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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2024-03-16: Task
Reading： Three ways to avoid declining sea turtle numbers
Main points:
- Point 1: Protect sea turtle eggs by surrounding them with metal fences to prevent them from being eaten by other animals.
- Point 2: Plastic bags are forbidden. They pose a threat to sea turtles, which will think these plastic bags are food and eat them by mistake. Therefore, people should be allowed to use reused bags.
- Point 3: The nets currently used by fishing vessels when fishing can accidentally kill sea turtles, so a new fishing net was invented to avoid accidentally killing sea turtles.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
- Point 1: Baby turtles need to develop magnetic induction capability to return to the sea, but metal fences will interfere with this development.
- Point 2: Thousands of plastic bags are in the sea now, and they take hundreds of years to decompose. Even if they are decomposed into small pieces, they are toxic/poisonous, so banning plastic bags now will not solve the current problems faced by sea turtles.
- Point 3: It is difficult for fishing boats to use new nets because they reduce fish production (income), so many do not use these kinds of nets.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how to avoid declining sea turtle numbers in the reading passage.
2024-03-10: Task
Reading： Is the US Essential Airport Service (EAS) subsidy program good?
Main points:
- Point 1: It is convenient for people in small towns to travel by flight.
- Point 2: Promote the economic development of remote rural areas, attract talent, and attract investment.
- Point 3: EAS uses small aircraft and has a low cost.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
- Point 1: The distance between many airports is less than 120km, so there is no need to fly.
- Point 2: People in rural areas will go to cities to find jobs, etc. The government should invest funds in improving infrastructure, better education, and job opportunities, which will bring more significant benefits than EAS.
- Point 3: The small aircraft used by EAS has been discontinued, and maintenance and operation costs are high
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how to avoid declining sea turtle numbers in the reading passage.
2024-03-06: Task
Reading： Three reasons why killer whales (Southern Resident Orcas) decline:
Main points:
- Point 1: PCB accumulation caused by pollution inhibits reproduction.
- Point 2: There are more and more whale-watching boats, and the sound of their engines prevents them from echolocation.
- Point 3: Bacteria infection. The water droplets breathed out by these killer whales contain a certain amount of bacteria, so it is suspected that bacterial infection is causing the decline in the number of killer whales.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
- Point 1: Other types of whales live in the local area, and they ingest more chemicals, but none of them affect their reproduction.
- Point 2: Scientists have measured and found that the noise from ship engines is about as loud as a storm, but storms do not affect whales' hearing.
- Point 3: Whales will not get sick if they have a small amount of certain bacteria in their bodies. People need to confirm that the whales really have lung damage, but whales are difficult to detect, so the impact of bacteria is uncertain.
2024-03-02: Task
Reading： Prairie dogs are endangered, and some believe they don't need protection.
Main points:
- Point 1: Prairie dogs compete with cattle for grass, which affects agricultural profits.
- Point 2: Spreading diseases. Prairie dogs are infected with plague, and their flea can be passed on to humans.
- Point 3: Prairie dogs are not important enough in the food chain. Some other carnivores are more important.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
- Point 1: Cattle are raised on farms, not on grasslands. Prairie dogs instead promote grass growth.
- Point 2: Fleas cannot survive in humans. There have been only 10 cases in the past 50 years.
- Point 3: Prairie dogs are very important. Their burrows provide shelter to snakes and are food for rare species such as foxes.
2024-02-27: Task
Reading： Honeysuckle (non-native honeysuckle) has an important impact on North American ecology.
Main points:
- Point 1: Honeysuckle helps the spread of native plants; animals eat its berries and take away the seeds it and other plants.
- Point 2: limit wildfire to spread.
- Point 3: Honeysuckle helps the birds' populations as food supply when migration.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
- Point 1: Drop the seeds of honeysuckle and other plants at the same time and in the same place; honeysuckle wins the competition. However, honeysuckle has strong fecundity and can cause flooding and hinder other organisms.
- Point 2: In fact, after a fire, the soil can release important nutrients. Nitrogen, for example, is more readily available to plants after a fire. However, in areas where honeysuckle grows, fires rarely spread, and the soil becomes infertile.
