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The Role of Environmental Laws in Preserving Biodiversity - TOEFL Writing Integrated Practice Test

The Role of Environmental Laws in Preserving Biodiversity - TOEFL Writing Integrated Practice Test

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"Prepare for the TOEFL Writing Integrated Section with a practice test on 'The Role of Environmental Laws in Preserving Biodiversity' and learn the skills to improve score in the TOEFL exam."

The TOEFL iBT®exam evaluates candidates' abilities, particularly on their communication skills. Among all the sections, one of the significant ones would be the Writing Section which requires diverse skills from TOEFL examinees which you can practice with Practice test like The Role of Environmental Laws in Preserving Biodiversity. With consistent practice and dedication, you would be able to ace the exam.

This practice test aims to enhance your writing abilities, concentrating specifically on the Integrated Writing task of the TOEFL test. With this practice test, you will be familiarise yourself with the 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 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 Role of Environmental Laws in Preserving Biodiversity

Environmental laws play a crucial role in preserving the variety of life by providing a legal system to protect natural environments and species. One of the main benefits of these laws is the creation of protected areas, such as national parks and wildlife reserves. These areas serve as safe places for endangered species and help maintain environmental balance by preserving habitats that are essential for the survival of various plants and animals. By restricting human activities like deforestation, mining, and urban development in these regions, environmental laws help reduce habitat loss, which is a leading cause of the decline in the variety of life.

Another important benefit of environmental laws is the regulation of pollution and the management of natural resources. Laws that limit pollution and regulate waste disposal help maintain the quality of air, water, and soil, which are vital for the health of natural environments. Also, sustainable resource management practices required by environmental laws ensure that natural resources are used responsibly, preventing overuse and allowing natural environments to recover. This balance is essential for maintaining the variety of life and ensuring the long-term health of the planet.

Environmental laws also promote conservation efforts through funding and rewards. Governments and international organizations often provide financial support for conservation projects, research, and the development of sustainable practices. These initiatives can include reforestation programs, wildlife recovery, and the restoration of damaged ecosystems. By offering rewards such as tax breaks or grants, environmental laws encourage businesses and individuals to adopt environmentally friendly practices, further contributing to the preservation of the variety of life.

Also, environmental laws help international cooperation in addressing global environmental challenges. The loss of the variety of life is a worldwide issue that requires working together across borders. Treaties and agreements, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, bring countries together to set common goals and share resources and knowledge. This collaboration enhances the effectiveness of conservation efforts and ensures that preserving the variety of life is a global priority.

Now play the audio.

Question

Summarise on the lecture's arguments and highlight on how they relate to the claims stated in the reading section.

Response Time: 20 minutes

Transcript of the Audio of the Lecture on the Role of Environmental Laws in Preserving Biodiversity

Professor: While environmental laws are designed to preserve the variety of life, there are several challenges and limitations to their effectiveness. One major issue is the enforcement of these laws. In many countries, especially those with limited resources, enforcement can be weak or inconsistent. Corruption and lack of funding often slow down the carrying out of environmental regulations, allowing illegal activities like poaching, logging, and mining to continue unchecked. Without proper enforcement, the protective measures outlined in environmental laws cannot achieve their intended impact.

Another challenge is that environmental laws often fail to address the main reasons for the loss of the variety of life. For example, while laws may restrict certain harmful activities, they may not tackle underlying issues such as poverty and lack of education, which drive people to exploit natural resources unsustainably. Addressing these main reasons requires complete social and economic policies that go beyond environmental legislation.

The effectiveness of protected areas is also sometimes overstated. While they do provide safe havens for many species, they can also create conflicts with local communities who depend on these lands for their livelihoods. Displacement and restricted access to resources can lead to resentment and non-compliance with conservation efforts. Also, protected areas alone are not enough to preserve the variety of life if the surrounding landscapes are damaged or broken up.

Finally, international cooperation, while beneficial, is often hampered by differing national interests and priorities. Countries may sign treaties and agreements, but their commitment to carrying out these measures can vary widely. Economic pressures and political considerations often take precedence over environmental concerns, leading to inadequate action on preserving the variety of life. This inconsistency undermines the global effort needed to address the loss of the variety of life effectively.

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 the Role of Environmental Laws in Preserving Biodiversity

A comprehensive analysis of various responses is provided below, enabling you to identify areas requiring improvement to achieve your target score.

High-Level Response

In the reading passage, it highlights the crucial role of environmental laws in preserving biodiversity by creating protected areas, regulating pollution, promoting conservation efforts, and fostering international cooperation. However, the lecture presents several counterarguments. The lecture acknowledges the intent of environmental laws but points out the challenges in enforcement. In many countries, especially those with limited resources, enforcement is weak or inconsistent due to corruption and lack of funding. This allows illegal activities like poaching and logging to continue, undermining the effectiveness of these laws.

