The Impact of Tourism on Historical Sites - TOEFL Writing Integrated Practice Test
"Strengthen your TOEFL integrated writing skills with this practice test on the impact of tourism on historical sites. Explore both the responses and practice crafting a well-organized essay based on the reading and lecture."
Key Highlights
- The Impact of Tourism on Historical Sites
- Transcript of the Audio of the Lecture on the Impact of Tourism on Historical Sites
- Sample Responses for the Integrated Writing Task on the Impact of Tourism on Historical Sites
- Strategies for Taking the Integrated Writing Task on the Impact of Tourism on Historical Sites
Academic writing requires more than just good grammar—it demands clear thinking and effective organization. Today's TOEFL practice will strengthen your ability to handle the Integrated Writing task with confidence. Let's explore strategies for understanding, analyzing, and connecting information from different sources.
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.
Reading Time: 3 minutes
The Impact of Tourism on Historical Sites
The impact of tourism on historical sites is a topic of significant debate. Many argue that tourism brings major benefits to these sites, contributing to their upkeep and the local economy.
One key point is that tourism generates money that can be used for the maintenance and restoration of historical sites. Entrance fees, guided tours, and souvenir sales provide funds that can be reinvested into the upkeep of these sites. This financial support is crucial for preserving the stability and beauty of historical landmarks, which might otherwise deteriorate due to lack of funding.
Another argument is that tourism raises awareness and appreciation of cultural heritage. When people visit historical sites, they learn about the history and significance of these places, encouraging a sense of global cultural understanding. This increased awareness can lead to greater public support for the preservation of historical sites, both locally and internationally. Educational programs and informational materials provided at these sites further enhance visitors' knowledge and appreciation.
Also, tourism can boost the local economy by creating jobs and supporting businesses. Hotels, restaurants, and shops benefit from the arrival of tourists, providing employment opportunities for local residents. This economic boost can improve the quality of life in communities surrounding historical sites, making them more sustainable in the long term.
Now play the audio.
Question
Provide a concise overview of the lecture's arguments, detailing their opposition to specific claims presented in the reading passage.
Response Time: 20 minutes
Transcript of the Audio of the Lecture on the Impact of Tourism on Historical Sites
Narrator: Now, listen to a segment of a lecture discussing the topic covered in the reading passage.
Professor: While the reading passage highlights some benefits of tourism, there are several negative impacts on historical sites that need to be considered.
First, the arrival of tourists can cause physical damage to historical sites. The sheer number of visitors can lead to wear and tear on structures, erosion of pathways, and even vandalism. Many historical sites are not equipped to handle large crowds, and the constant foot traffic can speed up their deterioration. This physical damage can be difficult and costly to repair, sometimes causing irreversible harm.
And, tourism can lead to the business focus of historical sites, taking away from their cultural and historical importance. The focus on attracting tourists can result in the construction of modern facilities and attractions that clash with the historical character of the site. This business focus can undermine the genuineness of the site, turning it into a tourist trap rather than a place of genuine historical interest.
Lastly, the environmental impact of tourism cannot be ignored. Increased tourism often leads to pollution, waste, and strain on local resources. The facilities required to support large numbers of tourists, such as roads, parking lots, and waste management systems, can disrupt the natural landscape and ecosystem surrounding historical sites. This environmental damage can further threaten the preservation of these valuable cultural landmarks.
Wait! Before you check out the sample answers to the Writing Integrated task, let’s learn what a good TOEFL score is!
Sample Responses for the Integrated Writing Task on the Impact of Tourism on Historical Sites
Review the two sample responses, one at a mid-level and the other at a high-level. Comparing these examples will give you useful insights to help enhance and polish your writing response.
High-Level Response
The reading passage argues that tourism benefits historical sites by generating funds for maintenance, raising cultural awareness, and boosting the local economy. However, the lecture presents several counterarguments to these claims.
The reading suggests that tourism generates money for the upkeep of historical sites through entrance fees and souvenir sales. In contrast, the lecture argues that the influx of tourists can cause physical damage to these sites. The wear and tear from large crowds, erosion of pathways, and even vandalism can lead to costly and sometimes irreversible harm to historical landmarks.
