万能理由

1. 有助于提升/优化效率 VS. 削弱/破坏效率

参考表达
XXX helps ... save time.
XXX boosts efficiency / productivity.
It is a more efficient/convenient way to do XXX.
XXX gets more work done.
If not, XXX makes work less efficient / more time-consuming.
XXX puts a drag on efficiency / productivity.

思路分析
从宏观层面来看，高效率可以带来学习效果、工作质量以及生活水平的提升。
相反，如果效率低下，学习、工作和生活之间将难以协调和推进。从微观层面来
看，在谈及个人喜好话题时，可以说做某事能够让自己有效率地安排后续进程，
比如旅游的时间及路线的计划让后续的行程更加有效率。在教育学习中，提到课
堂笔记可以让课后复习变得更加有效率。在社会生活中的职场话题，效率也是比
较常用的切入点。比如员工是否可以在上班期间听音乐，我们可以否定这一提议，
因为音乐会对工作产生干扰从而降低效率。人际交往话题中同样可以从此维度去
思考，比如在遇到问题找谁求助时，推荐选择解决问题最高效的那一方来帮助自
己。

实战演练
When having class discussion, some people prefer to give their opinions
immediately. Others prefer to wait and listen to others’ opinions before giving their
own. Which one do you think is better?

理由：提高效率
 比如选择 give opinions immediately，就可以说 it can improve the efficiency of
discussion，具体就可以说 If nobody talks, and no opinions are discussed, then the
whole process will be slowed down. It is a drag.

Nowadays, to become more successful, a business must use social media. Do you
agree or disagree?

理由：让商业宣传更有效
这道题我们可以选择同意，然后说使用 social media 的好处，如果正确的使
用，可带来更有效的自我宣传，比如通过网站，推文或小程序运用的开发等，让
自己的 business 以最高效的方式被大众所了解和接受。

Your university is planning to allow people in the community to take courses with
students. This course will be free for them and they will not receive feedbacks or
grades about their papers. Do you think this is a good program and why?

理由：阻碍学习效率的提升
比 如 说 这 不 是 一 个 good program ， 接 下 来 就 可 以 说 people from the
community may slow down the class，因为他们这些人一般都没有提前准备，所以
上课会 ask basic questions which were covered in the preview assignments, 这样的
话就会直接影响到其他学生的学习效率。
2. 得到更多乐趣 VS. 无趣

参考表达
xxx can help me have more fun.
xxx can help me have a blast.
If I xxx, I will have a great time.
If I xxx, I can have a ball.
xxx is really boring.
A tedious ceremony/ lecture/ trip / xxx is a total buzzkill.

思路分析
在我们的生活中，我们做很多事情的理由，其实都是为了得到更多乐趣，这
一动机亘古不变。在谈及个人喜好话题时，可以说做某事能够让自己得到更多乐
趣，比如在旅游前提前做好计划或了解一个目的地国家的文化和历史，这样在到
达之后，玩起来会更尽兴，知其然也知其所以然。在遇到学习类的话题时，我们
可以说自己不喜欢学习某一个科目，是因为这个科目很无聊，让我们得不到乐趣。
人际交往话题中同样可以从此维度去思考，比如在跟朋友一起出去玩之前，或者
朋友登门拜访前，要提前做好计划，这样我们就能提前做好准备，玩得也更加尽
兴。

实战演练
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is important to learn
about the tradition and culture of a country before we go there to travel.

理由：得到更多乐趣
比如选择 agree，就可以解释说 I can have more fun，具体就可以给一个去法
国 玩 的 例 子 ， 说 For example, if I want to travel to France, I will watch some
documentaries about its history, art and culture before I go. In this case, when I visit
the tourist attractions, I’d have a better understanding of everything.
 Some people like surprise visits from their friends, while others prefer to be
informed of such visits. Which one do you prefer and why?

理由：得到更多乐趣
比如选择 prefer to be informed，就可以解释说 I can be better prepared，具体
就可以说 if my friends give me a heads up before they come, I can order some food,
make some coffee and do some cleaning. In this case, we would have a blast.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Young people should learn
about world history.

