TOEFL IBT Writing practice #22

WRITING TASK 1. Directions: Give yourself 3 minutes to read the passage.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Endotherms are animals such as modern birds and mammals that keep their 

body temperatures constant. For instance, humans are endotherms and maintain 

an internal temperature of 37°C, no matter whether the environment is warm or 

cold. Because dinosaurs were reptiles, and modern reptiles are not endotherms, it 

was long assumed that dinosaurs were not endotherms. However, dinosaurs differ 

in many ways from modern reptiles, and there is now considerable evidence that 

dinosaurs were, in fact, endotherms.

Polar dinosaurs

One reason for believing that dinosaurs were endotherms is that dinosaur 

fossils have been discovered in polar regions. Only animals that can maintain a 

temperature well above that of the surrounding environment could be active in 

such cold climates. 

Leg position and movement

There is a connection between endothermy and the position and movement of 

the legs. The physiology of endothermy allows sustained physical activity, such as 

running. But running is efficient only if an animal’s legs are positioned underneath 

its body, not at the body’s side, as they are for crocodiles and many lizards. The 

legs of all modern endotherms are underneath the body, and so were the legs of 

dinosaurs. This strongly suggests that dinosaurs were endotherms.

Haversian canals

There is also a connection between endothermy and bone structure. The 

bones of endotherms usually include structures called Haversian canals. These 

canals house nerves and blood vessels that allow the living animal to grow quickly, 

and rapid body growth is in fact a characteristic of endothermy. The presence of 

Haversian canals in bone is a strong indicator that the animal is an endotherm, and 

fossilized bones of dinosaurs are usually dense with Haversian canals.

Listen to Track 20.

TrAck 20 TrAnscripT:

Narrator

Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about.

Professor

Many scientists have problems with the arguments you read in the passage. They 

don’t think those arguments prove that dinosaurs were endotherms. 

Take the polar dinosaur argument. When dinosaurs lived, even the polar regions 

where dinosaur fossils have been found were much warmer than today—warm 

enough during part of the year for animals that were not endotherms to live. And 

during the months when the polar regions were cold, the so-called polar dinosaurs 

could have migrated to warmer areas or hibernated like many modern reptiles do. So 

the presence of dinosaur fossils in polar regions doesn’t prove the dinosaurs were 

endotherms.

Well, what about the fact that dinosaurs had their legs placed under their bodies, not 

out to the side, like a crocodile’s? That doesn’t necessarily mean dinosaurs were highenergy endotherms built for running. There’s another explanation for having legs 

under the body: this body structure supports more weight. So with the legs under 

their bodies, dinosaurs could grow to a very large size. Being large had advantages 

for dinosaurs, so we don’t need the idea of endothermy and running to explain why 

dinosaurs evolved to have their legs under their bodies.

OK, so how about bone structure? Many dinosaur bones do have Haversian canals, 

that’s true, but dinosaur bones also have growth rings. Growth rings are a thickening 

of the bone that indicates periods of time when the dinosaurs weren’t rapidly growing. 

These growth rings are evidence that dinosaurs stopped growing or grew more slowly 

during cooler periods. This pattern of periodic growth—ya know, rapid growth followed 

by no growth or slow growth and then rapid growth again—is characteristic of animals that are not endotherms. Animals that maintain a constant body temperature year 

round, as true endotherms do, grow rapidly even when the environment becomes cool.

Directions: You have 20 minutes to plan and write your response. Your response will 

be judged on the basis of the quality of your writing and on how well your response 

presents the points in the lecture and their relationship to the reading passage. 

Typically, an effective response will be 150 to 225 words.

Response Time: 20 minutes

the question:

Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they challenge 

the specific points made in the reading passage

my writing response:

According to the reading passage, it argue that dinosaurs are endotherms animal, which their body temperature able to maintain constantly despite the outside environment they live. It state 3 evidences to support the argument, however the professor in the lecture seems not agree with the reading passage. The statements and the professor's doubts are in the following paragraphs.

From the reading passage, it written that because of some dinosaurs fossil discovered at polar region, it must be dinosaurs are endotherms. No animal can survive on extreme temperature in the polar, unless endotherms. The professor seems agree that in the polar region, is the place for endotherms, but he argue that polar region at those days in the past not as cold as nowadays, for instance it considerably warm. Moreover, the discovered of sinosaurs fossil in the polar, doesn't cover about migration that could be happen in the past. Dinosaurs could be migrate to warm area when the polar is too cold for them.  So he believe, the discovery of dinosaurs fossil at polar regions doesn't prove that Dinosaurs are endotherms.

