TOEFL Integrated Writing Questions 2023

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 By Alina Mygou

TOEFL Integrated Writing Questions 2023

The page shows TOEFL integrated writing questions on recent TOEFL speaking tests by our visitors or Internet resources. We removed the duplicated questions and organized them by test date.

As we know, TOEFL integrated writing questions include reading and listening materials. It has 3 minutes of reading material and similar size listening so that it's impossible to describe the original questions precisely. We try to sketch these questions briefly to help candidates understand the big picture on the page.

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2022-08-19: Task
A singe-stream recycling system (garbage sorting, where one truck collects all the recyclables and brings them to a container, which then goes to the sorter)

Reading: A singe-stream recycling system

Main points:
  • Point 1: The system is unsafe and detrimental to the health of staff;
  • Point 2: Because of material mixing, there will be pollution during the sorting process;
  • Point 3: It is expensive to build the system.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Protective clothing can be provided to workers, and necessary safety training can be strengthened to protect the health of workers;
  • Point 2: Garbage collection is more convenient and easier than before. People can sort garbage when throwing garbage. Although there will still be waste, it is generally much better than before;
  • Point 3: Although the system's cost is expensive, the rest is low because only one truck is needed, and less labor is required.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining A single-stream recycling system in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-08-19
2022-07-15: Task
congestion charge

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Improve road efficiency and reduce transportation time.;
  • Point 2: Improve the local environment and reduce noise pollution;
  • Point 3: Increase taxes.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Some people make detours to avoid tolls, which increases the time on the road;
  • Point 2: Park cars outside the congestion charging zone, causing more pollution and noise;
  • Point 3: People will ride the subway more than they drive, so taxes won't necessarily go up.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-07-15
2022-07-08: Task
Effects of feeding birds.

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: It is easy for birds to gather and spread diseases;
  • Point 2: It is easy for the bird to be harmed, such as hitting;
  • Point 3: Adequate food will affect the migration and mating of birds.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Birds are initially gregarious;
  • Point 2: Although vulnerable to accidental injuries, adequate food can make them stronger;
  • Point 3: Birds don't migrate just because food is abundant.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-07-08
Vocabulary: Birds
2022-07-04: Task
Challenges in the construction of the Erie Canal

Reading: Challenges in the construction of the Erie Canal

Main points:
  • Point 1: The local topography makes construction difficult.
  • Point 2: Insufficient labor force.
  • Point 3: The benefits generated by the canal do not justify the high costs.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Assisted by animal power, they can work in winter.
  • Point 2: Immigrants from Europe can provide enough labor.
  • Point 3: Canals can save huge transportation costs, which are more significant than construction costs.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-07-04
  • 2022-04-03
2023-06-20: Task
The reason for the extinction of dinosaurs.

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Dinosaurs were silted to death because the bones were trapped in the mud and could not escape.
  • Point 2: Dinosaurs were poisoned to death by polluted water, probably because the content of certain substances in the bones exceeded the standard.
  • Point 3: Dinosaurs died in the flood because the bones were not visibly damaged.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: If a dinosaur is silted to death, the skeleton of the dinosaur is in a dead position, not a standing position.
  • Point 2: If the fish hadn't died, the polluted water wouldn't poison the dinosaurs.
  • Point 3: After the animal carcass stays on dry land for some time, some changes will occur, such as muscles becoming more tense and the head pulled back. The dinosaur's carcass fit these characteristics, so it is speculated that it stayed on land for some time before it became sediment.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-06-20
2023-06-14: Task
How do people on Easter Island drink water during a prolonged drought?

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Collect rainwater through the basin.
  • Point 2: Drink water from a volcanic lake.
  • Point 3: Drink well water.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: The basin collects very little water.
  • Point 2: No water is in the volcanic lake during the dry season.
  • Point 3: The healthy water comes from bedrock. During the dry season, the water content in the well is too salty, so it is not suitable for drinking.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-06-14
2023-06-10: Task
Cruises in the North Sea.

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Many ice floes in the North Sea will damage the hull, and icebergs might harm passengers.
  • Point 2: The cruise ship's engine will produce a lot of pollution particles, causing pollution to the environment.
  • Point 3: Too many passengers landing will have adverse effects on residents.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: You can use the research ship to break the ice and avoid icebergs.
  • Point 2: The fuel current cruise ships use has no sulfur and will not pollute the environment.
  • Point 3: There are not many tourists, and they will be divided into many groups, and each group can only visit one place; tourists will bring economic income to residents and contribute to local economic development.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-06-10
2023-06-03: Task
Discussion on the reasons for the disappearance of chinook salmon.

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Pink salmon of competing species compete with it for food.
  • Point 2: Ocean warming destroys habitats.
  • Point 3: Predators such as sharks lead to the reduction of chinook salmon.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: The chinook salmon forages in deep offshore waters, and the pink salmon forages in near-surface waters in remote seas, so there is little competition.
  • Point 2: The decrease in chinook salmon occurred decades before ocean warming and was independent of temperature fluctuations.
  • Point 3: Researchers put a tracker on chinook salmon to make them swim slower and more vulnerable to predators.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-06-03
2023-05-13: Task
Whether to build wind turbines in the Great Lakes region.