理由：学历史无聊
比如选择 shouldn't learn about history，就可以解释说 it's really boring，具体
就可以说 If you want to learn history, you have to memorize a lot of names, dates and
events. All these things will take a long time and I think I will just fall asleep during.
3. 有助于娱乐/放松 VS. 增加压力/焦虑

参考表达
xxx is simply fun.
xxx allows me to kill time.
xxx winds me down after a hectic day.
I get to blow off my steam.
Doing XXX relieves/releases the pressure from my work and study.

思路分析

现代的人们生活、工作和学习都面对很大的压力和焦虑，因此一些娱乐活动
可以帮助减轻压力，将人们从繁忙的生活中解放出来。因此，在遇到活动、科技、
工作类等话题时，大家都可以将放松和压力联系起来以支持自己的论述。当然有
些活动纯粹是因为好玩、可以消磨时间。总之，当人们遇到压力，需要一些行为
减轻压力，在做的过程中，大家会觉得愉悦、忘记烦恼。因此，在活动后也可以
感觉神清气爽，以更好的精力投入工作和学习中。

实战演练
Suppose you have two job offers. The first one gives you a lot of salary, but you
won't have much free time and no holidays. The second one doesn't pay you as much,
but you can have more free time. Which one do you prefer, and why?

理由：劳逸结合
选择工资少但有更多空闲时间的工作，即可以从反方来论述，说明没有空余
时间和节假日会让人压力倍增；也可以说明虽然收入不多，但有更多时间来放松，
照顾好自己，以更好的精力投入工作。如：Working for long hours and not having
enough rest not only gives you much pressure, but also may lead to health issues.
However, balancing your work and life allows you to have more time to wind down.
Reading, jogging or spending time with your loved ones helps you to blow off your
steam and become energetic enough to go back to work.
 Some people like participating in performance like theatrical or musical show.
Others prefer being audiences watching those plays. Which one do you prefer?

理由：做观众可以放松地享受演出
与其繁忙地参与表演的排练准备，并承受巨大的压力在舞台上演出，倒不如
利用这个机会好好放松，消磨时间，并借此机会提升自己的艺术鉴赏能力。因此，
我们可以说 Nowadays, people are often living under a lot of pressure, such as
pressure from school, work or family. For this reason, it is essential for them to find a
way to relax themselves and release that stress. Watching performances like theatrical
or musical shows is a good way to do this.

Is it better to use your extra money to buy some objects like clothes or electronic
products, or is it better to use the extra money to increase your experience like going
for a vacation or a concert? Use specific reasons and examples to support your
opinion.

理由：利用度假或音乐会放松自己，减轻压力
同理，有什么会比一个假期更能减压，犒劳辛苦工作的你呢？What is more
relaxing than a Spa at a beach resort, followed by a healthy swim in the ocean and a
wonderful night at the rooftop bar?
4. 省钱/赚钱/经济 VS. 浪费钱

参考表达
xxx can help me get more money.
xxx is really cheap/expensive.
xxx offers the greatest bang for your/my buck.
doing xxx is just like throwing your money away.

思路分析
Nothing comes for free. 没有什么事情是不可以用金钱去衡量的，至少，在托
福口语考试的话题里没有。学习是为了未来的收益，工作是为了当下的收益；与
家人和朋友相处的话题里也可以谈及“更便宜、性价比更高的选择”；至于更大的
学校、政府政策类话题，自然更加可以谈及经济因素。即便是抽象道德类话题，
比如是否可以探讨明星隐私，也完全可以从经济收入角度进行探讨。特别值得一
提的是，在越来越多的中学生加入托福考试大军的当下，金钱这个理由更加需要
考生们的注意，因为中学生对金钱的敏感程度相对成年人而言要低不少。

实战演练
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? It is important to learn
about the tradition and culture of a country before we go there to travel.

理由：赚钱
比如了解国家的文化，就可以明白旅行目的地国家的人喜欢什么，因此可以
顺带带一些东西过去卖，你也可以了解目的地国家有什么好东西值得带回自己国
家卖，从而可以赚钱。比如：If you do your homework before your travels, you earn
money both ways, selling your country's stuff in your destination country, and vice
versa. Like, if you are traveling to Japan, and you have done your homework, you will
know that Japanese handicrafts, like traditional gold wares from Kanazawa and
lacquerwares from Fukushima are really cool, and they fetch a good price on global
markets. So you know what to bring back to your country to sell on your market. 如
果嫌弃这个段子太长，那么具体的例子可以丢弃。

Some people like surprise visits from their friends, while others prefer to be
informed of such visits. Which one do you prefer and why?