- Point 3: Migratory birds store energy in the form of fat before migrating. The berries of the local plant Cornus officinalis contain lots of fatty oils that help them do this, but honeysuckle berries don't have much fat or oil. Therefore, birds that rely on honeysuckle berries may not be able to store enough energy to help them migrate.
2024-01-27: Task
Reading： Advantages of the New Lie Detector
Main points:
- Point 1: The old lie detector mainly scans human body activity, heartbeat, and sweating, but someone can control the heartbeat and sweat. The new lie detector measures brain activity and can accurately determine whether people are lying.
- Point 2: It is more sensitive and can be used as court evidence.
- Point 3: Flexible in application and can be used in many situations.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
- Point 1: There is evidence that people can also change brain activity, such as through medication.
- Point 2: Polygraph tests are not completely reliable and can sometimes lead to misjudgments, mistaking good people for liars. It is not appropriate to testify in court.
- Point 3: The development of similar technologies can be a bad thing. For example, businessmen and politicians often need to deal with people they don't like. It would be rude and embarrassing to use a polygraph in these situations.
2024-01-24: Task
Reading： Mars exploration landing at the equator is better than at the poles.
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 does not have 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.
2024-01-20: Task
Reading： Cruise ships traveling through a cold region of northern Canada can present some problems. Suggest three environmental factors
Main points:
- Point 1: It is dangerous because you may get trapped in the ice or hit an iceberg.
- Point 2: The tanker engine pollutes the environment when burning, and the particles it emits accelerate the melting of ice and snow.
- Point 3: There are many more tourists on board than residents. Disembarking activities or shopping will disturb residents.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
- Point 1: Cruise companies can use research ships can be used to break the ice, guide cruise ships, detect icebergs in time, and issue warnings.
- Point 2: Cruise companies can use fuel with low sulfur content, and passengers can increase their environmental awareness by allowing them to see melting glaciers and polar bears struggling.
- Point 3: Divide passengers into groups and go ashore one by one to visit, which can promote local economic development.
Recent Tests:
- 2024-01-20
- 2023-06-10
- 2020-11-01
Practice2024-01-06: Task
Reading： The decline of beetle species in the United States
Main points:
- Point 1: Farmers use pesticides and 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:
- 2023-07-22
- 2023-06-04
- 2023-01-10
Practice2023-12-20: Task
Reading： Is it necessary to have basic music lessons in elementary school?
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. They have 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.
2023-12-19: Task
Reading： How did a kind of cactus arrive in Africa?
main points:
- Point 1: The kind of cactus seeds may have been eaten and not digested by birds, who then spread the seeds through excretion when they flew to another continent, allowing them to start growing in the new location.
- Point 2: In ancient times, America and Africa were initially connected. It is possible that cacti crossed continental boundaries before the two continents separated.
- Point 3: Ancient European sailors may have brought cacti from the Americas to Africa during their voyages because they often carried various plants, and cacti are extremely vital.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
- Point 1: Birds that usually eat the seeds of this cactus do not fly across oceans, and those that can do so mainly feed on insects and fish, not cactus seeds.
- Point 2: DNA research found that this kind of cactus did not appear when Africa and America were still connected. They began to grow millions of years after the two continents separated.
- Point 3: If sailors brought them, these cacti should be mainly distributed near the port. However, these cacti now grow mainly in inland areas away from ports.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.
2023-12-17: Task
Reading： The Etruscans were an ancient European people who ruled northern Italy for centuries before the Roman Empire. Some scholars cite several pieces of evidence to support the Etruscans' Turkish origin.
main points:
- Point 1: The scholars cite the writings of Herodotus, a famous ancient historian who lived during the time of the Etruscans. According to Herodotus, the Etruscans came from an ancient kingdom located in western Turkey.
- Point 2: The Etruscan language belongs to a family of related languages called Tyrrhenian.
- Point 3: The types of cows once bred by Etruscans can still be found in northern Italy today.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
- Point 1: The things recorded by this historian are not credible. For example, he recorded a giant man-eating insect in the book, implying that the things recorded by this person are more like stories than objective history.
