Should Animal Testing Be Banned - TOEFL Writing Integrated Practice Test (Integrated)

The TOEFL Writing section is your chance to showcase your academic communication skills. The Integrated Writing task focuses on combining information from reading and listening to create a well-structured essay. This practice test will guide you in mastering this critical skill. Let’s take the first step towards a strong TOEFL performance!

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 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.

The debate over whether animal testing should be banned is a hot topic, with strong arguments on both sides. People who want to ban animal testing say it's unethical and causes unnecessary suffering to animals. Animals used in experiments often go through painful procedures, are kept in small spaces, and can't act naturally. This treatment is seen as cruel and morally wrong, especially when there are other ways to test.

On top of that, the reliability of animal testing is being questioned more and more. Because humans and animals are biologically different, results from animal tests might not accurately predict how humans will react. For example, some drugs that seem safe in animal tests have caused serious side effects in humans later on. This difference raises doubts about how useful animal testing is for ensuring human safety and effectiveness.

Also, new technology has given us better alternatives to animal testing. Lab testing, computer modeling, and methods using human tissues can provide more accurate and humane ways to do research. These alternatives not only reduce the need for animal subjects but also often give more relevant data for human health. As these technologies keep getting better, the reason for using animals in testing becomes weaker.

Now play the audio.

Question

Summarise the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they oppose specific points made in the reading passage.

Curious about what a good TOEFL score looks like? Check it out first, then explore the Integrated Writing sample answers!

Sample Responses for the Integrated Writing Task on - Should Animal Testing Be Banned

Examine the provided pair of sample answers - one representing a mid-level and the other a high level. By studying these responses closely, you'll discover valuable lessons to enhance and polish your written responses.

High-Level Response

The reading passage argues that animal testing should be banned due to ethical concerns, questionable reliability, and the availability of better alternatives. However, the lecture counters these points by emphasizing the importance of animal testing in medical discoveries, the necessity of animal testing for safety, and the current limitations of alternative methods.

The reading highlights the unethical nature of animal testing, stating that it causes unnecessary suffering to animals. In contrast, the lecture argues that animal testing has been crucial for medical advancements, such as vaccines and cancer treatments, which have saved countless human lives.

Additionally, the reading questions the reliability of animal testing due to biological differences between humans and animals. The lecture, however, points out that animal testing is a required step to ensure the safety of new drugs before human trials. Skipping this step could put humans at greater risk.

Lastly, the reading suggests that new technologies like lab testing and computer modeling provide better alternatives to animal testing. The lecture acknowledges the promise of these alternatives but notes their current limitations. These methods cannot yet replicate the complexity of living organisms, making animal testing still essential for scientific research.

Rater's Comment

This response merits a high score as it effectively summarizes the main points from both the reading and the lecture, clearly illustrating how the lecture challenges the reading. The essay is well-organized, with each paragraph addressing a specific point of contention between the two sources. The response begins with a concise introduction that sets the stage for the discussion, followed by body paragraphs that systematically compare the reading and the lecture on key issues such as ethical concerns, reliability, and alternative methods.

The language used is clear and precise, with appropriate transitions that help maintain coherence and flow. The response also demonstrates strong control over grammar and vocabulary, with only minor errors that do not affect the overall meaning.

Overall, the response successfully presents all key information from both the reading and the lecture, making it a comprehensive and coherent summary. The logical flow and clear organization further enhance its quality, justifying a high score.

Mid-Level Response

The reading passage argues that animal testing should be banned because it is unethical and cause unnecessary sufering to animals. It mentions that animals used in experiments often go through painful procedures and are kept in small spaces. Also, the reliability of animal testing are being questioned because humans and animals are biologically different. Some drugs that seem safe in animal tests have caused serious side effects in humans. Lastly, new technology has given us better alternatives to animal testing, like lab testing and computer modeling.

The lecture, however, says that animal testing has been crucial in many medical discoveries that have saved human lives. Vacines, antibiotics, and cancer treatments were all developed with the help of animal research. It also says that current rules require strict testing to make sure new drugs and treatments are safe. Animal testing is often a needed step in this process. Skipping this step could put humans at greater risk. Lastly, while alternatives like lab testing and computer models look promising, they have their own limits. These methods can't yet copy the complexity of living things.

Rater's Comment

This response provides a basic summary of the main points from both the reading and the lecture, but it lacks depth and detail. While it captures the general arguments, it does not fully explore the nuances of each point.

The organization of the essay is somewhat clear, but there are lapses in coherence. The transition between the reading and the lecture is abrupt, and the response does not effectively compare and contrast the two sources. Additionally, there are noticeable grammatical errors.

Despite these issues, the response does demonstrate an understanding of the main points from both the reading and the lecture. It captures the essence of the lecture's argument that animal testing has been crucial for medical advancements and that alternative methods have their own limitations. However, the lack of detail, coherence, and grammatical accuracy prevents it from achieving a higher score.

With these strategies and examples in mind, you're ready to practice and refine your writing abilities!

Also Read:

• Solar Energy - TOEFL Writing Integrated Test
• Rembrandt - TOEFL Writing Integrated Test
• Altruism - TOEFL Writing Integrated Test
• Teamwork - TOEFL Writing Integrated Test