Question 1 Outline 1st: you will be given 3 minutes to read an article. 2nd: you will hear a lecture that lasts about 2 minutes. 3rd: you will be asked a question about the lecture and the article. 4th: you will be given 20 minutes to write an essay; you can see the article again during this time. 5th: the computer will save your essay and move to the next question. Practice Reading time: 3 minutes Zoos Some critics contend that keeping animals in zoos is inhumane and must be changed. They believe that zoos are unnatural and provide no real benefit to society besides providing entertainment at the expense of the animals involved. The truth is that zoos are essential to a modern culture that places value in animal life. Animals are treated well in zoos. In fact, the most passionate animal lovers are usually the animal keepers found in zoos. They ensure that the animals maintain the same level of psychological “happiness” as their wild counterparts. They, along with the zoo itself, help animals live longer, feed better, and suffer from fewer diseases; These animals are allowed to exist without the fear of predation or famine because of zoos. Additionally, zoos are no longer seen as or marketed as forms of entertainment, but as education. Zoos work to inform the public about exhibited animals, wildlife in general, and the important need to preserve our Earth. The emphasis on conservation and education is an important one. Visitors are taught about issues and animals that they would never have direct experience with otherwise. Thus, zoos provide a crucial tool to direct the public towards more humane ways to look at the world. Finally, zoos serve the vital function of helping to protect and preserve endangered species. For example, the Golden Lion Tamarins are an endangered species native to Brazil. In the early part of the 1970s, only around 200 of these small monkeys existed. It was only through the coordinated actions of several zoos and the Brazilian government
that these animals were saved from extinction. Today, as a result of these efforts, you can find about 1,500 living in the wild. Read more: https://www.notefull.com/content.php?pgID=264#ixzz1ULD46lXK 2nd: what the reading will be like and how to take notes on it First, this essay will have a title. The title will be the topic of the essay. The essay will contain four paragraphs and they will add up to approximately 280 words. A good read before the lecture is crucial to helping you earn a top score. So, let’s look at what each of these paragraphs is going to do and how to read through each quickly.
1st paragraph: The author’s opinion about the topic is stated 2nd paragraph: One reason of support for the author’s opinion is stated 3rd paragraph: A second reason of support is stated 4th paragraph: A third reason of support is stated
Simple, right? The essay states the author’s opinion about a topic and three reasons for it. How can you grab this important information quickly? You must realize that when we write our introductions in English (as I will teach you for question two of the writing), we tend to write our thesis (claim, opinion, answer, or whatever else you want to call it) in the last sentence of the paragraph. And, when we support ourselves in the following paragraphs, we place our reason (topic sentence, main sentence, or whatever else you want to call it) in the first sentence of the paragraph. Consequently, there are only four sentences you really need to read and take notes on within the 3 minutes.
1st paragraph with the author’s opinion: last sentence of the paragraph 2nd paragraph with the author’s first reason: first sentence of the paragraph 3rd paragraph with the author’s second reason: first sentence of the paragraph 4th paragraph with the author’s third reason: first sentence of the paragraph
Important Note What I just taught you about where to locate the sentences is a tool; it is not 100% going to happen. What I mean is that with more difficult reading passages the reason may not be only in the first sentence but in the first two or three. That means that in order to understand more difficult reasons you must understand three sentences well. Again, this doesn’t always happen, but it does for more difficult readings. It’s actually what makes them difficult.
Our practice is a perfect example. I have placed the important sentences in bold so you can see how quickly and easily you can break down the reading.
Reading Some critics contend that keeping animals in zoos is inhumane and must be changed. They believe that zoos are unnatural and provide no real benefit to society besides providing entertainment at the expense of the animals involved. The truth is that zoos are essential to a modern culture that places value in animal life. Animals are treated well in zoos. In fact, the most passionate animal lovers are usually the animal keepers found in zoos. They ensure that the animals maintain the same level of psychological “happiness” as their wild counterparts. They, along with the zoo itself, help animals live longer, feed better, and suffer from fewer diseases; these animals are allowed to exist without the fear of predation or famine because of zoos. Additionally, zoos are no longer seen as or marketed as forms of entertainment, but as education. Zoos work to inform the public about exhibited animals, wildlife in general, and the important need to preserve our Earth. The emphasis on conservation and education is an important one. Visitors are taught about issues and animals that they would never have direct experience with otherwise. Thus, zoos provide a crucial tool to direct the public towards more humane ways to look at the world. Finally, zoos serve the vital function of helping to protect and preserve endangered species. For example, the Golden Lion Tamarins are an endangered species native to Brazil. In the early part of the 1970s, only around 200 of these small monkeys existed. It was only through the coordinated actions of several zoos and the Brazilian government that these animals were saved from extinction. Today, as a result of these efforts, you can find about 1,500 living in the wild.