- Point 2: The Etruscans were skilled sailors, and it is possible that they brought the language to Türkiye.
- Point 3: Etruscans were good at trade. It is possible that they imported this kind of cattle from Turkey to Italy and raised it.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.
2023-12-03: Task
Reading： The roots (knees) of wetland plants, such as cypress trees, are partially exposed on the surface. What is their function?
Main points:
- Point 1: Absorb oxygen.
- Point 2: Maintain the stability of the tree so that it is not damaged by wind or water.
- Point 3: Release 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.
2023-11-28: Task
Reading： Why are the eyes of the king squid so big?
Main points:
- Point 1: They must see the prey clearly because they must hunt.
- Point 2: They want to find their partners.
- Point 3: Because they can escape sperm whales. Sperm whales disturb fluorescent animals. When their big eyes see the fluorescence move, they know there is a predator and run away quickly.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
- Point 1: No matter how big your eyes are, they can't see. They rely on tentacles;
- Point 2: Young squid can find targets even with small eyes;
- Point 3: A predator's sonar system can see further than big eyes; even big eyes can't escape.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.
2023-11-22: Task
Reading： Stone tools remain left behind by gorillas, and there are three pieces of evidence that chimpanzees used tools.
Main points:
- Point 1: It was discovered that gorillas used stone tools similar to those used today.
- Point 2: The stone tools they used to smash fruits and nuts are the same as those used by gorillas today.
- Point 3: Tools appeared before humans, so gorillas could only use them.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
- Point 1: Judging from the size and weight of the stone tools, ape men could also use them.
- Point 2: Stone tools may have been used to peel roots. Apes ate roots and may have eaten nuts, although they do not.
- Point 3: The ancients were nomadic and may not have lived here long, but they may have visited.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.
2023-11-15: Task
Discuss whether the underground structure is artificial.
Reading： Discuss whether the underground structure is artificial. Underwater structures are manufactured
Main points:
- Point 1: There was civilization in that place, and artifacts and tools were found, indicating they were artificial.
- Point 2: Some architectural features in that structure are designed for humans, such as stairs and walls.
- Point 3: Some parts of the structure have straight edges and structures with a 90° angle. However, it is difficult to form such a straight structure due to wave erosion, so it is speculated that it is artificial.
Listening to the lecture (oppose specific points:)
- Point 1: Ancient civilizations did not have the appropriate tools to support the construction of this structure at that time.
- Point 2: In fact, some of the designs in the structure are unreasonable and do not look like they are for human use. For example, if the stairs are too high, humans cannot step over them. They need to jump. But people can't make a staircase that needs to be jumped over.
- Point 3: Straight edges will also be formed by other natural forces, like earthquakes. Because this structure is composed of mud and sand, it can easily break to form a straight line during an earthquake.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.
2023-11-12: Task
Reading： The causes of will-o'-the-wisp fire
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, but this spark is mobile.
- Point 2: The sparks generated 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 onto the bird.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.
2023-10-29: Task
Reading: Three Ways to Get Rid of Kudzu, an Invasive Plant.
Main points:
- Point 1: Get rid of their crown
- Point 2: Let the goats eat them
- Point 3: Use fungi to kill them
Listening: (oppose specific points:)
- Point 1: The crown of kudzu is very deep, and the roots are difficult to remove. The kudzu will grow again.
- Point 2: The kudzu will grow again after the goats leave.
- Point 3: Fungi cannot reproduce in large numbers, and this method will also affect other plants except kudzu.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.
2023-10-22: Task
Reading: Congestion charges to be introduced
Main points:
- Point 1: Reduce the number of travelers, alleviate congestion, and save time;
- Point 2: Reduce noise and pollution and improve the environment;
- Point 3: Increased revenue can be used to improve infrastructure.
Listening: (oppose specific points:)
- Point 1: Some people choose to bypass non-tolled roads but waste more time because non-tolled roads are usually more congested and have a higher vehicle density;
- Point 2: Compared with non-charged areas, the air quality in the charging regions is better, and the noise is less;
- Point 3: People who cannot afford private cars choose public transportation such as subways. Public transportation operation and maintenance costs, such as for subways, are increasing.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.