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: The project will create more job opportunities and benefit the local economy.
  • Point 2: The freshwater of the Great Lakes does minor abrasive damage to the turbine, which makes for lower maintenance costs.
  • Point 3: Using water resources to generate electricity helps reduce dependence on coal and natural gas, and is conducive to environmental protection.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: The project will cause enormous financial pressure.
  • Point 2: Fresh water may crack the turbine when it freezes in winter, resulting in higher-than-expected maintenance costs.
  • Point 3: The lubricating oil the turbine uses will emit a substance that will degrade the water quality and make it undrinkable.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-05-13
2023-05-10: Task
Methods of Controlling Overgrowth of Gamba Grass.

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Use chemical herbicides;
  • Point 2: Introducing native plants to limit their living space;
  • Point 3: Introduce large herbivores to eat.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Herbicides can only be effective in moderate areas and areas with suitable temperatures, but the weather in Australia is very hot, and this plant does not absorb herbicides
  • Point 2: The fencing method will only work temporarily for one season, as this grass grows faster than native plants so that it can spread quickly.
  • Point 3: Introducing elephants is also not feasible, but will create bigger problems.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-05-10
2023-05-06: Task
Pros and Cons of Building a Nuclear Power Plant.

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: It is not safe to build nuclear power plants. The overheating problem of building a nuclear power plant may lead to nuclear radiation leakage, endangering human beings and the environment;
  • Point 2: The construction cost of nuclear power plants is too expensive;
  • Point 3: Wind power is a better option, renewable, non-polluting, and cheap.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: The pebble bed reactor (spherical bed reactor) can solve overheating;
  • Point 2: In the long run, although the construction cost of nuclear power plants is very expensive, the raw materials used in operation are cheap, while the prices of oil and gas used in other power plants are constantly rising;
  • Point 3: Wind power is unreliable and unstable due to geographical constraints.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-05-06
2023-04-29: Task
The cause of the formation of small photospheres on wet ground.

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Biogas combustion;
  • Point 2: Mineral discharge produces sparks;
  • Point 3: The glowing fungus got on the bird.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: The spark of the gas reaction is fixed in one place while this spark is moving;
  • Point 2: The sparks produced by minerals are underground and will not appear on the surface;
  • Point 3: The glowing part of the fungus is in the middle, and it isn't easy to get on the bird.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-04-29
2023-04-26: Task
Vampire squid feeds on marine snow.

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Lack of oxygen;
  • Point 2: Vulnerable to predators;
  • Point 3: Unlike other species of this species.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Don't need to catch prey and don't need much oxygen;
  • Point 2: The predator is difficult to see underwater, and the vampire squid can also emit light to scare the predator away;
  • Point 3: Different vampire squid's relative feed habits are good, so vampire squid does not have to compete for food;
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-04-26
2023-04-15: Task
Why do marine life collectively die in one place?

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Lagoons, earthquakes, or storms led to blockage of the link with the ocean, and water dried out;
  • Point 2: A virus killed them all;
  • Point 3: An algae plant is poisonous. After the small fish ate the aquatic plant, the big fish ate the small fish and finally died together.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: There are still minerals on the seabed. Minerals will be found when the lagoon is dry, but there are no minerals in the desert;
  • Point 2: One virus can't kill so many different kinds of marine animals;
  • Point 3: Even if the algae is poisonous, many vegetarian fish will not kill them if they eat the toxins in their bodies.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-04-15
2023-04-01: Task
Pterosaurs needed parental guidance in flight from childhood.

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: According to the position of the pterosaur fossils, the adult pterosaur and the young pterosaur are together;
  • Point 2: Pterosaurs had mature wings;
  • Point 3: Studies have shown that pterosaurs are very similar to a type of bird.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: The change in pterosaur fossils is due to nature, such as floods, which make the initially distant life seem to be together;
  • Point 2: Pterosaurs were not born with mature wings;
  • Point 3: Pterosaurs are very similar to a type of bird whose parents left them early, and they developed flight independently. Pterosaurs are very similar to them.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-03-08
  • 2022-03-03
2023-03-22: Task
Antarctica was much warmer in ancient times than it is now.

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Pollen grains were distributed in Antarctica.
  • Point 2: A high density of carbon dioxide means high volcanic activity.
  • Point 3: The presence of something means it used to rain a lot in Antarctica.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Pollen may have been carried by ocean currents or wind.
  • Point 2: Despite high volcanic activity, CO2 densities remeasured by improved methods are not as high as thought.
  • Point 3: All plants abort deuterium when it rains, even though their ability to absorb and retain it varies widely.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-03-22
2023-03-08: Task
About banning mineral water bottles

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: It is good for the environment.
  • Point 2: It is good for people's health.
  • Point 3: It saves money.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Carbonated drinks also need plastic, and reducing mineral water bottles alone is ineffective in protecting the environment.
  • Point 2: If people have no water to drink when they go out, they must drink beverages. Drinks have too much sugar and are not healthy.
  • Point 3: People will go to other cities to buy bottled mineral water, and at the same time, merchants will raise the prices of other beverages.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-03-08
2023-02-26: Task
eBooks vs. Paper Books

Reading: hopefully electronic because of 3 benefits

Main points:
  • Point 1: Save money
  • Point 2: Environmental protection
  • Point 3: Learn efficiently.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: In the long run, e-books do not save money, and the paper version is once and for all; for the electronic version, you need to update the key and pay an additional fee.
  • Point 2: If the e-book is used frequently for a long time, it will be broken, leading to more serious environmental pollution.
  • Point 3: The audience of the experiment where reading e-books will learn effectively is not random but arranged.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-02-26
2023-02-11: Task
Explaining the decline in North American puffin populations