We care about this information because the lecture will always oppose the author’s opinion and each reason given in support of that opinion, so knowing the opinion and reasons of the author is crucial to understanding the lecture. The best way to take notes for this question is by using a chart composed of 8 boxes: four boxes on the left for the reading and four boxes on the right for the listening. Each box on the left relates to a paragraph in the reading and each box on the right is for notes on how the lecture refutes the paragraph’s point.
Example Notes
Reading
Lecture
Claim
zoos are essential
Reason 1
animals are treated well
Reason 2
educational
Reason 3
protect endangered species
I’ll give you some more tips on how to take advantage of the reading later. Read more: https://www.notefull.com/content.php?pgID=265#ixzz1ULDBOP4F 3rd: what the lecture will be like and how to take notes on it Consider the lecture nothing more than another article with the exact same structure. Except there are two important differences: one, it is something that you hear, and two, it contradicts everything you read in the article. With this knowledge, you hear the lecture with a sense of expectation; you know what the professor in the lecture is going to talk about, which helps you take great notes. For instance, we know that the article claims zoos are good because they treat animals well, are educational, and protect endangered species. So, we expect the professor to state that zoos are not good because they don’t treat animals well, are not educational, and don’t protect endangered species. Are we right in our expectation? Let’s look at the transcript of the lecture to find out.
Lecture Zoos have been a topic of debate for the past few decades, ever since animal rights have become more of a concern. Though there is room for debate, many activists have problems with the arguments made in the passage. They don’t believe that those arguments prove that zoos benefit animals or society in any meaningful way.
First, the treatment of animals in zoos is not at all as pretty as the author would have you believe. In fact, in one zoo, questions of animal safety arose when two red pandas were found dead after being exposed to rat poison. Though the zoo’s safety managers could have prevented this sad incident, they were nowhere to be found. This case is one of many that show the lack of care zoo administrators provide for the animals in their exhibits. Second, most zoos are still seen as forms of entertainment, not as sources of education. The average zoo houses the kinds of animals that will attract visitors, not those that the public should learn about. This sends a subtle yet strong message to guests that it is ok for us to use animals for own purposes. And, though there may be some zoos that attempt to inform the public, visitors can’t truly understand or appreciate these animals because they are seen in artificial and often misleading exhibits. Third, the claim that zoos help endangered species is problematic. Though the author points to one successful example of the endangered Tamarin, overall zoos have a very poor success rate. Most hold only a very small number of an endangered species; consequently, these species tend to interbreed; meaning, they mate with members of the same family, which results in a high number of birth defects. Also, zoos provide no distinct advantage over saving endangered species while they are still in their native habitat.
The lecture is what we expect! The professor opposes the claim and refutes each reason. When you listen to the lecture, take notes in the appropriate boxes in the chart we introduced in the previous step. For example, when the professor refutes the first reason of support in the article, write those notes next to your notes for the article’s first reason; when the professor refutes the third reason of support, write your notes in the fourth box on the right.
Example Basic Notes
Reading
Lecture
Claim
zoos are essential
problems with passage
Reason 1
animals are treated well
animal treatment not
pretty two red pandas dead show lack of care Reason 2
educational
seen as entertainment animals attract visitors, artificial, misleading exhibits
Reason 3
protect endangered species
problematic poor success rateno advantage to habitat
Example Perfect Notes
Claim
Reason 1
Reason 2
Reason 3
Reading
Lecture
zoos are essential
problems with arguments don’t believe zoos benefit animals or society.
animals are treated well
animal treatment not pretty two red pandas deadexposed to rat poisonsafety managers could have prevented lack of care
educational
entertainment animals attract visitors, learn message: use animals some inform but artificial, misleading exhibits
protect endangered species
problem, success Taamar. but poor success rate small num. interbreed with family: result birth defectzoo no advantage to habitat
The question you receive after the lecture never changes. It always asks you to explain how the lecture refutes the article.
Question Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they cast doubt on the points made in the reading passage. Read more: https://www.notefull.com/content.php?pgID=266#ixzz1ULDMISTI 4th: how to write your essay in 20 minutes Take a deep breadth, relax, and know that your notes are your saviors. Simply change your notes into a four-paragraph essay and you’re done. How? Easy, every two boxes in the same row equals a paragraph in your essay. Take a look at what each paragraph you write must do.
