What is the fee of registering for the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition?

Applicants who choose to take the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition must pay an amount of INR 16,900 for registering, which is the same for TOEFL iBT.

How many times is the TOEFL iBT Home Edition conducted in a month?

The TOEFL iBT Paper Edition is offered once or twice every month.

As the TOEFL iBT exam is conducted in two sessions, do I have to book two dates or one?

You need to schedule two appointments when you register: one at your neighbourhood testing facility and the other at your house.

In some places, why is the duration of the first session of TOEFL iBT Paper Edition written as three and half hours? What is the actual duration?

The test duration at a centre is three hours. An additional thirty minutes is allocated for test administration tasks, such as admitting examinees, allowing them to input identifying information, and managing test materials.

Are there any special requirements for the Speaking section of the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition?

As the Speaking section is conducted from home, please ensure that you have the required setup for both the equipment and environment before registering. You will get the details from the official website.

Defining Tools - TOEFL Writing Integrated Practice Test

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Defining Tools - TOEFL iBT® Writing Integrated Practice Test Paper with Sample Responses

Sanskriti Gupta

7 min read

Updated On May 30, 2024

The TOEFL exam evaluates candidates on various abilities, placing particular importance on their communication skills. Among the test sections, the Writing Section is particularly significant, requiring diverse skills from TOEFL examinees.

This practice test aims to enhance your writing abilities, concentrating specifically on the Integrated Writing task of the TOEFL test. It aims to assist you in understanding task instructions, structuring responses effectively, and enhancing your performance in the TOEFL Writing segment. So, let's start your journey toward attaining your desired TOEFL score!

Writing Instructions

You'll read a passage and listen to a lecture on an academic topic.
You may take notes while listening to aid comprehension.
Then you will write a response to a question that asks you about the r lecture you heard.
Answer the question comprehensively using information from the lecture. Avoid expressing personal opinions in the response.
There is no strict word limit. However, an effective response is considered to be within 150 to 225 words.
Your response will be assessed based on writing quality, content accuracy, and completeness.

Defining Tools

Tool usage among animals showcases remarkable adaptability and problem-solving skills. While traditionally associated with human intelligence, tool use is observed across various species in their natural environments. Animals employ tools to obtain food, build shelters, and communicate with others in their social groups. The concept of tools extends beyond manufactured objects to include natural materials utilized for specific purposes. For instance, birds use twigs to build nests, while otters use rocks to crack open shellfish. These examples illustrate the diverse ways in which animals creatively utilize their surroundings to accomplish tasks. The study of animal tool use offers valuable insights into the cognitive abilities and behavioral strategies of non-human species. By observing and analyzing these behaviors, researchers gain a deeper understanding of the evolutionary origins and adaptive advantages of tool use in the animal kingdom.

Now play the Audio.

Question

Using points and examples from the lecture, describe the two different definitions of tools given by the professor.

Response Time: 20 minutes

Transcript of the Audio of the Lecture on ‘Defining Tools’

Narrator: Now listen to part of a lecture from a biology class.

Professor: Human beings aren’t the sole creatures employing tools. It's widely acknowledged that various other animals also utilize tools instinctively in their natural habitats, without any human intervention.

However, the criteria for defining an object as a tool can vary depending on one's perspective. There exist two conflicting definitions—a precise definition and a broad one. The precise definition posits that a tool is an item utilized for a specific task, but not just any object that fits the bill. According to this view, for something to qualify as a tool, it must be intentionally altered or crafted by the animal or human to serve its purpose. In essence, it's an object that's fashioned. For instance, wild chimpanzees fashion sticks to extract insects from their nests; however, not all sticks lying around suffice for the task—they may be too cumbersome, for instance.

So the sticks must be honed to fit snugly into the openings of an ant hill or an insect nest. The chimp removes leaves, chews the stick, and whittles it down until it reaches the desired size. The chimp doesn’t merely stumble upon the stick; one could argue it crafts it in a manner.

However, the expansive definition posits that an object doesn’t require alteration to qualify as a tool. According to this perspective, a tool encompasses any object utilized for a specific purpose. For instance, an elephant occasionally employs a stick to scratch its back—it simply picks up a stick from the ground and uses it to alleviate its itch. The elephant doesn’t alter the stick in any way; it utilizes it in its natural state. Consequently, it qualifies as a tool under the broad definition, whereas it falls short under the narrow definition due to the absence of any modification.

Points to Remember

To address this particular query, you need to elucidate the two delineations of tools as provided by the professor. Incorporating pertinent points and illustrations from the lecture (and no external sources) is imperative. Commencing your response by acknowledging that animals utilize tools sets the stage. Subsequently, delineate the existence of two conflicting definitions of a tool.