Regarding the regulation of pollution and resource management, the lecture argues that environmental laws often fail to address the root causes of biodiversity loss, such as poverty and lack of education. These underlying issues drive unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, and addressing them requires comprehensive social and economic policies beyond environmental legislation. On the other hand, the lecture also questions the effectiveness of protected areas. While they provide safe havens for species, they can create conflicts with local communities who depend on these lands for their livelihoods. Displacement and restricted access to resources can lead to resentment and non-compliance with conservation efforts. Additionally, protected areas alone are insufficient if the surrounding landscapes are degraded.

Lastly, the lecture highlights the challenges of international cooperation. While treaties and agreements are beneficial, differing national interests and priorities often hinder their implementation. Economic pressures and political considerations can take precedence over environmental concerns, leading to inadequate action on preserving biodiversity. This inconsistency undermines the global effort needed to address biodiversity loss effectively.

In conclusion, while the reading emphasizes the benefits of environmental laws in preserving biodiversity, the lecture provides a balanced view by highlighting the significant challenges and limitations in their implementation and effectiveness.

Rater's Comment

This response effectively summarizes the main points from both the reading and the lecture, demonstrating a clear understanding of the relationship between the two. The essay is well-organized, with each paragraph addressing a specific point from the reading and its corresponding counterargument from the lecture. The use of transitions such as "however," "regarding," and "lastly" helps to clearly signal the relationship between the reading and the lecture, making the essay coherent and easy to follow. The response also successfully paraphrases the information from both sources, avoiding direct copying and demonstrating the writer's ability to convey ideas in their own words. For example, the response rephrases the reading's point about the creation of protected areas and the lecture's counterargument about enforcement challenges without directly quoting either source.

Additionally, the essay maintains objectivity, focusing on summarizing the relationship between the reading and the lecture without expressing personal opinions. This is crucial for the TOEFL Integrated Writing task, as the goal is to report on the relationship between the two sources rather than to take a side. Overall, this response meets all the criteria for a high score, including presenting all key information from both the reading and the lecture, being well-organized and coherent, and demonstrating strong control over grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary with only minor errors that do not affect meaning.

Mid Level Response

The reading passage talks about the benefits of environmental laws in preserving biodiversity, like creating protected areas, regulating pollution, promoting conservation efforts, and fostering international cooperation. But the lecture says that enforcement of environmental laws is often weak, especially in countries with limited resources. Corruption and lack of funding allow illegal activities like poaching and logging to continue, undermining the effectiveness of these laws.

The lecture argues that environmental laws often fail to address the root causes of biodiversity loss, such as poverty and lack of education. These underlying issues drive unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, and addressing them requires comprehensive social and economic policies beyond environmental legislation. The lecture also questions the effectiveness of protected areas. While they provide safe havens for species, they can create conflicts with local communities who depend on these lands for their livelihoods. Displacement and restricted access to resources can lead to resentment and non-compliance with conservation efforts. Additionally, protected areas alone are insufficient if the surrounding landscapes are degraded.

Lastly, the lecture highlights the challenges of international cooperation. One one side, treaties and agreements are beneficial, also differing national interests and priorities often hinder their implementation. Economic pressures and political considerations can take precedence over environmental concerns, leading to inadequate action on preserving biodiversity. This inconsistency undermines the global effort needed to address biodiversity loss effectively.

Rater's Comment

This response provides a summary of the main points from both the reading and the lecture, but it lacks depth and detail in some areas. The essay addresses specific points from the reading and the lecture. However, the transitions between points are not as clear as they could be, making the essay somewhat less coherent. There are also some grammatical and punctuation errors that affect the overall quality of the response. For example, the sentence "The lecture says that enforcement of environmental laws is often weak, especially in countries with limited resources" could be clearer with better punctuation. The response does a good job of paraphrasing the information from both sources, but it occasionally lacks specificity. Examples could be more specific by mentioning the types of policies that might address these issues.

Overall, this response meets the criteria for a mid-level score. It provides a summary of the main points from both the reading and the lecture, but it lacks some detail and clarity. The organization is generally good, but the transitions could be clearer. There are also some grammatical and punctuation errors that affect the overall quality of the response.

Strategies for Taking the Integrated Writing Task on the Role of Environmental Laws in Preserving Biodiversity

Here are the strategies for taking the Integrated Writing Task on Environmental Laws in Preserving Biodiversity.

  • Read the passage carefully, taking concise notes on key points.
  • Listen actively to the lecture, noting 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.
  • Integrate information from both sources throughout your essay.
  • Use clear transitions and attributions for information from each source.

Prepared to enhance your TOEFL writing skills? Our collection of example responses and professional tips is here to support you in your journey. It's time to put your abilities to the test with some hands-on practice!

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