Consumer Choices - TOEFL iBT® Speaking Integrated Practice Test with Responses

Audio Transcript of Speaking Integrated Test on ‘Consumer Choices’

Narrator: Listen to part of a lecture in a business class.

Female Professor:  What factors influence a consumer's decision when faced with choosing between two products of equal cost? Let's say there's a buyer comparing two items priced equally. In this scenario, which item will they opt for? Naturally, they'll select the one they perceive as being of superior quality. But what defines a high-quality product? Typically, industry experts discuss two primary aspects of quality—reliability and features.

Let's talk about reliability. What does reliability mean? Well, a product earns its reliability badge if it functions as expected and can endure a reasonable duration without requiring repairs. For instance, if a car malfunctions prematurely and needs frequent repairs, we label it as unreliable. Therefore, product reliability essentially refers to the absence of unexpected defects or issues. Previously, when people evaluated product quality, they primarily focused on reliability. However, things have changed today. Reliability still matters, but with current high manufacturing standards, like in the case of cars, most vehicles are quite reliable. Thus, while reliability remains crucial, it may not be the sole determining factor.

If reliability is no longer the determining factor, what is? Features—those additional elements, the aspects a product possesses that aren't essential but enhance usability or add appeal: for instance, modern cars are equipped with features such as power windows, sunroofs, air conditioning, stereo systems, and more. In today's product comparisons, consumers prioritize features—since reliability is relatively consistent across the board. This explains why manufacturers incorporate numerous features into their products.

High-Level Answer Audio Transcript:

The lecture discusses two significant factors influencing product quality: reliability and features. Reliability refers to a product's ability to function as expected and withstand a reasonable duration without needing repairs. For instance, uh, a reliable car would not frequently malfunction or require constant repairs. In the past, consumers primarily judged product quality based on reliability. However, with advancements in manufacturing, most products, such as cars, are now highly reliable, making reliability less of a deciding factor for consumers.

On the other hand, um, features are additional elements that enhance a product's usability or appeal, such as power windows, sunroofs, and stereo systems in cars. In contemporary consumer decisions, features have become more critical than reliability. This shift is due to the standardization of reliability across products, leading consumers to, uh, prioritize features that differentiate one product from another. Therefore, while reliability remains essential, features play a more significant role in influencing consumer decisions today. (154 words)

Mid-Level Answer Audio Transcript:

For instance, when you're considering purchasing two items with identical prices, the factors you need to consider are the, uh, quality, given their equal cost. So, what exactly do we mean by quality? Um, we're examining both the reliability and the features. So when is it reliable, it should work the way it should work, while with the, uh, features, what are present in the product, while features encompass what additional attributes the product offers. Nowadays, consumers tend to prioritize features over reliability when making purchases. They look more on the things that are present and not on its use, which may not always be necessary. Therefore, consumers often emphasize features over dependability. (113 words)