The Role of Urbanization in Environmental Degradation - TOEFL Writing Integrated Practice Test

In the TOEFL iBT® exam, candidates are evaluated on various abilities, particularly on their communication skills. Among the test sections, the Writing Section is particularly significant, which requires diverse skills from TOEFL examinees.

With the practice test, it aims to enhance your writing abilities, concentrating specifically on the Integrated Writing task of the TOEFL test. By attempting the test paper, you will be able to understand the task instructions, structure the responses effectively, and enhance your performance in the 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.

Urban growth has been a driving force behind economic growth and modernization, but it also greatly impacts the environment. One of the main ways urban growth harms the environment is by destroying natural areas. As cities grow, forests, wetlands, and other natural spaces are often cleared for buildings, roads, and other structures. This loss of natural spaces leads to a drop in the variety of plants and animals because they lose their homes and food sources.

Another big issue is the increase in pollution in urban areas. Cities are major sources of air pollution due to the high number of vehicles, industrial activities, and energy use. Burning fossil fuels for transportation and electricity releases large amounts of greenhouse gases and other pollutants into the air. This contributes to climate change and causes health problems like respiratory diseases.

Water pollution is also a major concern in urban areas. Runoff from streets, factories, and homes often carries pollutants like oil, heavy metals, and chemicals into rivers, lakes, and oceans. This pollution can harm water-based ecosystems and make water unsafe to drink. Additionally, the high demand for water in cities can lead to the overuse of water resources, putting more stress on the environment.

Urban growth also adds to the problem of waste management. The high population density in cities leads to a lot of solid waste, which often ends up in landfills or is burned. Both of these methods harm the environment. Landfills can leak harmful chemicals into the soil and groundwater, while burning waste releases toxic emissions into the air.

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 Role of Urbanization in Environmental Degradation’

Sample Responses for the Integrated Writing Task on ‘The Role of Urbanization in Environmental Degradation’

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 

The reading passage discusses the negative environmental impacts of urban growth, such as the destruction of natural areas, increased pollution, water contamination, and waste management issues. However, the lecture presents counterarguments, suggesting that urban growth can also offer solutions to these problems. The lecture argues that urban areas can be more energy-efficient than rural ones. High population density allows for better use of public transportation, reducing the need for private vehicles and lowering overall pollution. This challenges the reading's claim that cities are major sources of air pollution.

Regarding waste management, the lecture points out that cities have the resources to set up large recycling programs and waste-to-energy projects. These systems can significantly reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, countering the reading's concern about the environmental harm caused by solid waste in urban areas.

The lecture also highlights that urban areas can be centers for environmental innovation and policy development. Cities often have the financial resources and political will to invest in sustainable technologies and practices, such as creating green spaces and urban forests. This contradicts the reading's focus on the destruction of natural areas due to urban growth.

Lastly, the lecture addresses water management, stating that advanced urban planning can include efficient water distribution systems and wastewater treatment plants. These systems ensure sustainable water use and effective removal of pollutants, opposing the reading's view on water pollution and overuse of water resources in cities.

In summary, while the reading passage emphasizes the negative environmental impacts of urban growth, the lecture provides a more balanced perspective, highlighting how urban areas can also contribute to environmental solutions through energy efficiency, better waste management, innovation, and improved water management.

Rater’s Comment 

This response deserves a high score as 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 of contention between the reading and the lecture. For instance, the response clearly contrasts the reading's claim about air pollution with the lecture's argument on energy efficiency in urban areas. Similarly, it juxtaposes the reading's concerns about waste management with the lecture's points on recycling programs and waste-to-energy projects.

The response also maintains objectivity, focusing on summarizing the relationship between the reading and the lecture without expressing personal opinions. The use of transitions such as "The lecture argues," "Regarding waste management," and "Lastly, the lecture addresses" helps to clearly signal the relationship between the two sources, enhancing the coherence and flow of the essay.

Moreover, the language used is appropriate for a college-level response, with strong control over grammar, sentence structure, and vocabulary. The essay is concise, staying within the word limit while effectively conveying all necessary information. Overall, the response demonstrates a high level of proficiency in summarizing and synthesizing information from multiple sources, which is a key requirement for this task.

Mid-Level Response 

The reading passage highlight the negative environmental impacts of urban growth, such as the destruction of natural areas, increased pollution, water contamination, and waste management issues. The lecture presents counterarguments, suggesting that urban growth can also offer solutions to these problems.

The lecture argues that urban areas can be more energy-efficient than rural ones. This challenges the reading's claim that cities are major sources of air pollution. Regarding waste management, the lecture points out that cities have the resources to set up large recycling programs and waste-to-energy projects. These systems can significantly reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, countering the reading's concern about the environmental harm caused by solid waste in urban areas.

The lecture also highlights that urban areas can be centers for environmental innovation and policy development. Cities often have the financial resources and political will to invest in sustainable technologies and practices, such as creating green spaces and urban forests. This contradicts the reading's focus on the destruction of natural areas due to urban growth.

Rater’s Comment 

This response provides a summary of the main points to an extent, but it lacks some depth and detail, which is why it falls into the mid-level category. The essay is lacking cohesion even though, with each paragraph addressing a specific point of contention between the reading and the lecture. However, it omits some important details and examples that would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the material. For instance, the response mentions the lecture's point about the high initial investment and ongoing costs of digital services but does not elaborate on the specific expenses like regular updates and maintenance. Similarly, while it notes the lecture's concern about the traditional role of libraries, it does not fully explain how shifting to digital services might weaken the sense of community. 

The response also contains a few grammatical errors and awkward phrasings, such as "Many people, especially in low-income areas, might not have reliable internet or the devices needed to use digital services." A more polished sentence would be, "Many people, particularly in low-income areas, may lack reliable internet access or the necessary devices to utilize digital services."

Overall, while the response demonstrates a basic understanding of the material and is generally coherent, it lacks the depth, detail, and language control required for a higher score.

Strategies for Taking the Integrated Writing Task on the Role of Urbanization in Environmental Degradation

Here are the strategies for taking the Integrated Writing Task :

• 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:

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