What to explain
How to explain it
Timing 20 min.
1st paragraph: state the author’s claim; explain that the professor opposes it
1st paragraph: The article states that . . . and provides three reasons of support. Finish by 17 However, the professor explains min. that . . . and refutes each of the author's reasons.
2nd paragraph: state the first reason of support; explain how the professor refutes it
2nd paragraph: First, the reading states that . . . The professor refutes this point by stating that . . .
Finish by 11½ min.
3rd paragraph: state the second reason of support; explain how the professor refutes it
3rd paragraph: Second, the article claims that . . . However, the professor contends that . . .
Finish by 6 min.
4th paragraph: state the third reason of support; explain how the professor refutes it
4th paragraph: Third, the reading avers that . . . The lecture opposes this point by saying that . . .
Finish by 0 min.
You begin each paragraph by referencing the main point made in the article (either the claim or a reason). Only write one or two sentences about the article to do this. Then, explain how the lecture contradicts the article by explaining everything you heard in the lecture against that point. Make sure to write down EVERYTHING you wrote down in your notes for the lecture. Doing so is what will earn you a high score. Big tip: You see the article for the whole 20 minutes you have to write, so no one cares if you can summarize it. You get no points by writing a lot about the article; it’s a waste of time. Here are a few things to keep in mind. One, sticking to the timing is essential to make sure that you get the highest score possible. If you spend so much time on the first half of your essay that you can’t get to the last paragraph, you lose all of those points. You must write a complete essay. Do not ignore the time limits. Two, the introduction is not important so don’t spend more than 2 to 3 minutes on it. Three, a conclusion is not necessary to earn a perfect score. It’s a waste of time. If you have extra time, review your essay to make sure that you wrote everything down clearly and completely. Read through the two examples to see.
Example Fair Answer The article states that zoos are essential and provides three reasons of support. However, the professor explains that there are problems with these arguments and refutes each of the author's reasons. First, the reading states that animals are treated well in zoos. The professor refutes this point. He states that animals are not treated well. He explains that in a zoo, two read pandas died from exposure to rat poison. This shows a lack of care towards animals. Second, the article claims that zoos are educational. However, the professor says that zoos are seen as entertainment. The animals in zoos are to attract visitors. He also states that we can’t understand them in zoos because they are in artificial and misleading exhibits. Third, the reading claims that zoos protect endangered species. The professor says that this claim is problematic. He explains that zoos have a poor success rate with saving endangered species. He says that they offer no advantage to saving animals in their natural habitat. 161 words. This would earn a score of (21/30)
Example Perfect Answer The article states that zoos are essential and provides three reasons of support. However, the professor explains that activists don’t believe that zoos benefit animals or society and refutes each of the author's reasons.
First, the reading states that animals are treated well in zoos. The professor refutes this point. He states that animals are not treated well. He explains that in a zoo, two read pandas died from exposure to rat poison. Zoo safety managers could have prevented this, but were not present. The professor explains that this proves that zoo administrators show a lack of care towards animals.
Second, the article claims that zoos are educational. However, the professor says that zoos are still seen as entertainment. The animals in zoos attract visitors. They aren’t the animals that the public should really learn about. Zoos send the message that animals can be used for our own purposes. He states that though some zoos attempt to inform, we can’t understand them in zoos because they are in artificial and misleading exhibits.
Third, the reading claims that zoos protect endangered species. The professor says that this claim is problematic. He explains that the Taamarin is one successful example but that overall, zoos have a poor success rate. Zoos possess a small number of an endangered species so they tend to interbreed, which results in birth defects. Also, he states that zoos offer no advantage to saving animals in their native habitat. 244 words. This would earn a score of (30/30)
If you don’t repeat yourself and write between 225 and 250 words with good grammar, expect to earn the highest number of points: 26-30. If you write around 200 words with ok grammar, expect a score of 22-25. If you write 175 words with ok grammar, expect an 18-22. Read more: https://www.notefull.com/content.php?pgID=267#ixzz1ULDVxp9z
5th: learn from student examples We’re going to break down an example essay for you into four parts: 1st: structure – learn the way you need to express the information from the article and lecture 2nd: content– see what the important points to mention are and how they should be explained 3rd: grammar – avoid the common mistakes most student makes and improve your score 4th: grade – know how essays are scored Structure back to the top
Example Essay
The lecture mainly contradicts the information given in the reading passage stating that the zoos are the essential one to the modern culture and provides adequate education, whereas the lecture says that the zoos are only good for entertainment rather than the education. There are various points discussed in the lecture to cast the doubts in the reading passage. Firstly the speaker tells about the animal safety. The speaker says that the death of red panther arises a question about the safety, whereas the author has mentioned in the passage that the animals are treated well. The lecture says about the treatment is not pretty and as a result the panthers die and this has raised a question about the treatment mentioned in the reading passage, also this questions the responsibility of the care taker in the zoos. Secondly, lecture says that the zoos gives the good entertainment rather than the education. The author has mentioned in the passage that the zoos provide education, but the speaker says that the visitors in the zoos are entertained by the artificial facts and the misleading exibits. Thirdly, the lecture says that the endangered species is problematic. Although the author given an example to state that the endangered species plays a vital function, the speaker tells that the zoos have no distinct advantage by saving endangered species.
