9月4日托福考情速递

9月4日托福考试落下帷幕，考情速递也为大家整理好啦

学术讨论新题有难度哦！但是口语整套都重复旧题啦

快来看看本场具体考了哪些内容吧

阅读

R1

人类的大脑在成长过程中分为左右两个半球，左半球通常负责控制身体的右侧，而右半球则控制身体的左侧。右半球与音乐和情感表达密切相关，而左半球则与语言和听觉能力紧密相连。大多数人类是右利手，即在日常生活中更倾向于使用右手，这种偏好是由左半球控制的。相对地，左利手的人则由右半球控制。然而，并非所有人类的能力都完全由大脑的一侧控制，因为左右半球之间存在相互连接和协作。

科学家们对大脑何时开始分工这一问题充满兴趣。目前普遍认为，这种分工从婴儿时期，甚至在出生前就开始了。医生们观察到，大多数胎儿在子宫内时，身体的右侧会朝向母亲的腹部，即右耳更倾向于接收外界的声音，这表明左半球负责处理语言信息。科学家还发现，从出生那一刻起，左半球的电刺激连接就比右半球更频繁。幼儿在翻身时也更倾向于向右侧翻身。

随着孩子的成长，大脑两半球的专业化趋势逐渐增强，并在成年后趋于稳定。科学家们注意到，尽管婴儿时期并非完全的右利手，他们也会使用左手进行某些活动，但随着年龄的增长，这种偏好会变得更加明显。科学家们认为，这是因为儿童的大脑在早期尚未完全功能化，因此表现出较强的可塑性。婴幼儿时期大脑受损后，恢复速度特别快，而青少年时期虽然也能修复，但速度较慢。

对于大脑发育较慢的孩子，可能会出现一些问题。科学家们指出，如果孩子在5岁左右还不能确定是左利手还是右利手，他们可能会出现动作迟缓和阅读障碍等问题。虽然并非所有阅读障碍的孩子都存在大脑发育迟缓的问题，但许多这样的孩子确实会表现出左右大脑功能不协调的情况。

R2

许多森林疾病的爆发主要源于人类贸易。几百年前的欧洲，从北美运输原木，因树木携带病毒，疾病被引入欧洲。约 100 年后，美洲从亚洲引进木材，导致美国东部特定树木大批死亡。近期，从国外引进的树木又将病毒带入英国，使英国一种树木大量死亡。这些引进的病毒很少消灭整片森林，只针对特定物种造成伤害。特定物种被消灭后，下面的树木能获得更多阳光生长，如美国东部的枫树因上层树木死亡获得成长机会。老树木死亡后，相关病毒也会死亡，英国一种树木消亡后，病原体死亡，几十年后该物种又繁盛起来。

森林受周期性更替循环推动向前发展，而非恒定不动。森林面临多种危害，如火、动物啃食，昆虫威胁也很重要，昆虫携带病毒和细菌，啃食树木的同时，病毒和细菌也会伤害树木，且细菌破坏力可能更强。一些甲虫幼虫更喜用细菌而非树木本身，细菌存在使甲虫数量大幅增加。

在欧洲，一种由虫子传播、虫子趴在甲壳虫背部移动的病毒几乎消灭了一个特定物种，该物种仅剩下极小一部分。在热带雨林高纬度地区，寒冷冬季会杀死很多病毒，但在温暖地区，病毒常年存在，为病毒从一个地区快速移动到另一个地区创造条件。由于种子传播距离有限，树木幼苗生长在附近地区，存活下来的幼苗往往是离原来主要发展地区较远的幼苗，这增加了物种多样性。

听力

Conversation

A trip with a university club

Student Jeff discussed several topics with the professor. Jeff has recently been working part-time as a journalist and wrote an article about coastal erosion and the beach restoration project at Brindley Beach. He mentioned planning to take some photos of the restoration work. The professor then proposed that Jeff could help use some of his photos to support his research article on the rate of cliff erosion at Brindley Beach and promised to mention Jeff's name in the article. Jeff also made a request. He hopes to sign up for the rock climbing trip in the Rocky Mountains next month. As a certified guide, he thinks this is a great opportunity to showcase his work. However, he is worried that he may not be able to participate because he hasn't paid the club membership fee. The professor informed Jeff that the student activity fee no longer covers the club membership fee and there can be no exceptions. However, the professor proposed a compromise: if Jeff is willing to work as a temporary guide for the club, he can participate in this trip and get paid. This arrangement is very suitable for Jeff, and he agreed to this proposal.

