recording of a real college or university lecture. (Topics in history, anthropology, sociology, and psychology are good choices.) Bring your recording to class. In class, everyone listens to three minutes of the recording. While listening, everyone takes notes about the important information in the lecture. Don’t try to write down everything. Write only the key words and phrases that you think are important to remember. Then break into groups of three or four students each. Compare your notes with the notes taken by the other students in your group. Listen again to the same three–minute recording. In your group, try to agree on the key points of the lecture. Write a summary of the lecture. Choose a student to read your group’s summary to the whole class.



Free 45-minute Lesson for TOEFL Speaking

Discover which popular Task 1 Introduction sentence is a “score-killer” and the “perfect” alternative for rapidly earning points and contributing to a high score like 26

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