The Influence of Celebrity Culture on Teenagers' Behavior - TOEFL iBT® Writing Integrated Practice Test

Prepare for the TOEFL Integrated Writing Task with this practice test on 'The Influence of Celebrity Culture on Teenagers' Behaviour.' You'll read a passage and listen to a lecture, then have 20 minutes to write a well-organized response. This exercise helps you practice summarizing and comparing information, essential for acing the TOEFL Writing section.

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 influence of celebrity culture on teenagers' behavior has become a big concern today. Many people think this influence is mostly negative and shapes young minds in harmful ways.One major issue is that celebrities often promote unrealistic body images and lifestyles. Teenagers, who are easily influenced, may try to copy these impossible standards, leading to problems like low self-esteem, eating disorders, and body image issues. Celebrities often show their lives on social media, presenting a perfect version of reality that can make regular teenagers feel bad about themselves.

Another worry is the promotion of wealth and shallow values. Celebrities often show off their money, luxury items, and fancy lifestyles, which can create a wrong idea of success and happiness among teenagers. This focus on material things can take attention away from more important activities like school, personal growth, and helping others. Teens might focus on getting expensive things instead of developing skills and values that lead to long-term happiness.Also, the behavior of celebrities can set bad examples for teenagers. Many celebrities get involved in activities like drug use, reckless behavior, and legal troubles, which are widely talked about. Teenagers who look up to these figures might be more likely to copy such behaviors, thinking they are okay or even cool. This can lead to risky behaviors and bad decisions, with serious consequences for their future.

Now play the audio.

Question 

Summarise the lecture’s key points and explain how they challenge or support the reading passage’s claims.

Transcript of the Audio of the Lecture on The Influence of Celebrity Culture on Teenagers' Behaviour

Sample Responses for the Integrated Writing Task on The Influence of Celebrity Culture on Teenagers' Behaviour

Below, you’ll find a thorough examination of responses from mid-level to high-level, with guidance on enhancing your performance to reach your target TOEFL score:

Mid Level Response 

The reading passage argues that celebrity culture has a negative influence on teenagers by promoting unrealistic body images, materialism, and bad behavior. However, the lecture presents some positive aspects of celebrity influence.
The reading says that celebrities promote unrealistic body images and lifestyles, leading to low self-esteem and body image issues among teenagers. The lecture counters this by saying that many celebrities use their platforms to support important social issues like mental health awareness and environmental protection. This can inspire teenagers to get involved in positive activities. The reading also suggests that celebrities promote wealth and shallow values, which can distract teenagers from important activities like education and personal growth. The lecture argues that seeing celebrities achieve success can motivate teenagers to work hard and pursue their own dreams. This drive and determination can be valuable for their personal and professional development.
Lastly, the reading highlights the negative behavior of some celebrities, which can set bad examples for teenagers. The lecture counters this by noting that not all teenagers are equally influenced by celebrity culture. Many young people can distinguish between entertainment and real life, especially with guidance from parents, teachers, and mentors.
In summary, while the reading emphasizes the negative influence of celebrity culture on teenagers, the lecture provides a more balanced view, highlighting the potential for positive influence. (220 Words)

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 writer identifies the key arguments from the reading, such as the promotion of unrealistic body images, materialism, and bad behavior by celebrities. They also present the counterarguments from the lecture, including the positive influence of celebrities on social issues, motivation for personal success, and the role of critical thinking.
However, 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, such as "The reading says that celebrities promote unrealistic body images and lifestyles, leading to low self-esteem and body image issues among teenagers." This sentence is too long and could be broken into two separate sentences for clarity.The response also lacks transitions, which would help to clearly signal the relationship between the reading and the lecture. For example, the writer could use phrases like "however" or "in contrast" to better connect the ideas.

High Level Response 

The reading passage argues that celebrity culture negatively influences teenagers by promoting unrealistic body images, materialism, and bad behavior. However, the lecture offers a more balanced view, highlighting some positive aspects of celebrity influence.The reading claims that celebrities promote unrealistic body images and lifestyles, leading to low self-esteem and body image issues among teenagers. In contrast, the lecture points out that many celebrities use their platforms to support social issues like mental health awareness and environmental protection, inspiring teenagers to get involved in positive activities.The reading also suggests that celebrities promote wealth and shallow values, distracting teenagers from important activities like education and personal growth. However, the lecture argues that seeing celebrities achieve success can motivate teenagers to work hard and pursue their dreams, which is valuable for personal and professional development.

Lastly, the reading highlights the negative behavior of some celebrities, setting bad examples for teenagers. The lecture counters this by noting that not all teenagers are equally influenced by celebrity culture. Many young people can distinguish between entertainment and real life, especially with guidance from parents, teachers, and mentors.

In summary, while the reading emphasizes the negative influence of celebrity culture on teenagers, the lecture provides a nuanced perspective, highlighting potential positive influences and the importance of critical thinking. (213 Words)

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 promotion of unrealistic body images, materialism, and bad behavior by celebrities. They then skillfully present the counterarguments from the lecture, including the positive influence of celebrities on social issues, motivation for personal success, and the role of critical thinking.
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.
The use of transitions, such as "in contrast" and "however," helps to clearly signal the relationship between the reading and the lecture, enhancing the overall coherence of the essay. The writer also demonstrates strong control over grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary, with only minor errors that do not affect meaning.
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.

Strategies for Taking the Integrated Writing Task on The Influence of Celebrity Culture on Teenagers' Behaviour

Here are some strategies to approach the Integrated Writing Task on The Influence of Celebrity Culture on Teenagers' Behavior:

1.Summarize Clearly: Identify the key points from both the reading and the lecture, emphasizing their comparisons.

Example: "The reading discusses the negative impacts of celebrity culture, while the lecture presents a more nuanced perspective."

2. Compare and Contrast: Illustrate how the lecture either supports or contradicts the claims made in the reading, using clear transitions.

Example: "While the reading mentions harmful effects, the lecture highlights positive influences such as social advocacy."

3.Use Simple Language: Keep your language simple and avoid overly complex terms.

Example: "The reading argues that celebrities set unrealistic standards, but the lecture suggests they can also motivate positive change."

4. Organize Your Response: Arrange your response with a brief introduction, a comparison of the main points, and a clear conclusion.

Example: "The reading and lecture offer differing perspectives on celebrity influence. The reading emphasizes negative effects, whereas the lecture points out possible benefits."

5.Stay Objective: Focus on summarizing the information without injecting personal opinions.

Example: "The lecture challenges the reading by stating that not all teenagers are negatively influenced by celebrities."

Hope this practice test on The Influence of Celebrity Culture on Teenagers' Behavior was helpful for you. Use these strategies to effectively compare and summarize information in your response. With clear organization and simple language, you'll be well-prepared to tackle similar tasks in the future.

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