2.make arrangements for an event

In the conversation, the student and the staff member of the student activities office discussed a new plan for the campus knitting club. The student said that the club raised about 1000 dollars for the city library last year by selling self-made scarves, gloves and hats. This time, they want to try some new ways. For example, they will directly donate knitted hats and gloves to community organizations in need. At the same time, they also hope to hold a clothing donation activity to collect old clothes on campus to supplement the items they make. The staff member suggested that the student first learn about the Student Government Association (SGA) on campus. Because the SGA holds a coat donation activity every year and has already cooperated with a project in the city. The staff member proposed that the club could consider cooperating with the SGA. In this way, they may get more donated items and may also attract some fabric lovers who have not joined the club. The staff member agreed to contact Joe Grayson, the person in charge of the SGA, to formally arrange this cooperation. The student agreed to this suggestion and said that before taking further actions, he would discuss with the vice president of the club first. The staff member allowed the student to use his phone to contact the vice president, and then he will try to contact Joe Grayson.

3. In the conversation, student Brian asked about the swaying of trees in the wind. The professor explained the “sway rates” of trees, that is, the time it takes for a tree to swing back after bending. This rate can vary from half a second to 20 seconds. The degree of bending and sway rate of a tree depend on the height, rigidity, and branch structure of the tree. Tall trees with heavy branches sway more slowly, while slender trees with evenly distributed branches sway faster. The professor also pointed out that palm trees are different from ordinary wooden trees because the internal structure of palm trees is more like grass than wood. The student mentioned whether the weight of leaves in spring would affect the sway rate. The professor replied that the sway rate of trees would be affected by the weight of leaves. In addition, the water absorption and evaporation of trees also affect the sway rate: during the day, trees sway more slowly due to water evaporation, and after replenishing water at night, the sway rate will increase. If the sway rate of trees in a certain area is always slow and there is no obvious change at night, this may indicate insufficient soil moisture. This kind of information may be helpful for evaluating climate change.

Lecture

1.Biology, discussed sexual dimorphism, that is, differences in body shape or behavior between males and females of the same species. For example, male peacocks have bright feathers to attract mates, which is a manifestation of sexual dimorphism. The professor also mentioned that sexual dimorphism is not just for attracting mates. It may also be driven by ecological factors. As Darwin's theory proposes, sexual dimorphism may help males and females utilize different food resources. The professor took the purple-throated hummingbird on Saint Lucia Island as an example to explain Darwin's hypothesis. The beak of the male hummingbird is short and straight, while the beak of the female hummingbird is long and curved. Studies have found that male hummingbirds usually feed from a flower named H.caribaea, while female hummingbirds prefer another flower named H.bihai. The shapes of the two flowers match the shapes of the hummingbird's beaks, which shows that sexual dimorphism does play a role in the utilization of food resources. The study also found that the matching of beak shape and flower enables hummingbirds to use energy more efficiently when feeding. Interestingly, in areas without H.caribaea, H.bihai has evolved two different flower shapes, one suitable for male hummingbirds to feed on. This shows that the relationship between hummingbirds and flowers is mutual, and coevolution has influenced each other's evolution. The professor believes that it is meaningless to discuss whether there were birds or flowers first. What is more important is to understand this dynamic coevolution process.

2.Anthropology, the professor talked about modern rituals and used the awarding ceremony of the Olympic Games to emphasize several of its characteristics, such as the steps of awarding medals and playing the national anthem are unchanged and inherited, and emphasized its significance. Later, the student asked what is the difference between habit and ritual. The professor emphasized the meaning given by ritual to people. For example, for Olympic champions, it is not for the medal but for the process of the ritual. The professor asked the students what these athletes would think if the awarding ceremony was cancelled and only the medals were mailed. Finally, the professor used going to a coffee shop as an example to show the difference between ritual and habit: Ritual can give meaning! Ritual can also be private. For example, going to a coffee shop to drink coffee. If this is regarded as a start of a good day~Obtaining this little bit of certainty of a familiar coffee shop at an uncertain time, then this thing has become a ritual.

