2017-06-09 TOEFL: reading insertion, ind writing

Greg Malivuk
[email protected]
http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk - notes from all classes
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http://ed.ted.com/lessons/real-life-sunken-cities-peter-campbell
Why might many cities become sunken in the future?
https://coast.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/tools/slr (US only)
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Homework: finish 1.7.A (8-10) and complete the questions on the handout (Oxford) about addictive food.
Check your answers with your partner. Try to convince your partner of your answer if you disagree.
exercise 1.7.A (p. 131-132)
8 A (“This irritation” refers to the inflammation mentioned in the first sentence of the paragraph.)
9 D (The inserted sentence gives examples of the “variety of ethnic sources” mentioned in the previous sentence.)
10 B (This is a second example of two interdependent fields, and goes after the example of physical oceanographers and ocean engineers.)
Oxford p. 76-78
1 d - This explains which “race” the US is leading the world in. (We would probably say “with” if it were the US.)
2 c - This is additional detail about spending on fast food.
3 d
4 a
5 c - The portion refers to the whole serving you get at one of these restaurants.
6 b - This introduces the idea of examining a typical fast-food meal.
7 b - Beta-endorphins are just one example of opioids, and it’s the opioids that are naturally occurring painkillers.
8 d - it’s about the specific cluster of cells, not the midbrain in general
9 b - dopamine is the thing that’s produced, and both “it” and “its” in this sentence refer to it
10 d - In every other position, it interrupts the discussion of dopamine.
11 a
12 c - “This” usually refers to something from the previous sentence, often the whole content of the sentence itself. The full contrast between both clauses is what suggests tolerance, not just one.
13 b - What they would require is fat and sugar in general, not the specific liquid used in the experiment.
14 b - These are symptoms of withdrawal, so they fit best after the sentence that mentions withdrawal.
15 d - It refers to the fact that more obese people have fewer dopamine receptors.
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https://fastfoodnutrition.org/fast-food-restaurants - Nutrition information from different fast food menus.
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Writing Section: Last section of the test (after speaking)
- two tasks, about 1 hour total
1 integrated = 3 minutes to read a passage, time to hear a lecture on the same topic, 20 minutes to write about the points in the lecture and how they relate to the reading
2 independent = read a prompt, 30 minutes to write your answer to the prompt’s question
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The Independent prompt is a choice question (like the second independent speaking task). There are two types of choice questions:
- agree/disagree: “Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?”
- some people/other people: “Some people think… Others believe… Which do you prefer and why?”
	(Note that the second type of prompt could include three positions rather than just two.)
DELTA p. 396 has one of each type of prompt. The prompt always ends with something like, “Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.”
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You should aim for three separate reasons to support your opinion, and the result will be a typical five-paragraph essay, which is the most common “first essay” American students write.
https://www.google.com/search?q=five+paragraph+essay
The Five Paragraphs:
1 Introduction
	- Background and definitions (optional)
	- Describe the question you’re answering (this can be a paraphrase of the prompt)
	- Thesis statement: your own answer to the question
	- Lead-in: “I have three reasons to support my opinion.” (optional)
2 First Body Paragraph
	- Statement of the first reason: “My first reason is that…”
	- Details and examples for this reason: convince me the reason is true, and convince me that it’s a good reason for your opinion
3 (same for the second reason)
4 (same for the third reason)
5 Conclusion
	- restate your thesis and summarize your supporting reasons
	- Generalize with a prediction about the future or recommendation, or an acknowledgement of some reasons someone might pick the opposite choice.
Sample conclusion (for the second sample task on p. 396):
	If you have a job that doesn’t allow you to interact much with coworkers, or if you enjoy group activities like sports, then you would probably prefer to spend your free time with a lot of people. For me, however, quiet liesure time is the best, because of my job and the types of activities I enjoy.
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Typically, an effective independent response will have at least 300 words.
DELTA p. 419 has a description of the score levels for independent writing.
Your introduction should make it clear what (more or less) the prompt says, so the reader knows what it’s about even if they haven’t read the prompt.
People see a lot of advertising in newspapers and magazines, on signs, and on television. Today people even see ads in the movie theater! All of this advertising influences people’s behavior in a negative way. It influences how people spend their money, how they look at themselves, and how they communicate with other people.
- What was the prompt? (turn to p. 420 to check your answer)
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There are often multiple ways to disagree with a statement. One advantage of stating your opinion directly (instead of saying “I disagree”) is that you can make it perfectly clear how you disagree.
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DELTA p. 404 - Take 5 minutes to brainstorm and write a short outline for a response to prompt 3. (Identify your position and choose three reasons to support it, with a note or two on possible examples if you have time.)
Do the same thing for prompt 4.
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If the prompt is open to interpretation (What level of “school” for prompt 4? How young is “young” for prompt 2?), you should make it clear how you interpret it in your introduction.
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What are some ways to disagree with prompt 5?
- Artists and writers make more important contributions than scientists and engineers.
- Both groups make equally important contributions.
- True for some societies but the opposite is true for others.
- Some other group (for example business leaders) makes more important contributions than both.
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Homework: Respond to this writing prompt and email me at [email protected]
Happiness has different meanings for different people. Some people find happiness in their work, while others find it in personal relationships or in liesure activities. What makes you happy and why? Please give details and examples to support your response.