2023-10-21: Task
Reading: Scottish peatland wind turbines
Main points:
- Point 1: Impact on tourism revenue;
- Point 2: Will release carbon dioxide;
- Point 3: There are better options that can be built offshore.
Listening: (oppose specific points:)
- Point 1: Some tourists travel because of this wind power generation;
- Point 2: Traditional power generation also releases carbon dioxide;
- Point 3: The cost of building offshore is too high.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.
2023-10-18: Task
Reading：There are three problems with recycling clothes.
Main points:
- Point 1: Used clothes recycling bins are expensive to operate and inconvenient;
- Point 2: Used clothes will cause a lot of pollution during transportation;
- Point 3: Recycling of fibers is poor due to technical reasons.
Listening: (oppose specific points:)
- Point 1: Encourage retailers to participate in recycling. Customers bring their used clothes to a retail store. As a site, the retail store is both convenient and can provide some discounts to customers and can also encourage customers to repurchase, a win-win situation;
- Point 2: Making new clothes will create more pollution. But, for example, when growing cotton, the fertilizer will cause chemical pollution and require a large amount of water, which also will have a more significant impact on the environment;
- Point 3: The technology has been updated iteratively; fiber-to-fiber technology is quite antiquated. Now, it is all polymer-to-fiber, and the fiber produced by this technology is of excellent quality.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.
2023-10-10: Task
Reading： Space-based solar power is good.
Main points:
- Point 1: Because it can absorb more energy;
- Point 2: No impact on the environment;
- Point 3: Less affected.
Listening: earth-based solar power is better. (oppose specific points:)
- Point 1: Absorb less energy;
- Point 2: Will destroy the ozone layer;
- Point 3: Many particles cannot be prevented from causing damage.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.
2023-09-26: Task
Reading： Discussion on the pros and cons of hosting large-scale sports events for the city. Three Benefits:
Main points:
- Point 1: It will bring economic benefits, attract tourists and investment, have a flow of money, and have a lot of income;
- Point 2: Improve the publicity of cities and improve the cities' reputations;
- Point 3: It can promote the construction of infrastructure facilities. These facilities can also benefit the residents.
Listening: (oppose specific points:)
- Point 1: The city that holds this kind of event is very large, and many visitors can bring in a lot of cash flow. However, during the holding of this kind of event, these visitors cannot come because they cannot book rooms; in addition, the ticket revenue from holding the event is also taken away by institutions and does not stay in the city;
- Point 2: If you encounter an emergency without experience handling it, it will damage your image. For example, if a city suddenly faces a snowfall, there will be no way to deal with it. Instead, it will leave some very negative impressions on tourists;
- Point 3: Once some facilities are built, they may remain idle. For example, a local team originally wanted to use the football cup venue but later found that the ticket money for the event was insufficient to pay the electricity bill, so it had to sit idle.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.
2023-08-19: Task
Reading： 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)
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 and less labor are required.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.
2023-07-08: Task
Reading： Effects of feeding birds.
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.
2023-07-04: Task
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.
2023-06-20: Task
Reading： The reason for the extinction of dinosaurs.
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.
2023-06-14: Task
Reading：How do people on Easter Island drink water during a prolonged drought?
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.
2023-06-03: Task
Reading：Discussion on the reasons for the disappearance of chinook salmon.
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.
2023-05-13: Task
Reading： Whether to build wind turbines in the Great Lakes region.
Main points:
- Point 1: The project will create more job opportunities and benefit the local economy.
- Point 2: The freshwater of the Great Lakes causes minor abrasive damage to the turbine, which lowers 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 degrades the water quality and makes it undrinkable.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.
2023-05-10: Task
Reading： In Australia，Methods of Controlling Overgrowth of Gamba Grass.
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.
2023-05-06: Task
Reading： Pros and Cons of Building a Nuclear Power Plant.
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.
2023-04-26: Task
Reading： Do vampire squids indeed feed on marine snow?
Main points:
- Point 1: Marine snow lives in the deep ocean so that 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. This 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 being motionless to feed. Without light, predators find it difficult to spot the dark-colored squids in the deep waters. Also, the squids can produce natural light on their body surfaces to scare predators when they spot them.