3.Philosophy, the professor discussed the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates. Socrates lived from 469 to 399 BC and spent most of his life in Athens. He is considered the founder of Western philosophy. However, Socrates never recorded his thoughts himself. Our understanding of him mainly comes from the records of other authors. First, Aristophanes introduced Socrates through the play "The Clouds", but this play is a satirical comedy. The image of Socrates in it is exaggerated and satirical and should not be regarded as an accurate historical record. Secondly, Plato, Socrates' student and friend, recorded Socrates' thoughts through dialogues. However, Plato's dialogues are not only philosophical discussions but also literary creations. Many of the views may reflect Plato's own thoughts rather than Socrates' true views. Third, Xenophon, a historian and Socrates' student, also wrote dialogues about Socrates. Compared with Plato, Xenophon is considered a more reliable recorder of his life, although his records may also be subject to certain subjective influences. Finally, Aristotle, Plato's student, wrote about Socrates. Sometimes he discusses Plato's portrayal of Socrates, and sometimes he tries to expound Socrates' real thoughts, but the boundaries of these contents are not always clear. Overall, although the descriptions of Socrates by various authors are different, they all agree that Socrates likes to discuss philosophical questions through dialogues and is unrivaled in debating skills. This consensus is very important for understanding Socrates' true image.

4.Chemistry, defined organic matter. First, it was stated that organic matter can only be synthesized by life. Then an experiment refuted that non-living things can also synthesize. Another organic matter synthesized by non-living things was introduced. Then this organic matter is a color raw material and is very complex. Finally, the definition of organic matter was redefined.

5.Biology, talked about symbiotic relationships and mentioned the symbiotic relationship between bees and another organism.

6.In a literature class, the professor discussed Shakespeare's plays and their publication history. The professor pointed out that in Shakespeare's time, plays were not regarded as literary works but only as entertainment performances. Although some plays were published in "quarto" format during his lifetime, this was not considered an important literary publication. Quarto refers to a book printed after folding the paper into four parts. In contrast, "folio" was used for more academic works such as classical poetry of ancient Greece and Rome. The publication of Shakespeare's plays in quarto format reflects the contempt for plays at that time. However, Shakespeare's contemporary Ben Jonson published a "folio" book containing plays, prose, and poetry, which caused controversy but also became a turning point. A few years later, Shakespeare's "First Folio" was also published in folio format and became the first complete compilation of all Shakespeare's plays. This version is not only complete but also extremely important to scholars because of its accuracy, as it was compiled by two of Shakespeare's relatives and friends according to his manuscripts. The "First Folio" is crucial for preserving Shakespeare's original works because the quarto versions of some plays may be inaccurate and even contain different versions of the plays. Moreover, there are still more than 200 "First Folios" today, and their history and the changes of their owners show the rise in Shakespeare's prestige. Currently, most important libraries own the "First Folio". Many of them are owned by an institution that has the resources to protect and preserve these precious books.

口语

TASK 1独立口语题

Your university is organizing a series of guest lectures. Some people think that speakers with controversial opinions should not be invited to speak at the university. Others believe that the university should feature variety of speakers, regardless of their opinions.

Which point of view do you agree with? Explain why, using details and examples in your response.

TASK 2校园题

Restrict Access to University Garden

Professors in the botany department conduct research on the plants and flowers that grow in the university botanical garden. However, it has become difficult for us to do this research, because students who visit the garden often pick the flowers and step on the plants. I think the university should close the garden to students and other visitors and only allow researchers in the area. This would ensure the protection of the plants and flowers so they can be used for research purposes. Also, there are a few parks located near town, not far from the university so students would still have ample opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. Sincerely,Professor Mary Green

Listening：Man disagrees

Firstly, he thinks this is a bit extreme. If they want to take care of it, they should start by letting students know that it needs to be protected. Most students don't even realize that they are doing research there. So if students can be informed, he believes that everyone can abide by the rules.

Secondly, the park near the school is not as close as the professor said. Moreover, most students don't have cars. There is also no public transportation there. So students really rely on this beautiful place on campus.

TASK 3学术讲座题

Distinction Bias

When making decisions about what products to buy, people must often choose between very similar products that have only minor differences. When the options are presented simultaneously, so they can be viewed side by side, people tend to exaggerate the distinction, or differences between them. This is known as the distinction bias While the differences between the options would not be noticeable if each were evaluated separately, the fact that the options are presented together makes the differences between them seem greater. The distinction bias can lead people to make bad buying decisions, since they may place too much significance on what are actually small differences.

Explain how the example from the lecture illustrates the concept of the distinction bias.

Listening:

The professor wants to buy a TV with good picture quality. There are two TVs in the store that meet the professor's description and are placed together. He thinks that the picture of one of them is brighter and clearer than that of the other TV. However, the TV with a clearer picture costs an extra one hundred dollars. The professor finally spent an extra 100 dollars to buy it. A few weeks later, the professor went to a friend's house and found that his friend's TV was the one he didn't buy. It seemed that the picture was equally clear. Therefore, the professor began to wonder if it was really worth spending that extra money, because the professor might have been equally satisfied with the cheaper TV.

TASK 4 学术讲座题

Theme: Two adaptations that can help animals hang upside down more comfortably without consuming excessive energy.