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Fierce competition for limited food
  • Point 2: Virus infection
  • Point 3: Ocean warming has decreased plankton, the primary food source and nutrition for puffins.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: If they die only because of competition for food, there will always be surviving puffins. After some time, food and puffins will form a new balance, and the number of puffins will not continue to decline.
  • Point 2: So far, no apparent signs of viral infection have been found on puffin carcasses.
  • Point 3: Salmon and other birds that feed on plankton did not die due to plankton decline.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-02-11
2023-02-07: Task
Reasons why the Florida Everglades were destroyed

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Alien species destroy local ecosystems.
  • Point 2: The continuous dryness caused by the reduction of upstream water makes the local environment gradually too dry for species to inhabit.
  • Point 3: Accumulating mercury from pollution has poisoned native species and caused mass mortality.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Encourage local farmers to avoid using the fertility of exotic plant growth to restore the original ecological balance.
  • Point 2: Close part of the drainage facilities designed and constructed for flood control to ensure the amount of water upstream.
  • Point 3: Require surrounding factories to use low-mercury coal instead of high-mercury coal to reduce pollution.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-02-07
2023-01-14: Task
Does Rhino's remigration work?

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Re-migration of rhinos is difficult and dangerous, and there will be losses during the implementation process, affecting the reproduction of rhinos.
  • Point 2: If some older male rhinos are selected, it will affect the fertility; if the female rhinos and their children are separated, it will also have a negative impact.
  • Point 3: The relocation of rhinos has not stopped poaching. Regardless of where they are, poachers still catch rhinos because their horns are precious.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Rhinos are more at risk of being poached in South Africa than the short-term dangers in transit, and the mortality rate of rhino relocation is not as high.
  • Point 2: The executors of the plan will carefully select rhinos so that the breeding chain of rhinos will not be cut off, and there will be no hidden dangers.
  • Point 3: The government will protect the program. There is a large area that poachers will not find easily.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-01-14
  • 2021-05-08
2023-01-10: Task
The decline of beetle species in the United States

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Farmers use pesticides, insecticides. Although beetles are not the target of farmers, the pesticides left on the ground are still poisonous.
  • Point 2: Habitat fragment: Human occupation of new land increases and fragments their habitat.
  • Point 3: Compete with scavenger mammals: They have the same food source. Therefore, scavenger mammals and burying beetles compete for food, making beetle food less and less.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: The American Burying Beetle decreased before farmers in a particular area used pesticides; in another place, farmers also used a lot of pesticides, but the beetle lived well.
  • Point 2: Another kind of beetle with a similar habitat did not die, and the number of beetles in other similar habitats did not decrease significantly, so this statement cannot be established.
  • Point 3: American burying beetles have a well-developed olfactory system and a keen sense of smell. They can quickly find food in the distance, hide the food they get underground, and emit chemicals to prevent the smell of food from being discovered by other animals.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2023-01-10
2022-11-19: Task
U.S. burying bug populations in decline

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Use of pesticides;
  • Point 2: The living environment is destroyed;
  • Point 3: Scavenging mammals compete with them for food。
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Pesticides were introduced before the beetles. In one area, beetle populations declined before farmers applied pesticides. It is used often in other areas, but the beetle lives on just fine;
  • Point 2: Other insects with similar living environments are not affected;
  • Point 3: Beetles have a keen sense of smell and can quickly find food at a distance. After finding the food, it leaves a chemical on the food that interferes with the scavenger's scent, so other animals don't threaten it.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-11-19
Vocabulary: Environment
2022-11-16: Task
Purpose of Irish Round Tower Architecture

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: It may be a fortress to resist foreign invaders;
  • Point 2: It may be a bell tower;
  • Point 3: Possibly a watchtower where guards can see enemies, residents, or visitors.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Forts are for supporting heavy objects above, not for defense;
  • Point 2: No imprint or residue of the bell;
  • Point 3: It is impossible to see the outside from the inside of the fort because there are too few windows to look outside conveniently.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-11-16
2022-10-29: Task
A ghost freighter in the US sinks, then finds out why

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Pirate attacks because that area has always been known for piracy;
  • Point 2: A dangerous liquid they were transporting leaked and would cause an explosion, so they probably evacuated the cargo ship;
  • Point 3: Because the ship was damaged and sinking slowly, the captain ordered everyone to abandon the ship and escape to a nearby safe island with lifeboats.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: The purpose of the pirates is to extort ransom or rob because no one has received the extortion message, and the valuables on board have not been lost, so it is not a pirate activity;
  • Point 2: If this liquid leaks, the smell will linger for a long time because there is no smell left at the scene, and the sailor's logbook does not record related leakage accidents, so this statement is also untenable;
  • Point 3: These crew members are very experienced. They know that even with this damage, the ship can continue to sail for many days until they reach a safe area. Therefore, taking the riskier option of abandoning the ship and escaping on a lifeboat is impossible.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-10-29
2022-09-07: Task
What is the use of a narwhal's horn?