- Point 3: Squids' special diet gives them a big advantage in competing for food with other animals. 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.
2023-04-15: Task
Reading： Why do marine life collectively die in one place?
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.
2023-04-01: Task
Reading：Pterosaurs needed parental guidance in flight from childhood.
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.
2023-03-22: Task
Reading：Antarctica was much warmer in ancient times than it is now.
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.
2023-03-08: Task
Reading： About banning mineral water bottles
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.
2023-02-26: Task
Reading： eBooks vs. Paper Books. Three benefits of eBooks
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.
2023-02-11: Task
Reading： Explaining the decline in North American puffin populations
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.
2023-02-07: Task
Reading： why the Florida Everglades were destroyed
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.
2023-01-14: Task
Reading： Does Rhino's remigration work?
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 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.
2022-11-19: Task
Reading： U.S. burying bug populations in decline
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.
2022-11-16: Task
Reading： Purpose of Irish Round Tower Architecture
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.
2022-10-29: Task
Reading： A ghost freighter in the US sinks, then finds out why
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.
2022-09-07: Task
Reading： What is the use of a narwhal's horn?
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.
2022-06-26: Task
Reading： The temperature of Antarctica in ancient times was 11 degrees higher than it is now
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.
2022-06-11: Task
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: During the journey, animals reduce their basal metabolism, consume little, and do not die of thirst or starvation.
Summarize the points in the lecture, explaining how they oppose specific topics created in the reading passage.
2022-05-29: Task
Reading：Why do young animals play?
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.
2022-05-25: Task
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.
2022-05-18: Task
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.
2022-05-14: Task
Reading： Why Scorpions Glow Under Ultraviolet Light?
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.
2022-04-23: Task
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.
2022-04-09: Task
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.
2022-03-16: Task
Reading： Before Columbus discovered America, people sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and discovered America
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.
2022-02-20: Task
Reading：3 reasons wild tigers are disappearing
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.
2022-01-19: Task
Reading： Short-term rental platforms are not good
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 rental houses are only a tiny part of the problem. Young people come to the city to rent houses, which raises rents.
- Point 2: Tourists will consider negative reviews online; if there are too many negative reviews, they will be removed from 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.
2022-01-19: Task
Reading： The gold mask just unearthed is fake.
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.
2022-01-08: Task
Reading: Does the re-migration of rhinos work?
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: Selecting some older male rhinos will affect fertility; separating the female rhinos and their children 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.
2021-12-19: Task
Reading: Benefits of commercializing lionfish
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: Fishing is not selective. Some rare species, which are more endangered, will also be caught.
- Point 2: Merchants will build fish farms. Lionfish may go to other places and endanger the habitat of other creatures.
- Point 3: Lionfish eat poisonous microorganisms, and the poison accumulates in their bodies. 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.
2021-12-18: Task
Reading: Privatization of infrastructure
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.
2021-11-28: Task
Reading： To prevent overfishing from causing extinction, the government has implemented a policy: a marine enhancement program.
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.
2021-11-21: Task
Reading： Sailors find a vast abandoned ship called Mary Celeste in the sea, 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.
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.
2021-11-20: Task
Reading： The sailor died of lead poisoning, which some believe was caused by canned food
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, so 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 contaminated.
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.
2021-11-20: Task
Reading：Is the re-migration of rhinos useful?
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.
2021-11-17: Task
Reading： Archaeologists have discovered caves and several uses for these caves
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.
2021-10-09: Task
Reading： Europeans arrived in Australia before the 1606s
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.
2021-09-05: Task
Reading：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
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 them 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: Photographing wild animals is difficult; it is even more challenging to photograph the difference between them. 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 that no nests may be 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, so 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.
2021-08-28: Task
Reading:The disappearance of the dodo is due to human behavior
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 it cannot 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.
2021-07-03: Task
Reading: 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.
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.
2021-06-05: Task
Reading passage: agricultural subsidies in the U.S.
main points:
- 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 take 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 large 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.
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.
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.
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 whale reproduction. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.