The next one is about the leg position of dinosaurs. Accoridng the reading passage, because dinosaurs leg placed underneath their body, such a placement is typical for endotherms. Endotherms mostly able to do running, so only when leg position is underneath can perform such activity. The professor give objection regarding this point of views, he believe that dinousaurs leg underneath their body is the purpose to support their own weight. As we know, dinosaurs have huge body in order to strive and adapt, so the leg position obviously must be underneath their body.

Lastly is about Haversian Canals, this canals is typical for endotherms that has rapid body growth. Because it houses nerves and blood. The professor aruge, in fact that dinosaurs growth slowly at cooler period. The growth of dinosaurs is fluctuate time by time, and it relatively significant to temperatur of the environment. So it proved that dinosaurs are not endotherms.

ChatGPT Assessment, based on TOEFL iBT rubrics in scale out of 10 for each rubric (Delivery, Language Use, Topic Development):

Delivery: 9/10

The response effectively presents the points made in the lecture and their relationship to the reading passage. The ideas are clear and organized, making it easy to follow the arguments.

Language Use: 8/10

The response demonstrates a good command of language and effectively communicates the ideas. There are minor errors in grammar and punctuation, but they do not significantly hinder comprehension.

Topic Development: 9/10

The response provides a comprehensive summary of the lecture's points and effectively challenges the specific points made in the reading passage. It covers each argument and explains the professor's doubts and counterarguments.

Overall, the response is well-written and effectively addresses the task. It presents a clear understanding of the lecture and effectively communicates the points made by the professor. The arguments are well-supported and coherent, showcasing good critical thinking skills.

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WRITING 2:

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement?

In twenty years there will be fewer cars in use than there are today. 

Use specific reasons and examples to support your answe

My writing response:

In my own perspective, I disagree with the statement. I couldn't see that in the next 20 years cars are fewer than today. To support my argument, here are some of my reasons.

The very reason why some people believes we should reducing to use cars in the future is about environmental issues. As we know, cars is one of the most things that contribute badly to our environment. The gas emission from cars can lead our earth into global warming, that harm many aspects of our lives. However, nowadays in the globe, we developing electric cars, which produce no gas emission at all. So because of this electric cars technology, the previous argument are not reasonable anymore. Yet today, this technology not so advance and convenient, but in the next 20 years, I am really sure electric cars will dominate across the globe. Hence future cars will not give bad impact anymore to our environment, obviously we will produce more cars and use more cars than ever.

Secondly, globally, we are not interconnected enough by proper road. For big countries, such US, the roads have connecting all big cities together, so distribution of logistics and transportation of people can be very affordable. And still there are many countries that not develop good roads on their own territory. They still survive to develop their own road, perhaps they don't have any attention to expand the road internationally. So we are not yet interconnected each other. In the next 20 years, I believe, we will growth exponentially in term of global economy. We will trade goods and commodities more openly than ever, so obviously proper standard roads is needed. It will increase length of roads in global dramatically. Thus the roads are more available, so we need more cars to do the distribution. For instance, number growth of cars is inevitable. Not to mention, this condition not only make transportation will arose, but also it will stimulate people to travel more.

To sum up, I believe number of cars in the next 20 years will be much more than today. This situation suppose to be a good development for our society globally.

ChatGPT Assessment, based on TOEFL iBT rubrics in scale out of 10 for each rubric (Delivery, Language Use, Topic Development):

Delivery: 8/10

The delivery of the response is generally clear and coherent. The writer presents their perspective on the statement and provides reasons to support their opinion. The ideas are organized and easy to follow. However, there are a few instances where the sentence structure could be improved for smoother flow.

Language Use: 7/10

The language use is generally effective in conveying the writer's ideas. There are some minor errors in grammar and word choice that could be improved. For example, "believes" should be "believe," "convinent" should be "convenient," "dominate across the globe" could be rephrased as "become widespread globally," and "exponentioally" should be "exponentially."

Topic Development: 8/10

The writer presents two specific reasons to support their disagreement with the statement. They discuss the development of electric cars as a solution to environmental concerns and the need for proper road infrastructure to support global trade. They provide examples and reasoning to support their points. However, it would have been stronger if the writer had included a counterargument and addressed it to further strengthen their position.

Overall, the response is well-structured and provides logical reasoning, but there is room for improvement in language use and the inclusion of counterarguments. I would rate this response a 7.7/10.

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