TOEFL PREPARATION 2021

Pupil: Sorin Noroc

Helper: Alexandra Noroc

Table of contents
Lesson 1……………………………………………………………………………………………Reading section
Lesson 2……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Lesson 3……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Lesson 4……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Lesson 5……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Lesson 6……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Lesson 7……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Lesson 8……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Lesson 9……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Lesson 10……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Lesson 11……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Lesson 12……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Lesson 13……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Lesson 14……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Lesson 15……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
 Lesson 1
 Reading section
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7YKI4epvnU

1.We find the answers in the text (tehnica eliminării, adevărul complet nu pe jumătate,
Omitem și alegem din două idei)

 Listening section

1st Listening: discussion between a professor and a student

2nd Listening: a lecture
3rd Listening: discussion between two students
4th Listening: lecture

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Icxn83A5xAw

- Find the main idea

- Goal: to infer the meaning, purpose

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Icxn83A5xAw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uA5hLsIBlxY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSAZKU1zVGM&list=PLypKRMg8Q-k4QO-cdsCihPSFcw7YLkT8p

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a3W861_EiA

 Speaking section

6 questions: 2 familiar topics, 4 lectures

https://www.smart-words.org/linking-words/transition-words.html
To express opinion:

To my mind,…
To support my point of view,…
In my view,…
According to me, …
It seems to me that…
From my perspective, …
To my way of thinking, …
*Present your examples/ ideas

For instance
To illustrate
To paraphrase
In other words

*Comparison
Similar to…
Either … or
Neither…nor
Resemble

*Contrast
Otherwise
Nevertheless
On the other hand
Even though

*Generalizing
Overall
On the whole
All in all
Basically
For the most part
Doubtless
More or less

*Cause
Due to
Owing to
For this reason,

*Result/Consequences
Herefore,
As a result,
Consequently,
Thus,
So, (mostly informal)
Thereby,
Eventually,
Hence,
The reason why…

*To conclude
To sum up
To summarise
In conclusion

-to be eager to …

The structure of the argument/ speaking part:

- Introduction
- Content: 4 sentences with reasons and examples
- Conclusion
Ex:
(Introduction) To my mind, the local government should build a public pool. To support my point of
view I can bring the following arguments. In the first place they should build a public pool because
it is a perfect place to relax.
(Content) Moreover, people struggle with their daily routine (day by day) and coming at a
swimming pool will be awesome/amazing. Despite this, I want to mention that coming to a public
pool will be available for all the people, rich and poor, especially being for free. In addition,
investing in a swimming pool will be a great benefit for both the government and the people.
(Conclusion) Making people happy will help them to increase their reputation.

*When you must state your own opinion on the subject use these:
- I agree with this statement because…
- I disagree with this statement because… (and give reasons with examples)

https://toeflspeakingteacher.com/toefl-speaking-sample-answers/

Exercise!
(example 1)
The reading passage announces a change to the school’s textbook policy: students will now have
to download e-books instead of buying the paper books. This change came about because the
environmental and actual costs of the books are quite high. The man in the conversation instantly
loves this new policy. Students will only pay a one-time fee of $300 and, meanwhile, everything
they need is included. He especially likes the extra features that the e-readers are offered, like
highlighting, taking notes, using an online dictionary. You can even use the internet at the same
time. Even if it does take a little extra time to get used to using these devises, the man thinks it’s
still totally worth it. And actually, students that are already using this technology find it easier to do
their research and assignments. That’s why the man is all for the new textbook policy.

Structure in this exercise:

1 We present the problem
2 We tell what does the person want/prefer
3 We bring arguments
4 We conclude with saying” that’s why he agrees/ that’s why he prefers this

(example 2)
The reading passage mentions the culture shock, which is the discomfort experience of the
travellers who encounter different cultural practices from their own. What I found very interesting
was how the professor examines culture shock from her own personal experience. One example
was when she lived in Chile and no one showed up on time. This was very different from her
upbringing which taught her to always be punctual. For parties, even job interviews, everyone is
expected to be late. Another time the professor experienced culture shock was when she learned
that very few people in Chile actually get married. Couples will live together for years and years,
even raise a family together without ever tying the knot. This was very surprising and different from
her own culture. So, there you have it, culture shock is a very real thing experienced by travellers
who go/visit new places with different cultures from their own.