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Break through the ice to breathe;
  • Point 2: Fight for territory;
  • Point 3: Detect the surrounding environment.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: The horn is easy to bend under pressure, it isn't easy to pierce the ice, and the whale can swim to other places to breathe;
  • Point 2: It's not a fight; it's because the observer didn't see clearly;
  • Point 3: Very few female narwhals have horns.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-09-07
2022-06-26: Task
The temperature of Antarctica in ancient times was 11 degrees higher than it is now

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Pollen is found there, indicating that it is warmer;
  • Point 2: The concentration of carbon dioxide is high, and volcanic occurrences are relatively frequent;
  • Point 3: The presence of a particular plant indicates a lot of rainfall.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: The pollen may have come by water from the ocean;
  • Point 2: (Not available)
  • Point 3: The existence of this plant has nothing to do with temperature.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-06-26
2022-06-11: Task
Origin of Species Madagascar

Reading: Ancestors of mammals arrived in Madagascar from continental Africa

Main points:
  • Point 1: Arrived in Madagascar due to accidental factors, such as floods, natural disasters, etc.;
  • Point 2: The surrounding seawater will not bring animals to the island because the seawater will not flow in that direction;
  • Point 3: There are 400km between the mainland and the island so the journey will be very long, and the animals can't live that long.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Genetic research has found that at least four species on the island have genes derived from mainland mammals;
  • Point 2: Through the change of terrain and landform, the location where the sea water flows is now southward, which can send animals to Madagascar;
  • Point 3: Animals will reduce their basal metabolism during the journey, consume very little, and will not die of thirst or starvation.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-06-11
2022-05-29: Task
Why do young animals play?

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Utilize excess energy;
  • Point 2: It is survival training to prepare for hunting in the future;
  • Point 3: Cultivate social relationships.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Seals play without much energy until their mother returns with food.
  • Point 2: Comparing two groups of kittens training hunting, there is no difference in the results
  • Point 3: Rats only play in infancy but still develop social relationships as they grow up.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-05-29
2022-05-25: Task
Canada extracts oil from sand.

Reading: Canada extracts oil from sand

Main points:
  • Point 1: It is beneficial to the development of local society.
  • Point 2: It is good for the environment.
  • Point 3: This is conducive to increasing government tax revenue.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: The workers don't live there. They only work there, so social development is not sustainable by doing so.
  • Point 2: Oil pipelines may pollute local water resources.
  • Point 3: The government can only get more tax revenue if the price of oil goes up.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-05-25
2022-05-18: Task
Which is better, ebooks or paper books?

Reading: Which is better, ebooks or paper books?

Main points:
  • Point 1: Ebooks save money.
  • Point 2: Ebooks are environmentally friendly.
  • Point 3: Ebook learning is efficient.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: The audience of the experiment that proves that learning is efficient is not random but arranged.
  • Point 2: Long-term high-frequency use will also damage electronic items. If it is broken, throwing it away will cause more serious environmental pollution.
  • Point 3: Long-term use of ebooks does not save money, and the paper version is once and for all. Because the electronic version is updated, an additional fee will be charged.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-05-18
2022-05-14: Task
Why Scorpions Glow Under Ultraviolet Light?

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: The ancestors of scorpions hunted during the day, and their shells protected them from ultraviolet rays and reflected blue-green light.
  • Point 2: Today's scorpions hunt at night, and they glow to attract prey.
  • Point 3: It is a convenient method to distinguish species and reproduce offspring.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Already 35 million years ago, it is useless now that the scorpion's shell reflects blue-green light.
  • Point 2: There is evidence that scorpions usually hunt in complete darkness.
  • Point 3: The eyesight of scorpions is too poor in detecting the differences in light that distinguish one species from another, let alone facilitate reproduction.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-05-14
2022-05-04: Task
Whether vampire squids indeed feed on marine snow?

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Marine snow lives in the deep ocean, so Vampire squids will die because of a lack of oxygen.
  • Point 2: Vampire squids would be in danger because of predators.
  • Point 3: Vampire squids, which belong to groups of cephalopods, have different diets from other cephalopods.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Unlike many ocean predators who need to exert their muscle energy when they chase prey, vampire squids don't have to chase prey. It is because marine snow would flow down constantly in minimum oxygen zones. So they require less oxygen to survive in the deep ocean.
  • Point 2: The squids can be protected against the danger of keeping motionless to feed. It is difficult for the predators to spot the dark-colored squids in the deep waters without light. Also, the squids can produce natural light on their body surfaces to scare predators when predators spot them.
  • Point 3: The special diet of squids brings them a big advantage in competing for food with other animals. The reason is that they live in an area of the ocean in which most other animals cannot survive.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-05-04
2022-04-23: Task
Three ways to protect mangroves

Reading: Three ways to protect mangroves

Main points:
  • Point 1: Some animals may be harmful to mangroves. A type of crab that feeds on the seeds of the mangrove tree drives the animals away.
  • Point 2: Shrimp farmers will harm the mangroves; they should be moved to other places away from the mangroves.
  • Point 3: Improve soil quality with new technologies.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Crabs and mangroves have evolved together for many years and are helpful to each other.
  • Point 2: The polluted water produced by shrimp farming is the source of the problem, and moving to other places will harm the ecology of other places.
  • Point 3: Improving soil quality is difficult.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-04-23
2022-04-09: Task
CFL bulbs and incandescent bulbs

Reading: CFL bulbs and incandescent bulbs

Main points:
  • Point 1: CFL is expensive.
  • Point 2: Mercury in CFL will pollute the environment.
  • Point 3: The color of CFL makes the eyes uncomfortable.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: CFL is more durable and can save more money.
  • Point 2: Although CFL releases mercury, incandescent lamps have more mercury.
  • Point 3: The latest CFL solves this problem and can provide different colors.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-04-09
2022-04-03: Task
Challenges in the construction of the Erie Canal