理由：省钱
朋友来访肯定得好好招待，如果是临时来访，那么自然准备仓促，很多东西
可能只能从盒马购买，价格恐怕不合适，比如：If my friends pay me a surprise visit,
I will be most certainly not prepared, so I would have to conjure up food and drinks
for them. And you know what? When my friends are at my place, I surely can't just
leave them there and go to the market myself, right? This means I would have to call
delivery, which would be quite expensive, like 10 or 20 bucks for one delivery alone.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Young people should learn
about world history.

理由：学历史能赚钱
历史只会重复自己，老狗也学不会新招式。能理解历史上的经济危机的话，
至少可以减少自己的损失。比如：If you have learned some world history, you will
know that whenever people get crazy on investing their pensions and tuitions into the
market, some crisis is coming, like the Tulip craze a few centuries ago in the
Netherlands and the stock market fever before the Great Depression. And if you know
these, you might be able to escape the recent financial crisis and save yourself some
money.如果嫌弃这个段子太长，那么中间的几个过去的危机的例子可以丢掉。
5. 有助于身心健康 VS. 不利于身心健康

参考表达
xxx is a great for my physical health/body.
xxx can make me relax and have a better mood.
With xxx, I'll be more emotionally stable.
With xxx, I won't have too many mood swings.
xxx is really great for my mental health.
I won't feel anxious or depressed when I'm doing....

思路分析
在日常生活中，我们很多行为与活动都会对自身的身体健康或者心理健康产
生影响。因此在很多比较贴近日常生活的托福独立口语题中，我们可以考虑把对
身心健康的影响加进讨论并展开。比如教育类话题，可以考虑题干中的事是否对
学生的身心健康有好的或者坏的影响；科技类话题、个人喜好、人际交往等话题
也同样如此。在展开论述的时候，也可以延展说明，比如有了更健康的身体，人
们/学生就可以去做更多其他想做的、想尝试的事情；而有个更愉悦的心情，或
者有更健康的心理状态，人们/学生在日常生活中完成各种任务时候的效率也会
更高，成果更好，亦或者更利于他们提升个人魅力。

实战演练
The university plans to build a study hall where students can relax and study.
Do you think this is a good idea? Why?

理由：对心理健康有利
像这道题，相信大部分同学都会选择同意，认为这是个好事。这样选的话，
我们可以说 Having a study hall to relax and study is great for students' physical health
and mental health. 之后的展开可以解释，因为平时大学生的学习压力大，作业很
多，因此如果有个地方可以放松休闲，和同学聊天或打游戏，玩玩桌游这些，可
以帮助释放压力，保证他们有一个 good mental health condition，而避免出现抑
郁情况。

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: internet plays an

important role in people’s life?

理由: 对身心健康会有好或坏的影响
比如我们选择同意，那么可以从网络提供多种娱乐方式的角度切入，说明这
样做可以帮助人们 release their stress from work and study, and maintain a good
mental health condition. 如果我们选择的是不同意，那么也可以从网络上有一些
不好的信息，比如 cyberbully 网络暴力, negative energy 负能量，或者 inappropriate
content 不恰当的内容，都可能会给人，尤其是青少年与儿童带来很大的心理压
力，从而导致他们陷入 anxiety 或者 depression 的状态，这对他们身体的成长发
育也不好。

Some students prefer to study in the morning while others choose to study in the
evening, which one do you prefer, why?

理由: 对身体健康会有好或坏的影响
比如我们选择早起，就可以解释说早睡早起身体好，Early to bed and early to
rise makes a healthy man，具体就可以说身体好是一切活动的基础，学生可以有
更充沛的体力去完成其他的任务或者活动。当然也可以反证，去和晚上学习做对
比，说明晚上学习对身体健康来说不好，因为有可能出现熬夜的情况，burn the
midnight oil，而长期熬夜会导致记忆力衰退，脱发等问题，最终对学生的学习状
态与表现带来负面影响。
6. 增进人际关系/加深情感 VS. 疏远关系/情感

参考表达
xxx is a great way for me to bond with my friends/ family.
xxx can help me strengthen the relationships between my friends/ family and me.
xxx can bring me and my family/ friends/ colleagues closer.
xxx will distance me and my friends/ family.
xxx is bad for my relationships between my friends and me.
xxx will lead to fights between my friends/ family and me.
if you do xxx, you will offend your friends/ family.