Exercises for practice

1. Your degree requires that you should choose a history course. Which of the following
courses would you prefer:
2.
- Art history;
- Twentieth-century world history;
- Science history?

3. You will need to accomplish an assignment for a presentation. Which one will you choose:

- Act out a scene from a play(with a partner);

- Explain your review of a novel you recently read;
- Read a selection of poems?

4. Accomplishing an assignment for a presentation is very important to every student.

If you are going to choose a roommate, which of the following qualities is the most
important to you:

- Cleanness ;
- Friendliness;
- Quietness ?

5. Which of the following functions of smartphones are most beneficial to students:

- Taking photos;
- Listening to music;
- Recording lectures ?

6. Three kinds of activities will be offered on a special day organized by the International
Student Office. Which one do you prefer:

- International food fair;

- International music festival;
- International film festival?

7. The university decides to remodel the dormitory and add a new space to it. Which space
do you recommend to add to your dormitory:

- Café;
- Study room;
- Game room?
How to express personal opinion
Look here for useful idioms:

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2F2.gy-118.workers.dev/%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fenglishlive.ef.com%2Fblog%2Flanguage-lab%2F15-
common-english-idioms-and-phrases%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3SCX0Ay-
bLYM8NhIlwJuUDYvQaWnO5ib_SM33atYY2TbjHdUD_ZQjOWyc&h=AT17zzzUWKxlKhi1YXTgkxgbaUoDI
3M2Ti7Rjoxr0mloLjGy25OihDHMleD-bTVyaET70bD0IiDRyBcB346dn-
6cw51XUpEg418hCymm9FQ085O2srz4-icMzvuhU6jlQW-i-Q

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2F2.gy-118.workers.dev/%3A443%2Fhttps%2Fwww.englishclub.com%2Fvocabulary%2Fphrasal-verbs-
list.htm%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2e5JPn-
CAuWXEHV7DRNzYpqsc1cLlsMrHNyErQGND1HVrTaceF2refyZI&h=AT17zzzUWKxlKhi1YXTgkxgbaUoDI
3M2Ti7Rjoxr0mloLjGy25OihDHMleD-bTVyaET70bD0IiDRyBcB346dn-
6cw51XUpEg418hCymm9FQ085O2srz4-icMzvuhU6jlQW-i-Q

Write and memorize as many as possible, to be able to put/ use them in conversations and essays!

Exercises for practice

1. If you are going to choose a position in the school community during summer vacation,
which one will you choose:

- Library desk front/receptionist;

- Technician ;
- Paint a wall in the community?

2. Which one would you like to choose for your final project:

- Giving a presentation;
- Writing a paper;
- Creating a video?

*Agree or disagree*
1. Do you agree or disagree with the statement that female and male residents students should
have separate residence halls?
2. Do you agree or disagree that it is important for your people to learn some domestic skills like
cooking, sewing and taking care of children?
3. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? If you want to succeed in business,
being outgoing and friendly is very important.
4. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? The government should forbid violence
and bad language in TV programs? Use specific reasons and examples in your answer.
5. Do you agree or disagree with the statement that experienced doctors are better than young
doctors?
6. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: It is never too late to get a degree in
university?
7. Do you agree or disagree that it is important for children to learn to draw or paint?
8. Do you agree or disagree that a celebrity should set a good example for young people ?

*Discussion questions
1. Some universities expect the students to choose a major field of study when they enter the
school; while other universities wait until the second or the third year before students decide to
choose a major field of study. Which do you prefer? Why or why not?
2. Which one do you prefer: To buy the newly released e-product as soon as possible or wait for a
while and then decide whether you want to buy it or not?
3. Some people prefer to buy new books while some people would like to buy used books, what is
your opinion?
4. If you are to choose between two apartments to live in next semester, one apartment is near the
campus but slightly expensive, the other is a little far from the campus but cheaper, which one do
you prefer and why?
5. You have been vey busy and unable to prepare for the exam tomorrow. You can either stay up
late to study and sleep less, or just study less and get full night sleep. Which will you choose?
6. Some people prefer sending messages while other prefer making phone calls directly. Which
one do you prefer?

