The Impact of Fast Food Advertising on Childhood Obesity - TOEFL Writing Integrated Practice Test

The TOEFL iBT® 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 towards 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.

  Reading Time: 3 minutes

The rise in childhood obesity has become a major public health concern, and many experts believe fast food advertising is a big part of the problem. Those who support stricter rules on such advertising argue that it plays a key role in promoting unhealthy eating habits among kids. Fast food ads are specifically designed to appeal to children. Bright colors, catchy songs, and popular cartoon characters are used to attract young audiences. These marketing strategies are very effective in influencing children's food choices and eating habits. Studies have shown that kids exposed to fast food ads are more likely to pick high-calorie, low-nutrient foods. This leads to poor diets and weight gain.

Also, children are especially vulnerable to advertising because they don't have the thinking skills to understand its goal to convince. Unlike adults, kids can't easily tell the difference between entertainment and marketing. This makes them more likely to be influenced by ads, which can shape their long-term eating behaviors. By targeting children, fast food companies are essentially creating a generation of unhealthy eaters. Additionally, the sheer volume of fast food advertising makes the problem worse. Kids are bombarded with ads across various media platforms, including TV, the internet, and social media. This constant exposure makes eating fast food seem normal, making it a regular part of kids' diets. Reducing the amount of fast food advertising aimed at children could help lower childhood obesity rates.

Now play the Audio.

Question

Provide a brief summary of the lecture's main ideas and describe the various manners in which the lecturer questions some of the reading passage's claims.

Transcript of the Audio of the Lecture on ‘The Impact of Fast Food Advertising on Childhood Obesity’

Sample Responses for the Integrated Writing Task on ‘The Impact of Fast Food Advertising on Childhood Obesity’

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.

High-Level Response 

Rater’s Comment 

This response deserves a high score because it effectively summarizes the main points from both the reading and the lecture, demonstrating a clear understanding of the material. The essay is well-organized, with each paragraph addressing a specific point from the reading and its corresponding counterargument from the lecture. For example, the first body paragraph discusses the role of parental responsibility, directly challenging the reading's claim about the influence of fast food advertising. The second body paragraph addresses the multifactorial nature of childhood obesity, countering the reading's focus on advertising. The final body paragraph highlights the potentially overstated impact of fast food ads, questioning the direct link between advertising and obesity.

The response is coherent and flows logically, with clear transitions between points. The language is precise and concise, avoiding unnecessary complexity while effectively conveying the ideas. Additionally, the response maintains objectivity, focusing on summarizing the relationship between the reading and the lecture without expressing personal opinions. Overall, this response demonstrates strong language control, organization, and comprehension, meeting the criteria for a high score.

Mid-Level Response 

Rater’s Comment 

This response merits a mid-level score due to several factors. While it does summarize the main points from both the reading and the lecture, it lacks depth and detail in its analysis. The response is generally well-organized, but it does not fully develop each point, leading to a somewhat superficial treatment of the material. For example, the discussion of parental responsibility is mentioned but not elaborated upon, leaving the reader wanting more information. Additionally, there are a few grammatical and punctuation errors that detract from the overall clarity of the response. For instance, the sentence "These ads make kids choose high-calorie, low-nutrient foods, leading to poor diets and weight gain" could be clearer with better punctuation. Similarly, the phrase "making fast food seem normal" could be more effectively integrated into the sentence.

The response also lacks some coherence, with transitions between points feeling somewhat abrupt. While the language is generally clear, it does not demonstrate the same level of control and precision as a higher-scoring response. Overall, this response shows a good understanding of the material but falls short in terms of depth, detail, and language control, justifying a mid-level score.

Strategies for Taking the Integrated Writing Task on the Impact of Fast Food Advertising on Childhood Obesity

Here are the strategies for taking the Integrated Writing Task on the Impact of Fast Food Advertising on Childhood Obesity:

• Read the passage carefully, taking concise notes on key points.
• Listen actively to the lecture, and evaluate its relationship to the reading.
• Begin your response by clearly stating how the lecture relates to the reading.
• Explain any contradictions or connections between the reading and lecture.
• Incorporate the given information from both sources throughout your essay.
• Use clear transitions for information from each source to make a point.

Additional Reads:

• TOEFL iBT Integrated: Gain the Ability to Comprehend Information and Express Thoughts in Writing
• Important Discoveries and Inventions - TOEFL iBT® Academic Discussion Writing Practice Test with Sample Answers
• Social Media - TOEFL Academic Discussion Writing Practice Test with Sample Answers
• Eco-Certified - TOEFL Writing Integrated Test