思路分析

在日常生活，我们在做一个决定前，常常需要考虑这个决定对我们的人际关
系的影响，尤其是对我们比较重要的人，比如家人、朋友、同学以及同事等等。
所以，在回答很多不同类型的托福口语题目时，我们可以从这个角度出发，提供
合理的理由解释我们的行为。比如在说到是喜欢玩桌游还是电子游戏的时候，我
们就可以说喜欢玩桌游，因为我们可以和家人朋友一起玩，以此增进我和家人朋
友之间的感情。再比如我们在旅游的时候，可以选择与家人朋友保持联系，让他
们分享我们的喜悦和激动，从而达到增进感情的目的。从另一个方面说，我们在
谈到父母应不应该参与孩子选择职业的过程当中的时候，可以说不应该，因为这
会引发父母与孩子之间的争吵。

实战演练
Which one do you prefer? Playing video games or playing board games with your
friends.

理由：增进与朋友之间的感情。
比如我们选择 board games，就可以解释说 I can bond with my friends in this
way，具体就可以 When I'm playing board games with my friends, I will communicate
with them so we can win the game together. Plus, we will share what's happening in
each other' s lives. In this case, we will become better friends.

Some people prefer to stay in touch with their friends and family members while
traveling. Others prefer not to get in touch and stay alone. Which do you prefer and
why?

理由: 增进与家人、朋友之间的感情。
比如我们选择 stay in touch with family and friends，就可以解释说 It will bring
us closer，具体就可以 When I'm traveling, I can take some photos of the places that
I go to and people that I meet and send them to my family and friends. In this case,
they will know that I'm having a great time and they can share that happiness and
excitement.

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Parents should be involved
in the process of helping their children to choose a career.

理由: 导致争吵。
比如我们选择 shouldn't，就可以解释说 it will lead to fights，具体就可以
Parents usually think very differently from their children when it comes to which
career to choose. You know, they usually want their children to get a stable job like a
teacher or a police officer. But their children might want to do something that's more
creative like an artist or a musician. So, if the parents are involved in the process, they
might have a lot of arguments.
7. 有助于个人发展 VS. 不利于个人发展

参考表达
I can gain state-of-the-art / cutting-edge knowledge.
XXX gives me a better shot at getting a job after I graduate.
XXX gives me a competitive edge when I am job hunting.
Employers are more likely to think highly of me if I …
I am more likely to get a decent job with good pay.
I can stand out among the job applicants.
I can have more chances to get promoted.
Such working experience will look good on my resume.

思路分析
日常生活中，当我们做决定时，一个常见的考虑因素是是否有利于个人发展，
比如知识的积累、竞争力的提升、经验的累积和升职加薪的机会等等。与个人发
展联系非常密切的话题有学业和职业。比如在择校时，尽量选择排名靠前的优秀
学校，能够让我们在求学时学到更多先进顶尖的知识。同时毕业后也更可能获得
理想中的高薪和体面的工作。这也是很多学生选择出国留学的原因之一。在求职
时，在特别是在毕业后选择第一家公司时，可以尽量选择知名的大企业。这样的
工作经验能够成为你工作履历的点睛之笔，若日后需要换工作跳槽，也更可能受
到其他雇主的青睐。即使不选择跳槽，一般知名大企业的升职加薪的机会也会更
多，这些都比较利于个人发展。

实战演练
Suppose you have been admitted by two universities. One is a very good university
but they don't offer you any scholarship and it's very expensive. The other one is
less well-known but they do offer scholarships to you. Which university would you
choose to go to?
 理由：学到顶尖的知识，毕业后更容易找到工作。
比如此题选择第一个选项，好且贵的大学，就可以用到表达 “I can gain state-
of-the-art / cutting-edge knowledge”, “ XXX gives me a better shot at getting a job
after I graduate”，和“competitive edges”具体就可以说“If I go to a good university, I
can I can gain state-of-the-art / cutting-edge knowledge. Plus, a college degree from a
good university gives me a better shot at getting a job after I graduate, because I have
more competitive edges.”