Speaking Section

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a3W861_EiA
The problem is this: the man describes 2 solutions:
the first solution is to……, but the problem is………
the second solution is ………., but the problem is….
The woman doesn’t know what she wants to choose;
The woman chose to….
I prefer to …… because….

*The first point

*The second point
*The third idea was
*At the end they wanted to show …
Writing section

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbnFvC0BhyU

The Introduction
No matter what question style is used, write your introduction using the following template:

The reading and the lecture are both about… The author of the reading feels that… The lecturer
challenges the claims made by the author. He is of the opinion that…

The Body Paragraphs

Use the following templates for the body paragraphs:

To begin with, the author argues that… The article mentions that… This specific argument is
challenged by the lecturer. He claims ….. Additionally, he says…..
Secondly, the writer suggests…. In the article, it is said that… The lecturer, however, rebuts this
by mentioning …. He elaborates on this by bringing up the point that….
Finally, the author posits that…. Moreover, it is stated in the article that…. In contrast, the
lecturer’s position is …. He notes that… (you do not need to wrote a conclusion)

*Example from the teacher

The reading and the lecture are both about the collapse of the civilization on Easter Island. The author of
the reading feels that there are three possible explanation for the collapse. The lecturer challenges the
claims made by the author. He is of the opinion that these explanations are faulty.

To begin with, the author argues that the collapse might have been cause by rats that ate the sees of palm
trees. The article mentions that it caused erosion and soil loss, which made it hard to grow food. This
specific argument is challenged by the lecturer. He claims that even if deforestation occurred the people on
the island would have had enough food. Additionally, he says that 60% of their diet came from the sea, and
they also used tock gardens to grow potatoes in weak soil.

Secondly, the writer suggests that the collapse may have been caused by warfare. In the article, it is said
that many curved blades used as weapons have been found on Easter Island. The lecturer, however,
rebuts this by mentioning that the shades of the blades suggest that they were not actually weapons. He
elaborates on this by bringing up the point that they were neither sharp nor pointy, so they were probably
just used as tools for cutting stones.

Finally, the author posits that the society on the island could be have been destroyed by exposure to
diseases brought by foreign visitors. Moreover, in the article it is stated that thousands died as a result of
this. In contrast, the lecturer’s position is that when contact with Europeans and South Americans began
the population of the island was only about 3000. He notes that since the population was twenty thousand
before contact , whatever caused the decline must have started long before then.

*Example 2

The lecturer talks about research conducted by a firm that used the group system to handle their work. He
says that the theory stated in the passage was very different and somewhat inaccurate when compared to
what happened for real.

First, some members got free rides. That is, some did not work hard but got recognition for the success
nonetheless. This also indicates that people who worked hard were not given the recognition they should
have got. In other words, the were not given the opportunity to “shine”. This directly contradicts what the
passage indicates.

Second, groups were slow in progress. The passage says that groups are more responsive than individuals
because of the number of people involved and their aggregated resources. However, the speaker talks
about how the firm found out that groups were slower than individuals in decision making. Groups needed
more time for meetings, which are necessary procedures in decision making. This was another part where
experience contradicted theory.

Third, influential people might emerge and lead the group towards glory or failure. If the influent people are
going in the right direction, there would be no problem. But in cases where they go in the wrong direction,
there is nobody that has enough influence to counter the decision made. In other words, the group might
turn into a dictatorship, with the influential party as the leader, and might be less flexible in thinking. They
might become one sided and thus, fail to succeed.