Reading: Challenges in the construction of the Erie Canal

Main points:
  • Point 1: The local topography makes construction difficult.
  • Point 2: Insufficient labor force.
  • Point 3: The benefits generated by the canal do not justify the high costs.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Assisted by animal power, they can work in winter.
  • Point 2: Immigrants from Europe can provide enough labor.
  • Point 3: Canals can save huge transportation costs, which are greater than construction costs.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-07-04
  • 2022-04-03
2022-03-26: Task
In Australia, Methods of Controlling Overgrowth of Gamba Grass

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Use chemical herbicides.
  • Point 2: Extensive planting of native plants limits its living space.
  • Point 3: Introduce large herbivores to eat.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Herbicides can only be effective in moderate areas and areas with suitable temperatures, but the weather in Australia is very hot, and this plant does not absorb herbicides.
  • Point 2: The fencing method will only work temporarily for one season, as this grass grows faster than native plants so that it can spread quickly.
  • Point 3: Introducing large herbivores or even elephants is not feasible and would create even more significant problems.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-03-26
2022-03-16: Task
Before Columbus discovered America, people sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and discovered America

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Tobacco originated in the Americas, not Egypt, but nicotine was already detected in the hair of those people at that time.
  • Point 2: A type of coin that appears to have a map of America.
  • Point 3: Native American totems have many similarities to pyramids.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Nicotine was found in Egypt long before the Americas and may have been produced by other plants in Egypt rather than tobacco.
  • Point 2: The so-called map has only a small trace and is probably not a map.
  • Point 3: Pyramids in America are very different from pyramids in Egypt.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-03-16
2022-03-05: Task
Part of the root of a wetland plant is exposed on the ground, called “knees,” and its function is discussed.

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Absorb oxygen.
  • Point 2: Keep the tree stable so that the tree will not be damaged by wind or water.
  • Point 3: Venting methane.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Scientists have done experiments and found that the oxygen content of this wetland plant has not changed, so the knees are not used to absorb oxygen.
  • Point 2: The roots used to maintain the stable support of the tree are vertical roots, while knees grow on horizontal roots and do not have the function of preserving stability.
  • Point 3: Methane is not harmful to plants. Many microorganisms on tree roots can also emit methane without knees.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-03-05
2022-03-03: Task
Pterosaurs needed parental guidance in flight from childhood

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: According to the position of the pterosaur fossils, the adult pterosaur and the young pterosaur are together.
  • Point 2: Pterosaurs had mature wings.
  • Point 3: Studies have shown that pterosaurs are very similar to a type of bird.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: The change in pterosaur fossils is due to nature, such as floods, which make the initially distant life seem to be together.
  • Point 2: Pterosaurs were not born with mature wings.
  • Point 3: Pterosaurs are very similar to a type of bird whose parents left them early, and they developed flight independently. Pterosaurs are very similar to them.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-03-03
2022-02-20: Task
3 reasons wild tigers are disappearing

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Poaching for money
  • Point 2: Conflict between residents and tigers
  • Point 3: Loss of habitat and not enough food
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Catch poachers by Using new aerial vehicles
  • Point 2: Developing tiger-related industries in the local area and providing subsidies to farmers to resolve conflicts
  • Point 3: Build wildlife corridors
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-02-20
2022-01-19: Task
Short-term rental platforms are not good

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Reduce the number of long-term rental houses on the market and increase the rent.
  • Point 2: The quality of service received by tourists has declined. Hotels provide standard services, but short-term rental platforms do not.
  • Point 3: Tourists are very noisy and disrespectful to residents.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Short-term rent houses are only a tiny part. Young people come to the city to rent houses, which leads to rising rents.
  • Point 2: Tourists will consider the negative reviews online; if there are too many negative reviews, they will be taken off the platform.
  • Point 3: The government responds to the dissatisfaction of the residents. The apartment supervisor lives in one room, and tourists occupy the rest, so it will not cause harmful effects.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-01-19
2022-01-19: Task
The gold mask just unearthed is fake.

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: This person who discovered it has a bad reputation and cheated others.
  • Point 2: Some features of this mask differ from the real masks unearthed before.
  • Point 3: After discovering this gold mask in tombs, the person shut down the site.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Government monitors are supervising and managing the unearthed cultural relics.
  • Point 2: A bear-shaped mask with a similar pattern was found in other tombs.
  • Point 3: After discovering the mask, there was nothing else to study in this tomb, and he wanted to continue exploring the background of other cultural relics, so he closed the website.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-01-19
2022-01-08: Task
Does the re-migration of rhinos work?

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: The migration process is complex and dangerous, which will cause the loss of rhinos and affect the reproduction of rhinos
  • Point 2: If some older male rhinos are selected, it will affect fertility; if the female rhinos and their children are separated, it will also have adverse effects.
  • Point 3: No matter where they are, poachers will still catch them because their horns are precious.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Although the short-term danger in transit, the mortality rate is not as high。 The risk of being poached in South Africa is greater.
  • Point 2: The executor of the plan will carefully select rhinos so as not to cut the reproductive chain of rhinos, and there will be no hidden dangers.
  • Point 3: The military will protect the program, and poachers will not find it easily.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2022-01-08
2021-12-19: Task
Benefits of commercializing lionfish

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Can protect the ecosystem of coral colonies.
  • Point 2: Reduce market demand for native species.
  • Point 3: Lionfish are nutritious and good for people.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: There is no selectivity when fishing. Some rare species will also be caught, and they will be more endangered.
  • Point 2: Merchants will build fish farms. Lionfish may go to other places and endanger the habitat of other creatures.
  • Point 3: The lionfish eat some poisonous microorganisms, and the poison accumulates in their body. So eating lionfish is not suitable for people.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-12-19
2021-12-18: Task
Privatization of infrastructure

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Return of funds. The government can collect money from private companies, which is a huge financial gain.
  • Point 2: Private companies can repair bridges.
  • Point 3: Private companies introduce new technologies.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: In the short term, it is a capital return, but in the long run, it is a loss.
  • Point 2: Private companies do not provide maintenance.
  • Point 3: Private companies do not introduce new technologies, usually.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-12-18
2021-12-04: Task
Mars exploration landing at the equator is better than at the poles.