Do you agree or disagree with the statement that to be successful, one must study
in university？

理由：学到顶尖的知识，毕业后更容易找到工作。
这道题我们可以选择同意。然后说在好的大学能学到顶尖的知识，毕业后也
更容易找到高薪而又体面的工作，这也是一种成功的体现。可以用到表达 “ I can
gain state-of-the-art / cutting-edge knowledge”，“ XXX gives me a better shot at
getting a job after I graduate”，和“a decent job with good pay”。具体就可以说“If I
study in university, I can I can gain state-of-the-art / cutting-edge knowledge. Plus, a
college degree gives me a better shot at getting a job after I graduate. I am more likely
to get a decent job with nice pay.”

Some people prefer to work in a large company; Others prefer to work in a small
company. Which way do you prefer?

理由：方便跳槽
一般来说，选公司和选大学的思路一致。特别是就职的第一家公司，可以尽
量选择知名的大企业。这样的工作经验能够成为你工作履历的点睛之笔，若日后
需要换工作跳槽，也更可能受到其他雇主的青睐。即使不选择跳槽，本公司的升
职加薪的机会也会更多。所以这题我们可以选择在大公司工作。表达涉及“Such
working experience will look good on my resume”, “Employers are more likely to think
highly of me if I …”, “I can stand out among the job applicants“, 和“I can have more
chances to get promoted”。具体可以说 “I can have more chances to get promoted
if I work in a big company. Plus, such working experience will look good on my resume.
Employers are more likely to think highly of me if I have worked in a well-known big
company, then I can stand out among the job applicants and more likely to get the
job.”
8. 个人性格：内向 VS. 外向

参考表达
Being an introvert, I would prefer...
As an extrovert, I would choose …
Since XXX is a people person, he/she would...
XXX is always shy in front of others, so it's better to...

思路分析
不论是教育类、人际交往、社会生活或是科技类话题，有时候很多涉及选择
自己偏好的哪一个的题目时，我们都可以考虑把两个分论点理由中的其中一个以
自己的个人性格的角度，也就是相对主观的角度去给出。比如下面的几个例题中，
都会问及“你的选择”或“你的偏好”是哪一个，而很多时候我们做决定的时候会从
自己的性格特点出发。比如人多和人少的场合或活动，我们做抉择的时候，外向
的人，一定会选人多的场合，因为他们不害怕人多，甚至还喜欢人多的活动，这
样可以结交更多的朋友；内向的人则相反，会倾向人少甚至独处，这样会让他们
觉得更舒适放松，不会因为人多而感到社交压力。

实战演练
Some people like to use smartphone or other navigational device to guide their
road while traveling, some prefer to ask around, which do you like to do?

理由：能更快找到目的地
比如选择使用 GPS 导航，就可以说 I'm very shy and am afraid of talking to
strangers，具体就可以说和陌生人沟通会让自己紧张，反而沟通不清楚。如果选
择后面的 ask around，就说自己很外向，乐意和当地人沟通，展开就可以说还能
因此结交朋友。比如, As an extrovert, I always enjoy talking to people.

Do you think it’s better to communicate with a person face to face, or through text
messages and emails?
 理由：让沟通效率/效果更好
这道题我们可以选择面对面沟通，然后可以提到外向的人通常能言善辩
good at communicating with others/have good communicative skills，因此面对面沟
通时候效率更高；如果选择发邮件或者短信，可以说可以给内向者更久时间去斟
酌 gives/allows them more time to think，让他们说清楚自己的意思，从而使沟通
的效率或者效果更好。

While doing group projects, some students prefer to lead, others prefer to support.
Which do you think is better and why?

理由：能让小组最终工作成果质量更高
这个题如果选择的是 Prefer to lead，那么理由可以说自己是外向型的人，有
能力让大家的讨论与合作成果质量达到最佳；如果选 prefer to support，那么可
以说自己比较内向，怕别人的质疑与反对，比较愿意做支持者，跟随 leader 或者
大多数人的意见与决定，齐心合力把事情做好。
9. 成就感：有 VS. 无

参考表达
By doing XXX, we can get a great sense of achievement / accomplishment.
XXX helps foster/cultivate our sense of achievement / accomplishment.
Accomplishing XXX promotes our confidence / boosts our enthusiasm / strengthens
our interpersonal relations.