Independent essay
Template( Writing question 2)
*Introduction(paragraph 1)
Sentence 1: The “hook”!
This is an interesting sentence that introduces the general theme or topic of the essay.
Sentence 2: The main point
This is your main argument and the direct answer to the question. “Personally, I believe…”
Sentence 3: The transition
Just use:” I feel this way for two/… reasons, which I will explore in the following essay.”
*Body(paragraph 2)
Sentence 1: A topic sentence
This summarizes your first supporting reason. Begin with:” First of all…”
Sentence 2 to 4: The explanation
Explain what you mean, without talking directly about a personal experience. Shorten if necessary.
Sentence 5: The transition
Just use:” My personal experience is a compelling example of this.”
Sentence 6 till the end: The personal example
An example from your life that illustrates this argument. Make it longer than the explanation part.
*Body 2(paragraph 3)
Sentence 1: A topic sentence
This summarizes your second supporting reason. Begin with:” Secondly…”
Sentence 2 to 4: The explanation
Explain what you mean without talking directly about personal experience. Shorten if necessary.
Sentence 5 : The transition
Just use:” For instance…”
Sentence 5 to end: The personal example
An example from your life/ someone else’s life that illustrates this argument. Make it longer than
the explanation part.
*Conclusion(Paragraph 4)
Sentence 1 : Restate the thesis
Paraphrase your thesis. Begin with:” In conclusion, I am of the opinion that…”
Sentence 2: Restate the two reasons. Just use:” This is because ….and ….”
Your whole essay should be between 380 and 400 words.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbnFvC0BhyU
New version of TOEFL writing

Sample essays
1

Most people agree that modern technology affects society in many different ways. In my opinion,
access to internet is very beneficial to both individuals and community as a whole. I feel this way
for two reasons, which I will explore in the following essay.

To begin with, online investigative reporting helps to expose political corruption and keep
politicians honest. In the past, there were only a limited numbers of outlets, which often had deep
connections to politicians. As a result, they were extremely hesitant to criticize them. These days
however, there are independent publications on the internet that are willing to expose political
misbehaviour. For example, an online magazine recently published a story revealing that the
mayor of my home town had taken bribes from a property developer. The report was so detailed
and well-researched that the mayor had no choice but to resign. Although the evidence was not
difficult to locate, only this independent website was willing to write about it. This example
demonstrates how the internet helps to strengthen democracy inn the modern world.

Secondly, people are more motivated than ever to become politically active because they can
freely exchange ideas online. In countries all over the globe, people use social networking
services to share their ideas and opinions. While in the past people might have thought that they
were alone in their beliefs, today they realize that others share their ideas. My own experience
demonstrates this concept. When I was a university student, I learned that a municipal park near
my apartment was going to be demolished to make room for a massive parking lot. This bothered
me a lot because I enjoyed spending my free time in the park. At first I thought that there was
nothing that I, as an individual, could do to stop this from happening. However, I later joined a
Facebook group dedicated to opposing the plan. When the members of the group learned how
many people loved the park, we were happy to get together and enthusiastically protest in front of
the city hall until our voices were heard. I am convinced that finding each other on that social
networking platform gave us the courage to actively protect our park.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that the internet had a positive effect on our lives. This is because
online journalism strengthens our democracy, and because social networking sites encourage
people to get involved in local politics.

2
It is critically important that students use the best available resources when they do research. In
my opinion, it is far better to use printed materials than online sources. I feel this way for two
reasons, which I will explore in the following essay.

To begin with, printed materials such as books and articles are more reliable than websites. This is
because websites can be edited by anyone in the world, regardless of whether or not they are
qualified academics. As a result of this, even articles I popular online encyclopedias often contain
incorrect and biased information. My own experience demonstrates the danger on relying too
heavily on online sources of information. Two semesters ago I was assigned a research paper in a
freshman history class. I cited data that I found on Wikipedia which later turned out to be
completely incorrect. This data wad so hopelessly wrong that my professor spotted it immediately,
causing me to fail the assignment and receive a fairly low grade in the class at the end of the
semester. If I had taken the time to compare what I had read online to a book or a scholarly article
I would not have included it, and would not have received such a terrible score in the class.
Secondly, books are superior to online articles because they cover topics in much detail.
Textbooks are significantly longer than online articles, so they are more useful to students.
Students who use them when doing projects can also look at the detailed indexes which they
include to focus on very specific topics. For example, when I wrote an essay last semester in a
history class, the very first book that I consulted contained a long description of both the
underlying causes and the long-term effects of the historical event I was writing about. In contrast,
most of the online articles that I consulted contained little more than superficial facts and dates. I
based my research on the book rather then on those articles , so I was able to write a very
insightful essay.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that printed information is more useful than online resources. This
is because books and printed journals are less likely to be biased or contain errors, and because
books provide a superior level of detail.(383 words)

