TOEFL Integrated Essay:
It is the first writing task on the TOEFL test.
First, you will have three minutes to read an article (four paragraphs, 250 to 300 words) about an academic topic.
Next, you will listen to a lecture (about 2 minutes) about the same topic.
Finally, you will have 20 minutes to write an essay about the relationship between the two sources. I recommend that you write about 280 words.
You can see the article while writing your essay, but you cannot hear the lecture again.
The Yellow crazy ants.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.
THE READING
The yellow crazy ant is one of the world’s most destructive invasive species (species that are not native to an area but rather introduced to it). It has spread to many regions of Earth and caused great damage to native ecosystems. In recent decades, the crazy ant has invaded part of a unique palm forest on one of the Seychelles Islands off the coast of Africa. Some strategies are being considered to stop the ant from spreading farther and damaging the unique ecosystem of the palm forest.
One of the strategies proposed to stop the ants is to use traps containing a low concentration of chemicals that are toxic to the ants. These ant traps have been successfully used in other locations, such as an island near Australia, where up to 99 percent of the invasive ant population has been killed by traps.
Another strategy would be to cut down broad-leaved trees, which are the ants’ favorite habitat. Broad-leaved trees host a type of insect that provides food (a sugary substance) for the yellow crazy ants. The broad-leaved trees are not native to the palm forest; they were introduced there recently. Removing the trees would not damage the palm forest ecosystem, but it would reduce the extent of the habitat preferred by the invasive ants, which might reduce their population.
Finally, it has been noted that ant populations are significantly denser near areas with human activity. Recently, a sharp increase in yellow crazy ants has been observed at one edge of the palm forest where a new visitor center was built, which suggests that more ants were transported to the area with construction material used for the center and that the ants have been eating food left behind by visitors there. Limiting human activity near the palm forest could help reduce ant populations.
THE LISTENING.
TEST TAKER'S RESPONSE.
TASK RESPONSE .
Both the reading and the listening argue about the feasibility of addressing the spread of the yellow crazy ants however, the arguments presented in the listening counteract the possible solutions presented in the reading.
The author of the passage proposes the use of traps with a little chemical concentration toxic to the ants, as was used on an island near Australia however, refuting the viability of the solution, the lecturer presumes such a solution would be ineffectual as it would evoke unwanted damage to the native ants as it hardly differentiates the crazy ants from native ants that require protection.
Suffice to note, the reading proposes cutting down the broad-leaves trees that act as habitants for the crazy ants, since they are not even natives to the area. In response, the lecturer thwarts the view as impractical by stating that crazy ants can survive in various habitants including open areas with soaring sunlight. Cutting the broad-leaved trees would generate areas of increased sunshine for the crazy ants to survive even better than before.
The reading states that ceiling human activities in the area would curb the spread of the yellow crazy ants. On the contrary, the lecturer foils this proposal by stating that though it might be a little useful, it would lead to dwindling of the economy of the area as palm forests attract tourists and scientists who are cardinal sources of income for the people in the area as they tour and carry out scientific research on rare species in the region.
(254 Words)