思路分析
人们在完成特定事物后, 取得良好的结果，即可获得成就感。进而，当我们
投入到后续实践中，就会变得更有自信，形成良性循环。比如在学习方面，背记
单词的效果会在阅读理解中让学生尝到甜头，进而在后续背记单词时就会更有动
力。如果人们在做事中没有得到成就感，会导致半途而废的情况发生。例如，在
准备考试方面，如果考试太难使得学生很难获得合理的评价，成就感无从谈起，
挫败感愈加增强。这样，学生对于某一学科或者课程就无法持续投入，导致中途
放弃。

实战演练
Some play games and sports for fun, others play to win. Which do you prefer?

理由：选择 play to win 带来成就感

选择 play to win，主要是因为获得成功后会带来成就感，而成就感的获得会
引起一系列的积极效应，比如更加自信，learn skills 也会更加 efficacious，这样会
导致在其他领域上的做事效率更高或更自信地完成新的任务。

Some people prefer to eat at fast food restaurants, others prefer to eat at home.
Which do you prefer and why？

理由：选择 prefer to eat at home

 选择 eating at home 的话，我们就可以用上 the sense of accomplishment 这个
观点了，比如我们可以说因为是在家做饭能够大显身手，因为自己的厨艺高超，
喜欢在家做饭或者招待亲朋好友，可以 get closer to other people，其他人会很喜
欢你做的菜，在享受食物的同时也能增进关系，这样成就感就会爆棚。

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Kids can't learn things from
playing video games.

理由：选择不同意，即孩子可以通过 video games 学到一些内容

这道题看似跟 the sense of accomplishment 无关，但也可以用成就感带好的
好处来回答这道题，首先我们要承认 kids 是可以通过 video games 来学到一些东
西，比如游戏里的单词，学会团队合作，学会为了达成最终目标如何有效和队友
沟通等，那么在获得成功后，成就感就可以有一定的积累。久而久之，形成的
enthusiasm 和 passion 也可以辐射到其他生活领域，比如体育比赛等，因为有了
confidence，也形成了跟队友的配合等，也可以在新的领域取得成绩，获得成就
感。

Do you agree or disagree with the statement that to be successful, one must study
in university？

理由：选择同意，即为了获得成功，必须上大学
本道题跟成就感的联系关系密切，我们可以这样思考，比如在上学期间，我
们会经历积累知识、考试、与不同的人沟通等，在某些具体的方面获得成就感后
提高我们的 confidence，从而对某些具体的领域或事情有了 passion，那么在大学
学习期间，如果这个 confidence 和 passion 一直能保持住的话，以后步入社会就
业的话，也会带来相应的成功。如果从反面来论述也是一样，比如我们可以说如
果没有上大学的话，换句话说就是没有积累一定的 confidence 和 passion 的话，
那么对大学期间和毕业之后的发展难免会产生消极影响。
10. 舒适区：维持 VS. 走出

参考表达
We need to step out of our comfort zone.
It’s always good to go out there and try new things.
We can always get inspired from new experiences.
As a saying goes, “Life begins outside of your comfort zone.”
Staying in your comfort zone is boring.
When you get too comfortable in your comfortable zone, you are not challenging
yourself.

思路分析

舒适区指的是一个人所表现的心理状态和习惯性的行为模式，人会在这种状
态或模式中感到舒适。Stay in one’s comfort zone 意味着日复一日做重复的事。因
此，我们时常需要 step out of our comfort zone, 接纳学习新的事物。在托福口语
中，常常会碰到围绕着“尝试新鲜事物”的话题，例如学习新的技能（语言），一
辈子只做一份工作还是尝试不同的工作，喜欢上台表演还是在台下做观众，搬到
了新的国家要不要接纳当地的文化习俗等。碰到此类话题，可以尝试用舒适区这
个理由去解决：尝试新鲜事物意味着走出舒适圈，走出舒适圈帮助我们挑战自己，
从不同的经历中获得灵感与启发，从而获得更多的机会，更容易成功。相反，待
在舒适圈中意味着每天做同样的事，生活只会一成不变。

实战演练
After moving to a new country, some people prefer to learn and adjust to local
culture and customs, while others prefer to stay the way they are. Which one do you
prefer?