As modern education continues to develop, the usefulness of grades as a form of assessment has
been called into question. Personally, though, I believe that teachers can motivate students by
grading them. I feel this way for two reasons, which I will explore in the following essay.

To begin with, grades motivate students to approach their studies more diligently. When a student
feels that his grades are on the line, he will spend more time working on his assignments and will
therefore absorb more information and will achieve more comprehension. On the other hand,
student who do not have to worry about their grades will achieve merely a superficial
understanding of the topics they are studying. My own experience as a student demonstrates
convincing evidence of this. During my sophomore year I had to complete a major assignment in a
political science class I was taking. According to the course syllabus, the assignment would make
up about half of my total grade in the class, so I approached my work with diligence and care. I
wrote a compelling speech and spent hours preparing for every possible question my classmates
could think of. If the presentation had not been graded, I would not have prepared so much for it. L
am sure student all over the world today are motivated to work hard by the chance to achieve high
grades from their professors.

Secondly, grades motivate students because they are a way to determine which people in a group
are objectively most intelligent. Grades are assigned in a systematic way, so they clearly
demonstrate which students in a class are the best and brightest. For example, in my freshman
year, I took a literature class where students merely got a “ pass” or “ fail” grade at the end. Since
only a moderate amount of effort was required to pass, I completed my assignments and
presentations quite halfheartedly. In contrast, when I took a graded class on the same subject in
my junior year, I spent hours in the library researching my papers so I could show my professors
that I was intellectually superior to my classmates. This may appear somewhat shallow, but in
today’s competitive academic environment, it is absolutely necessary for students to distinguish
themselves.
In conclusion, I strongly believe that grades encourage students to learn. This is because they
force students to approach their studies with enthusiasm and diligence, and because they give
young learners a way to distinguish themselves from their peers.(416 words)

It is important that we use our time in a way that matches our lifestyle and personal goals.
Personally, I feel that people today do not spend too much of their time on personal enjoyment. I
feel this way for two main reasons, which I will explain in the following essay.

First of all, people today spend more time working than ever before, which means that they are
spending a lot of time fulfilling serious obligations. Studies indicate that we spend more time at our
offices than ever before, and smart phones and internet access force people to continue working
even when we are at home. My own experience is a compelling example of what I mean. I work
for a large investment banking firm where my scheduled work day is from nine o’clock to five
o’clock, but I actually average about 8 hours of overtime every week. I do not do this because I
enjoy it, but because I feel obligated to serve my company and earn money for my family.
Moreover, almost everyone else at my firm does the same thing. We often compare ourselves to
our parents, who almost never worked overtime nor received calls from their bosses on the
weekend. For this reason, I think that the present generation emphasizes professional obligations
over personal enjoyment.

Secondly, many popular leisure activities include a degree of self-improvement, which means that
even our hobbies fall into the realm of duties and obligations. People these days seem to be really
into endurance sports, such as long distance running, which are incredibly beneficial for our
health. For instance, I spend most of my free time working out at a local gym. Although this is
certainly enjoyable for me, part of why I do it is that is keeps me strong, healthy and fit. This
makes me both a better parent to my children and abetter employee for my boss. I consider these
two aspects of my life that I should be deeply concerned about.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that people do not spend too much time on personal enjoyment. This
is because people work around the clock nowadays, and even our leisure activities are connected
to personal improvement.

Listening test see below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQGDN8-pw18