The reading also claims that tourism raises awareness and appreciation of cultural heritage, leading to greater public support for preservation. However, the lecture counters this by stating that tourism can shift the focus of historical sites towards business interests. The construction of modern facilities to attract tourists can undermine the historical character of the site, turning it into a tourist trap rather than a place of genuine historical significance.
Lastly, the reading highlights that tourism boosts the local economy by creating jobs and supporting businesses. The lecture, however, points out the environmental impact of tourism. Increased tourism leads to pollution, waste, and strain on local resources. The infrastructure needed to support tourists, such as roads and waste management systems, can disrupt the natural landscape and ecosystem surrounding historical sites, further threatening their preservation.
Rater's Comment
This response effectively summarizes the main points from both the reading and the lecture, demonstrating a clear understanding of the material. The writer accurately identifies the key arguments from the reading, such as the financial support for maintenance, cultural awareness, and economic benefits of tourism.
The response is well-organized and coherent, with each paragraph focusing on a specific point of contention between the reading and the lecture. The writer uses clear and concise language, making the essay easy to follow. Additionally, the response maintains objectivity, refraining from expressing personal opinions and instead focusing on summarizing the relationship between the reading and the lecture.
Overall, this response meets all the criteria for a high score, effectively presenting the key information from both the reading and the lecture in a well-organized and coherent manner.
Mid-Level Response
The reading passage argues that tourism benefit historical sites by generating funds for maintenence, raising cultural awareness, and boosting the local economy. However, the lecture presents several reasons why tourism might not be so beneficial.
The reading says that tourism generates money for the upkeep of historical sites through entrance fees and souvenir sales. The lecture counters this by saying that the influx of tourists can cause physical damage to these sites. The wear and tear from large crowds, erosion of pathways, and even vandaliesm can lead to costly and sometimes irreversible harm.
The reading also claims that tourism raise awareness and appreciation of cultural heritage. The lecture argues that tourism can shift the focus of historical sites towards business interests. The construction of modern facilities to attract tourists can undermine the historical character of the site, turning it into a tourist trap.
Lastly, the reading highlights that tourism boosts the local economy by creating jobs and supporting businesses. The lecture points out the environmental impact of tourism. Increased tourism leads to pollution, waste, and strain in local resources. The infrastructure needed to support tourists, such as roads and waste management systems, can disrupt the natural landscape and ecosystem surrounding historical sites.
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. The response is somewhat disorganized and lacks coherence. The writer does not clearly signal the relationship between the reading and the lecture, making it difficult to follow the flow of the essay. Additionally, there are noticeable grammatical and punctuation errors.
The response also lacks transitions, which would help to clearly signal the relationship between the reading and the lecture. Overall, while this response provides a basic summary of the main points from both the reading and the lecture, it lacks depth, organization, and coherence.
Strategies for Taking the Integrated Writing Task on the Impact of Tourism on Historical Sites
Here are essential strategies to complete this task effectively.
- Thoroughly review the passage to pinpoint the main arguments regarding fast fashion's environmental effects.
- Pay attention to the lecture, identifying any contrasting or supporting viewpoints, especially concerning environmental impact.
- Analyze how the reading and lecture are related—whether they agree, differ, or expand on one another.
- Organize your essay with a structured outline, including an introduction, body paragraphs addressing both the reading and lecture, and a conclusion.
- Focus on comparing and contrasting the perspectives, explaining where they align or differ in their viewpoints on the topic.
Now that you've gone through the sample responses and picked up some helpful writing techniques, it's time to apply your skills in practice!
Also Read:
- The Role of Volunteerism in Community Development - TOEFL Writing Integrated Test
- The Role of Vaccination in Public Health - TOEFL Writing Integrated Test
- The Role of Urbanization in Environmental Degradation - TOEFL Writing Integrated Test
- The Role of Universal Healthcare in Reducing Health Inequality - TOEFL Writing Integrated Test
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