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: The poles are too cold. The temperature at the equator is suitable and will not damage the equipment.
  • Point 2: Mars returns to the equator to save fuel.
  • Point 3: The sun's rays at the equator are sufficient to see the surface.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: The temperature at the equator fluctuates wildly, and the equipment is cracked due to thermal expansion and contraction.
  • Point 2: Fuel is made from water. The poles have water in the form of ice, but the equator has no water.
  • Point 3: The radiation at the equator is intense and may damage the equipment, but ice can be used as a wall to block the radiation in the polar regions.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-12-04
Vocabulary: Science
2021-11-28: Task
To prevent overfishing from causing extinction, the government has implemented a policy: a marine enhancement program.

Reading:

main points:
  • Point 1: It can protect the environment, increase the number of species, and maintain ecological balance;
  • Point 2: Conducive to economic development;
  • Point 3: Help with scientific research.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: It increases the number of species but reduces genetic diversity;
  • Point 2: It isn't easy to catch the fish once it is released, and the economic benefits are not so high;
  • Point 3: It will lead to inaccurate scientific research data.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-11-28
Vocabulary: Environment
2021-11-21: Task
Sailors find a vast abandoned ship in the sea called Mary Celeste, but its captain and crew of 10 are missing. Several theories have been proposed to explain what happened to the ten people on Mary Celeste.

Reading:

main points:
  • Point 1: Pirates hijacked them;
  • Point 2: There are barrels of flammable materials on board;
  • Point 3: They suspected the ship would sink and abandoned it early to escape.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: The pirates robbed the goods instead of the crew, but there was no shortage of things on the ship, so the pirates did not hijack it;
  • Point 2: There is no unpleasant burning smell despite the flammable material in barrels on board;
  • Point 3: This ship has been sailing for a few days and is costly to build. It is unlikely to sink.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-11-21
2021-11-20: Task
The sailor died of lead poisoning, which some belief was caused by canned food

Reading:

main points:
  • Point 1: Although canned food contains metallic lead, the dosage is controlled during production, and the storage time of the food in the can is short, so canned food should not cause it.
  • Point 2: Other crew members would also eat this canned food then. It will not be the only poisoning case if it is really because of canned food.
  • Point 3: They have a water purification system, and all water is clean, so food cannot be caused.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Although the storage time is short, the food is inside cans.
  • Point 2: The sailor has not undergone physical testing, and light poisoning is difficult to identify.
  • Point 3: The seawater passing through the cleaner cannot be used for drinking and cooking. Seawater is not suitable for human health, so the cleaner is useless.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-11-20
Vocabulary: Animals
2021-11-20: Task
Is the re-migration of rhinos useful?

Reading:

main points:
  • Point 1: The process of re-migration is difficult and dangerous. There will be losses during the migration, which will affect the reproduction of rhinos;
  • Point 2: If some older male rhinos are selected away, it will affect fertility; if the female rhinos and their children are separated, it will also have a negative impact;
  • Point 3: Re-migration of rhinos does not affect poaching because poachers will still catch them no matter where they are because their horns are precious.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Compared with the short-term danger during transportation, poaching in South Africa is more dangerous, and the death rate is not so high;
  • Point 2: The executor of the plan will select rhinos very carefully so that the fertility of rhinos will not be affected, and there will be no hidden dangers;
  • Point 3: The army will protect this plan. There is a large area that poachers will not easily find.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-11-20
Vocabulary: Animals
2021-11-17: Task
Archaeologists have discovered caves and several uses for these caves

Reading:

main points:
  • Point 1: Raising sheep
  • Point 2: Ice storage
  • Point 3: Crop storage
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Sheep are susceptible animals. The cave is dark and cold, and the sheep will be afraid. The blocking of sunlight is not conducive to their growth.
  • Point 2: The cave does not have double wells and cannot maintain a sufficiently low temperature, so it is unsuitable for heat insulation.
  • Point 3: There will be floods in spring. The cave has no drainage ditch, which is not conducive to storing food.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-11-17
Vocabulary: Animals
2021-11-14: Task
Is it necessary to have basic music lessons in elementary school?