Great structure. 4 paragraphs that deal with each point made in the reading and how the lecture refutes it. One point: Our strategy has us place the sentences that talk about the article in the beginning of each paragraph. This essay consistently places them in the second sentence.
Content back to the top
The lecture mainly contradicts the information given in the reading passage stating that the zoos are the essential one to the modern culture and provides adequate education, whereas the lecture says that the zoos are only good for entertainment rather than the education. There are various points discussed in the lecture to cast the doubts in the reading passage.
We don’t need the underlined portion. The first paragraph should only state that the lecture refutes the claim made by the author that zoos are essential to a modern culture.
Firstly the speaker tells about the animal safety. The speaker says that the death of red panther arises a question about the safety, whereas the author has mentioned in the passage that the animals are treated well. The lecture says about the treatment is not pretty and as a result the panthers die and this has raised a question about the treatment mentioned in the reading passage, also this questions the responsibility of the care taker in the zoos.
Fantastic! Perfect; no criticism on content.
Secondly, lecture says that the zoos gives the good entertainment rather than the education. The author has mentioned in the passage that the zoos provide education, but the speaker says that the visitors in the zoos are entertained by the artificial facts and the misleading exibits.
We missed the point that zoos have animals that attract visitors not educate. Also, the underlined portion is confused. The professor states that zoo aren’t very educational because exhibits are artificial and misleading.
Thirdly, the lecture says that the endangered species is problematic. Although the
author given an example to state that the endangered species plays a vital function, the speaker tells that the zoos have no distinct advantage by saving endangered species.
Good paragraph, but we missed two points. First, zoos have a low success rate of saving endangered species. Second, animals interbreed (interbreed means mate with members of their family) in zoos so their babies have birth defects. Grammar back to the top
The lecture mainly contradicts the information given in the reading passage stating that the zoos are the essential one to the modern culture and provides adequate education, whereas the lecture says that the zoos are only good for entertainment rather than the education. There are various points discussed in the lecture to cast the doubts in the reading passage.
the zoos, the modern culture => zoos, modern culture Whenever you speak generally, don’t use the. The is only used before nouns that are specific or have already been mentioned. Cars are nice. Good sentence; we’re speaking generally; we’re saying that all cars are nice. The cars are nice. Bad sentence; what cars? If you’re not talking about a specific group or item that the reader knows about you should not use the. Consequently, we should change: the essential one => essential Many students like to use one. Why? I don’t know. We use it to refer to one item in a group of similar items. Which car do you like among the three? The green one. That’s the ONLY time we should use one. Also, why the? Many students forget that all you need is an adjective to describe a noun. He is the happy one. Bad sentence. He is happy. Good sentence. points to cast the doubts in => points that cast doubt on Many students make similar mistakes. Don’t be one of them. (See how the word one is used appropriately here?) You’re describing the word points. Which points? Points that cast doubt on. You don’t want the word to; you want the word that. And, the idiom is cast doubt on, not cast the doubts in. Some things you just have to memorize. Memorize this! You will likely use it on your test. Don’t make an unnecessary mistake.
Firstly the speaker tells about the animal safety. The speaker says that the death of red panther arises a question about the safety, whereas the author has mentioned in the passage that the animals are treated well. The lecture says about the treatment is not pretty and as a result the panthers die and this has raised a question about the treatment mentioned in the reading passage, also this questions the responsibility of the care taker in the zoos.
tells about => talks about Again, students always make this mistake. Tell is followed by a pronoun and a noun clause: He tells me that I should eat breakfast all the time. You should never use the verb tell in this essay; use talks about. the animal safety, red panther, the safety => animal safety, the red panther, safety We already saw this in the first paragraph. You’re talking about the red panther you read about. It’s not all red panthers or any red panther; you’re talking about the specific red panther that died. So, use the. The other words are general, so don’t use the. has mentioned => mentioned The most common verbs used in these essays (and in English) are present and past tense. But, since ESL students learn so many, they think they have to use them all. Don’t. Has mentioned is present perfect and we only use it with the words for or since: I have taught for several years; I have taught since I was a baby. Get it? Keep it in the past and present. says about => says that Memorize this: it’s not says about; it’s says that. That’s it.