These animals have adaptations that help them hold on while they're hanging. If they hang upside down for a long time or even sleep while hanging upside down, they need a less strenuous way so that they don't consume too much energy. Therefore, certain parts of their bodies are often specially adjusted to make it easy for them to be suspended.

Example: Bats. Some bats hang upside down on branches when resting and sleeping. But they don't need to consume energy to hang on branches. Because the tendons of their back feet have a special locking adaptation ability, their feet can be locked on branches effortlessly. In fact, even when they are asleep, their feet will stay wrapped around the branch.

Adaptations to make breathing easier. This is because when an animal is upside down, due to gravity, its internal organs usually press down on the lungs. This makes it difficult to breathe. Expanding the lungs requires more effort because other organs are pressing down.

Example: Sloths. Sloths spend a lot of time hanging upside down and have an effective adaptation to this problem. Its internal organs are actually connected to the chest cavity. So when it is upside down, the organs will not press on the lungs. This means it can breathe easily in this position.

写作

综合写作

Reading

In the sediment of the Rhône River near Arles, France,archaeologists discovered a life-size marble bust (artistic sculpture of the head and neck) that some claim is the oldest known representation of Julius Caesar, the famous leader of the Roman state, created around 46B.C E, when Caesar was in his fifties. Those making the claim base it on three arguments.

Style of sculpture

First, the bust was made using the realist sculpture style that was introduced to Rome during Caesar's time. Older Roman sculpture styles often depicted people in an ideal way, ignoring any flaws in their appearance and making them look younger. in contrast, the principle of realism prevalent in Caesars' time was to represent people's'physical features faithfully, even if they were not attractive.The Rhône River bust is a completely realistic portrayal of a man in his fifties.

Resemblance to other portraits of Julius Caesar

Second, the bust shares some intriguing details with other portraits of Caesar that are known to have been made during Caesar's lifetime. For example, Caesar was depicted on money(silver coins) used during his rule. The coins show Caesar's hair to be much the same as it is represented in the Rhône River bust.

Location of bust

Third, the fact that the bust was found in the Rhône River sediment supports the claim that it depicts Julius Caesar.Caesar was violently overthrown in 44 B.C.E. and replaced by another leader. In this circumstance, it could be politically dangerous for Roman citizens to keep a bust of Caesar. It might be interpreted as a lack of respect for the new leader. So it is likely that the bust of Caesar would have been disposed of very soon after 44 B.C.E. Throwing a marble bust into the deep Rhône River would have been a good way to get rid of it fast.

Listening

The reading has presented several reasons to support the claim that the bust found in the Rhone River is the representation of the famous leader of the Roman state, Julius Caesar. But these ideas are all rejected by the professor in the lecture.

First, the reading claims that the style of the bust appeared during Caesar's time, as the sculpture shows realistic features of a man. However, this idea is refuted by the professor in the lecture who claims that the style of realist still continued long after the death of Caesar, indicating that the bust could also have been made in much later time period.

Second, the reading mentions that some facial details on the sculpture are very much similar to that depicted on other portraits of Caesar. On the other hand, the professor in the lecture disagrees with this idea by mentioning that although the feature of hair on the bust matches with that on the coin, othe features do not. For instance, the coin depicted that Caesar had a slim nose and a long neck, but these features are not in accordance with that shown on the bust.

Third, the reading states that the bust could have been thrown away by common people in the Rhone River, since they would need to avoid possible dangers from the new leader that replaced Caesar. Nevertheless, the speaker argues that a sculpture of a Roman god was also found in the the river, and there was absolutely no reason for the local residents to get rid of such statue.Therefore, the bust mentioned in the reading could also have been simply thrown away in the river, in which people would often throw away garbage.

学术讨论

Your professor is teaching a class on public policy. 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:

We have read studies that explain the negative impact of social media on both children and adults. Many believe that social media will remain widely used in the future, since it is both popular and useful in some contexts, but because of the problems it poses, it should be regulated in some way. In your opinion, should governments regulate social media platforms, or should social media companies regulate their platforms themselves? Why do you think so?

Student 1: I believe social media companies should regulate themselves.There are plenty of social media platforms on the market, so the competition is tough. For example, to appeal to parents, a social media platform could publicize that they have stringent regulations for children's use of the platform, and in this way it could attract more users who care about children's safety.

Student 2: Social media companies should be taking an active role in combatting the negative effects, but that is not really happening.I hear many stories of false information spreading around, sometimes causing irreparable damage to people's reputations. Therefore, the government should put stricter regulations on the companies, and they should be punished for not following the rules.