Reading:

main points:
  • Point 1: Studying other subjects, such as reading and mathematics, will take time.
  • Point 2: Schools will spend more money hiring teachers and buying musical instruments. The school has no money to buy school supplies for basic music lessons.
  • Point 3: Few students have musical talents. Even if they do, they must take expensive private lessons, and the basic music lessons in schools cannot satisfy them.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Music helps to learn mathematics. Learning music can help students understand the different meanings of different sounds and help students learn languages. Musical notes in music can help students learn fractions.
  • Point 2: The school can hire retired music teachers and rent musical instruments to students to make money.
  • Point 3: Music education can give students the ability to appreciate music.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-11-14
Vocabulary: Education
2021-10-09: Task
Europeans arrived in Australia before the 1606s

Reading:

main points:
  • Point 1: Europeans have a map of Australia.
  • Point 2: A mammal known to Europeans is very common in Australia.
  • Point 3: A string of keys made by Europeans was found somewhere in Australia, which can be dated to about the 1500s according to the surrounding soil.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: There are many inaccuracies in the maps drawn by Europeans, so they did not arrive, just hearsay.
  • Point 2: The animal known to Europeans is not only found in Australia but also in North America.
  • Point 3: The time measurement of European crafts in Australia may be wrong because modern technology has found that measuring the age of the land alone cannot determine the age of crafts.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-10-09
2021-09-05: Task
Ivory-billed woodpeckers were thought to be extinct decades ago, but recently it has been discovered that they still exist, as evidenced by photos and audio recordings

Reading:

main points: These pieces of evidence are not credible.
  • Point 1: There is probably another woodpecker in the photo, the two birds are very similar, and the difference between the two birds cannot be seen in the photo.
  • Point 2: No nest of ivory-billed woodpecker was found in the large forest.
  • Point 3: Those recordings may be the calls of other birds or even gunshots.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: It is difficult to photograph wild animals; it is even more challenging to photograph the difference between them. And these photos were taken by professional ornithologists, who can distinguish the two kinds of birds.
  • Point 2: The population density of ivory-billed woodpeckers is very low, and their nests are often spaced in an area of 25 square kilometers, so it is possible that no nests are found in large forests.
  • Point 3: The sound of this bird is exceptional, it can't be the sound of other birds, and there are few people in that area; it won't be gunfire.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-09-05
2021-08-28: Task
The disappearance of the dodo is due to human behavior

Reading:

main points:
  • Point 1: Dutch settlers hunted the dodo for food.
  • Point 2: Humans cut down the land for farming, destroying the natural habitat of the dodo bird.
  • Reason 3: The outsider brought disease and killed the Dodo.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: The reason why humans do not hunt the dodo is that the dodo is not tasty.
  • Point 2: Humans cut down the forest, but the dodo was not harmed because the dodo can't fly and builds nests on the ground.
  • Point 3: Nature eliminated the dodo. Before humans arrived, a large number of cyclones hit the island many times.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-08-28
2021-07-03: Task
RAA mosquitoes carry the dengue virus. A company in the United States puts genetically modified (GM) AA mosquitoes into the wild. The AA mosquitoes will give birth to infertile offspring, reducing the number of AA mosquitoes. However, critics believe that this approach is risky.

Reading:

Main points:
  • Point 1: Although there are fewer AA mosquitoes, their numbers will be replaced by other mosquitoes. These mosquitoes may carry more dangerous viruses.
  • Point 2: If a GM mosquito bites people, it will be more dangerous. Because GM mosquitoes carry defective proteins, which may be passed on to humans and cause problems.
  • Reason 3: GM mosquitoes cause unforeseen ecological effects. After GM mosquitoes came to nature, the number of butterflies was reduced by half. Therefore, GM mosquitoes may cause adverse ecological problems.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Point 1: Scientists refute the first concern through a study. While studying the elimination of mosquitoes, they also studied the impact on other types of mosquitoes. As a result, the virus content in other mosquitoes remained unchanged. For example, Asian tiger mosquitoes stay the same after one kind of mosquito dies out.
  • Point 2: Male mosquitoes cannot bite people and will not affect people. In addition, male mosquitoes can spread genes better, effectively reducing the number of mosquitoes.
  • Point 3: Genetic mosquitoes will not affect the ecosystem. Pesticides were used to kill mosquitoes in the past, and pesticides affected the ecology. If genetic mosquitoes are used, it is better for the ecosystem. The effect of genetic mosquitoes on butterflies is isolated.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-07-03
2021-06-05: Task
Reading passage: agricultural subsidies in the U.S.

main points: Benefits of agricultural subsidies in the U.S
  • Reason 1: Ensure the stability of food prices, which can ensure that the prices of crops in the country are relatively low, and you can ensure that people in the country can buy low-priced food.
  • Reason 2: More food can provide poorer countries at a low price and solve world hunger problems.
  • Reason 3: Agricultural subsidies can increase farm jobs.
Listening to lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Reason 1: The government spends a lot of taxes on subsidies for agricultural products. These taxes come from consumers. Although consumers buy agricultural products at a low food price, they actually took more taxes.
  • Reason 2: Although people in poorer countries can get cheap food, this benefit is short-term. In the long run, domestic agriculture in these countries will not be able to develop. Therefore, agricultural subsidies undermine the problem of world hunger.
  • Reason 3: In fact, only a few categories like corn are subsidized. When agricultural subsidies increase, they will use a high degree of mechanization to increase productivity. Therefore, the corn industry does not require a lot of labor force and does not increase farm jobs.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-06-05
2021-05-15: Task
Reading passage: Killer whales are large carnivorous whales, and their typical color is mostly black, some with white patches. However, in recent years, an unusual, almost entirely white killer whale has been discovered in the North Pacific. It happened near Alaska in 2000, and another white killer whale, nicknamed "Iceberg" by scientists, was discovered near the coast of Russia in 2010.