Secondly, lecture says that the zoos gives the good entertainment rather than the education. The author has mentioned in the passage that the zoos provide education, but the speaker says that the visitors in the zoos are entertained by the artificial facts and the misleading exibits.
lecture => the lecture
Again, it’s not any lecture or lectures in general; it’s the lecture you heard, which makes it specific, so use the word the. the zoos, the education, the good entertainment => zoos, education, good entertainment These words are general. You’re not talking about a specific zoo, education, or entertainment. You’re talking about them in general, all of them, so don’t use the. zoos gives => zoos give Very common. Check for this when you proofread; it’s easy to catch. Zoos is plural: zoos give. Zoo is singular: zoo gives.
Thirdly, the lecture says that the endangered species is problematic. Although the author given an example to state that the endangered species plays a vital function, the speaker tells that the zoos have no distinct advantage by saving endangered species
the endangered species, the zoos => endangered species, zoos We’re speaking generally about zoos and endangered species, so no the. the author given => the author gives We can change verbs into several forms: present, past, past participle, present participle, infinitive: give, gave, given, giving, to give. We want the present tense here. Gives not given. Grade back to the top 224 words, ok grammar, and a few points missing. This would earn a fair score: 17-23 out of a possible 30. Closer to 23. More Examples Check out this link. It takes you back to the forum webpage that I linked to on the practice page for this question to post your essay. Different students have given their example responses to this question. I have also given my feedback for the different
responses given. Reading other student essays and hearing my feedback can help you to avoid similar mistakes. Visit, spend some time, and learn. Read more: https://www.notefull.com/content.php?pgID=268#ixzz1ULDgEaDU 6th: how to study for this question You must master the reading if you want to improve your score. What you should do is use a stopwatch (such as this online stop watch) when you practice. This will develop your ability to read quickly. You know that the reading contains 4 paragraphs. With the 3 minutes that you have to read them, use the following chart to guide how you study it. The first paragraph is the shortest and easiest to analyze and the remaining paragraphs are larger and more complex, which is why they get more time.
First step
Second step
Timing (3 min.)
1st: author’s opinion
1st: nothing
Finish by 2 min 30s
2nd: first reason
2nd: supporting example
Finish by 1 min 40s
3rd: second reason
3rd: supporting example
Finish by 50s
4th: third reason
4th: supporting example
Finish by 0s
What does this all mean? I taught you how to complete the 1st step towards using the reading to get a high score: identify four key elements: the opinion and 3 reasons. Here, I’ll teach you the second step. The lecture usually opposes the reasons mentioned in the article by attacking the supporting examples given. Let me explain. If the article states that apples are good and it cites their nutrient content as the first reason. The article might support this by explaining that research by hundreds of scientists proves that apples are nutritious. The lecture would then state that apples are bad because they are not nutritious. The lecture would then go on to say something like: the researchers who “proved” that apples were nutritious were paid by apple companies, so you can’t believe their claims. As you can see, with an understanding of the supporting examples in the reading, you gain an important insight into the lecture, which will help you take much better notes.
Be aware that you only have 30 or 50 seconds to analyze each paragraph. The easiest way to become good at doing this is to use the online timer to count down from 30 or 50 seconds. When the alarm sounds, you must stop and move on. This, with time, will build your skill and speed. To improve your note taking on the lecture develop a better ear. How? Dictation. What’s that? Listen to the lecture again and again and write down every single word that you hear. You should create your own transcript when finished. Compare it to mine. This should take you around 2 hours to complete. Do it all at once if you wish, but I believe it works best if you do it every day for about 15 to 30 minutes. You’ll feel improvement after the first few days. When you write your essay, give yourself only 20 minutes and don’t interrupt your time. I know we all have busy schedules and may not have 20 minutes free to write an essay. But, if you’re serious about improving, find 20 uninterrupted minutes to practice. Remember to write short, simple, clear sentences that logically move from one to another. Explain everything. Imagine your talking to a child. Make sure he or she can understand what you’re writing and the idea you’re explaining. Do all of this and you will improve greatly. Read more: https://www.notefull.com/content.php?pgID=269#ixzz1ULDm5MvF