Firstly, expound on the initial definition. According to the narrow interpretation, an object qualifies as a tool if it has been deliberately altered or shaped to facilitate a specific task. Introducing the example cited in the lecture, when chimpanzees employ sticks to locate insects, it aligns with the narrow definition of a tool as the chimpanzees modify the sticks to render them suitable for the task. Elucidate further by outlining the process wherein chimpanzees strip leaves from the sticks and sharpen them to fit into insect nests.

Furthermore, elucidate the second definition of a tool. Under this broad definition, an object is considered a tool if it serves a particular task, irrespective of whether it has been modified. Subsequently, provide the example of elephants utilizing sticks to scratch their backs. Clarify that this conforms to the broad definition of a tool as the elephants employ the sticks for a specific task without altering them.

Avoid reiterating all lecture details; provide sufficient information to expound on the two approaches. As with all speaking tasks, ensure coherence, effective grammar and vocabulary utilization, and comprehensive development in your response. This task is evaluated using the Integrated Speaking Rubrics.

Sample Responses for the Integrated Writing Task on ‘Defining Tools’

This section provides a thorough evaluation of various responses, including both High-level and Mid-level answers. Through a detailed review of these responses, you can identify areas that need improvement to attain your target score in the TOEFL.

Mid-Level Response

In the lecture, the professor discusses, uh, two ways to define what tools are. Firstly, there's the narrow definition. This means a tool is something that's, you know, modified or crafted by an animal or person to perform a specific task. For instance, when chimpanzees want to access insects from their nests, they need to modify the sticks they find. They chew and, um, sharpen them so them can fit into the nests. This demonstrates how them transform the sticks into tools for the task. Then, there's the broad definition. This encompasses any object used for a task, even if it's not altered. For example, elephants sometimes use sticks to, uh, scratch their backs. They simply find a stick and use it, without altering it. Even though the stick remains unchanged, it still, um, assists the elephant, so it's considered a tool according to this broad concept. Thus, the lecture informs us that tools can be interpreted in two ways: narrowly, where they're modified for a task, and broadly, where they're simply used for a task, even if they're unaltered.

Rater’s Comment

The response provides a fair understanding of the lecture's content regarding the definition of tools. However, there are several instances of disfluencies (e.g., "uh," "you know," "um"), which hinder the clarity of expression. Additionally, the explanation lacks depth and coherence, resulting in a somewhat superficial analysis of the lecture's main points. To improve, the speaker should aim for clearer articulation and strive for more detailed explanations to demonstrate a deeper comprehension of the topic. Additionally, organizing the response in a more structured manner would enhance its effectiveness in conveying the key concepts discussed in the lecture. Moreover, there are repeated grammatical errors (use of “them” instead of they”), and the language used is straightforward and lacks complexity, indicative of a mid-level proficiency. Overall, while the response adequately addresses the task prompt, it could benefit from further development and elaboration to achieve a higher level of analysis.

High-Level Response

In the lecture, the professor discusses two distinct definitions of tools: the narrow definition and the broad definition. According to the narrow definition, a tool is an object purposely modified or crafted by an animal or human to serve a specific task. For instance, wild chimpanzees fashion sticks to extract insects from their nests. Notably, the sticks must be honed to fit into the openings of an ant hill or insect nest. The chimps remove leaves, chew the stick, and whittle it down until it's the desired size. This deliberate modification aligns with the narrow definition of tools, as the object is fashioned to fulfill a specific purpose.

On the contrary, the broad definition posits that any object used for a specific task qualifies as a tool, irrespective of whether it has been altered. For instance, elephants occasionally use sticks to scratch their backs. In this scenario, the elephant simply picks up a stick from the ground and uses it to alleviate its itch. Notably, the elephant doesn't modify the stick in any way; it utilizes it in its natural state. Despite the absence of alteration, the stick serves a specific purpose, thus meeting the criteria of a tool under the broad definition. In summary, the lecture highlights the conflicting perspectives on defining tools, showcasing the narrow definition emphasizing intentional modification and the broad definition encompassing any object used for a specific task.

Rater’s Comment

This response provides a comprehensive analysis of the two definitions of tools presented in the lecture. The candidate effectively outlines the narrow and broad definitions, supported by clear examples from the lecture. The explanation of how chimpanzees modify sticks to extract insects exemplifies the narrow definition, while the example of elephants using sticks to scratch their backs illustrates the broad definition. The response maintains coherence and clarity throughout, demonstrating a strong understanding of the lecture content. Additionally, the concluding summary effectively encapsulates the key points discussed. Overall, this is a well-structured and articulate response that effectively addresses the task promptly.

Are you ready to achieve TOEFL success? We've included sample responses and expert tactics to help you reach your target score. Now, it's your turn to engage in practice tests!