main points: whether Iceberg orca and Alaskan orca are the same species
  • Reason 1: The color is altered.
  • Reason 2: The distance is too long.
  • Reason 3: The size of the fin does not match the orca's age.
Listening to lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Reason 1: The seaweed on the skin of killer whales may change color due to seasonal changes, so the color of the seaweed may have changed, not the killer whale, so it is still the same kind of killer whale.
  • Reason 2: Some killer whales may like to stay in one place, but some killer whales like to migrate with the school of fish. Iceberg is the latter.
  • Reason 3: After the killer whale is over 20 years old, the fin will no longer grow.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-05-15
2021-03-14: Task
Reading passage: reasons for the decline in the number of whales (South Residential Orcas)

main points:
  • Chemical pollutants like PCBs affect the reproduction of whales. Chemical substances were found in salmon's bodies. This ostar whale feeds on salmon, so its reproductive capacity is affected.
  • Whales rely on echoes to locate food, and noise interferes with the location. Noise pollution from vessels can prevent Southern Resident Orcas from using echolocation to catch prey.
  • Harmful bacteria grow in the lungs of the whale lungs, leading to the extinction of the whale.
Listening to lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Other whales also exist in this area, and they feed on seals. Seals contain higher levels of this chemical substance.
  • The noise of rainstorms is also very loud, and storms occur frequently.
  • Bacteria do grow in the lungs, but studies have found that organisms have the ability to adapt to bacteria, and whales with diseased lungs can still swim freely in the water.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-03-14
Vocabulary: Environment
2021-02-28: Task
Reading passage: reasons for the decline in the number of whales (South Residential Orcas)

main points:
  • Chemical pollutants like PCBs affect the reproduction of whales. Chemical substances were found in salmon's bodies. This ostar whale feeds on salmon, so its reproductive capacity is affected.
  • Whales rely on echoes to locate food, and noise interferes with the location。 Noise pollution from vessels can prevent Southern Resident Orcas from using echolocation to catch prey.
  • Harmful bacteria grow in the lungs of the whale lungs, leading to the extinction of the whale.
Listening to lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Other whales also exist in this area, and they feed on seals. Seals contain higher levels of this chemical substance.
  • The noise of rainstorms is also very loud, and storms occur frequently.
  • Bacteria do grow in the lungs, but studies have found that organisms have the ability to adapt to bacteria, and whales with diseased lungs can still swim freely in the water.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-03-14
Vocabulary: Environment
2021-01-31: Task
Reading passage: the advantages of crew-less cargo ships

main points:
  • The use of crew-less ships can reduce labor costs;
  • It is computer-controlled to prevent pirate attacks and change course
  • The use of crew-less ships can reduce man-made accidents.
Listening to lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • The crew is very useful and can be maintained while sailing, while a ship without a crew can only be maintained on the shore, and the cost will not be reduced;
  • High-tech is also risky. Pirates can break the transmission system and directly change the course;
  • Computers are not as good as humans, and the crew can find out and deal with marine situations at any time.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-01-31
2021-01-16: Task
Who can live longer, placental animals or marsupials?

Reading passage: Placental animals adapt to the environment better.

main points:
  • The cubs of marsupials have a short time in the mother's fetus, resulting in hypoplasia of organs and a weak immune system.
  • Marsupials cannot regulate their internal body temperature.
  • In North America, there are fewer marsupial animals than placental animals. Australia only has marsupials, because there are no placental animals to compete with it.
Listening to lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Marsupials can continue to develop organs in the mother's bag, and the immune system can also be strengthened.
  • Adult marsupials can lower their body temperature to reduce energy consumption.
  • Placental animals have lived in Australia for a long time, which shows that they have competed with marsupials and finally lost.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-01-16
2021-01-09: Task
Reading passage: the speculation of the reason why a group of small dinosaurs died in the canyon

main points:
  • The little dinosaur is stuck in the swamp and can't get out of it.
  • The little dinosaur drinks poisonous water in the pool.
  • The little dinosaur was drowned in a sudden flood because their remains showed no harm.
Listening to lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • After death, the body will become stiff, if it is really mud, it will definitely struggle, so the posture after death should be like standing;
  • When this occurs, it is impossible to determine when the water in the pool is poisonous. The water in the pool may be poisonous after the death of the dinosaur;
  • Because the dinosaur had a dead body after its death, it may have been left here after death, and then there was a flood that washed the dinosaur body.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2021-01-09
2020-12-20: Task
Reading passage: how did the stones of Stonehenge in Britain be transported?

main points:
  • Shipping
  • wooden roll
  • Glacier
Listening to lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • The stones are difficult to transport to the beach.
  • The stone is too heavy and the wheels are hard to turn.
  • The source of stones transported by the glacier is different.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2020-12-20
2020-12-19: Task
Reading passage: protection of mountain pine trees damaged by the pine beetle and discussing the significance of human activities.

main points:
  • The Northwestern United States is colder in winter, and most of the larvae are frozen to death.
  • The trees will produce a viscous liquid, which can flush out the bugs and avoid continuous damage to the tree.
  • Bugs like old trees and wildfires can allow young trees to quickly replace mature trees and maintain the forest.
Listening to lecture (oppose specific points:)
  • Human activities will cause the temperature to rise, the lowest temperature in winter is now 7-10 degrees higher than before, and the larvae can survive and are not easily killed.
  • Water used by human activities reduces groundwater, and trees cannot produce sap.
  • Forest management prevents fire/fire minimization, young trees cannot grow.
Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2020-12-19
2019-09-01: Task (India)
About effort to encourage ecologically sustainable forestry practices in the USA. Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they cast doubt on specific points made in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2019-08-05
2019-09-01: Task (India)
About traditional voting systems and computerized voting systems. Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they cast doubt on specific points made in the reading passage.

Recent Tests:
  • 2019-08-05