理由：experience a new lifestyle

 搬到新的国家，当然要走出自己的舒适区去尝试接纳新的文化，这样才能更
好的融入当地生活。It’s always good to go out there and try new things. If I learn and
adjust to local culture and customs, I will be better able to fit in with the local
community and experience a new lifestyle.

Do you agree or disagree to the statement: people should always participate in

activities which they have talent in or are good at?

理由：expand your comfort zone

一直做自己擅长的事意味着待在舒适区，生活没有挑战。人们应该多多尝试
新鲜事物，扩大舒适区边界，从而获得更多的机会。If you always do the things that
you are good at, you will get too comfortable in your comfortable zone, which means
you are not challenging yourself. In my opinion, people should always go out there
and try new things, it helps us to expand our comfort zone and have more
opportunities.

Nowadays many people take part in extreme sports like rock/mountain climbing
or skydiving. Some people think these are good activities demonstrating bravery,
while others think these are stupid activities. Which do you agree with? Why?

理由：It takes a lot of nerve to step out of your comfort zone

对于一些恐高的人，做极限运动就是在走出舒适圈，这当然是勇敢的表现。
Maybe some of these people are afraid of height, yet still, they are willing to step out
of their comfort zone and challenge themselves. For me, that definitely means bravery.
And maybe after this experience, they will get inspired and start a new chapter in their
life.
11. 对政策和计划：尊重则支持 VS. 限制则逆反

参考表达
If given more freedom, people actually feel supported and respected.
When they are given more choices, people feel more comfortable obeying the
rule voluntarily.
People somehow get upset when they are told what to do and what not to do.
By contradicting the rule or the regulation, people regain the control of their situation.

思路分析

托福口语题中相对多变的就是对于学校或者政府规则的话题，例如行人看手
机是否要罚款，电视节目是否需要取缔暴力内容，上班时间能否回复私人邮件或
者信息等。此类话题，常见原因很难有效应，或是很难提供多维度的观点。但是
综合任务中有一篇心理学讲座解释了一个 reactance 的原理可以为我们所用，也
就是当规则（法规/外界要求）限制了人们的自由，并且让人觉得不公平的时候，
人们有一种反其道而行之的倾向，通过违背规则去重获自由或者对于局面的掌控。
这一理论也可以成为“反驳”限制类政策的有力原因--限制则逆反，政策失效；反
而给到更多的自由和选择，政策更容易收获支持。例如学校规则明令禁止早恋，
学生更想早恋；电视剧中去除暴力元素，观众更想通过其他途径收看该类素材的
内容；上班时间不给回复私人信息，人们会躲在厕所或者休息室发信息。

实战演练
Do you think the government should legislate laws to fine people who use cell
phones when crossing roads and intersections?

理由：The law won't be effective if people consider it unfair.

该规则存在不公平性：不影响视线的手机使用应该被允许，或者紧急的信息
或电话不应该被禁止。当人们会觉得该规则不公平的限制了他们使用手机的自由
时，会产生出逆反情绪，而最终并不会遵守规则，选择继续使用手机。People find
it unfair if they are not allowed to answer emergency calls from families or use
navigation apps to check routes. According to the theory of reactance, when people's
behavior is unfairly limited, they have a strong urge to contradict the rule in order to
restore their freedom. In this case, people are more likely to use their phones despite
the new rule.

Should government limit violence and bad language on television?

理由：When they are given more choices, people feel more comfortable obeying
the rule voluntarily.
该规定无法取得预期的效果：人们应该被给到更多选择，观看包含暴力元素
的节目并不必然导致暴力的行为的产生；对能明辨是非的成年人来说，去掉所有
暴力元素会使得节目索然无味；对相对不成熟的青少年来说，去掉所有暴力元素
会激起他们的好奇心，从而更容易从网络上主动寻找完整版素材进行观看。It kills
all the fun if all bits of violence are taken away from our TV programs. For the retired
or adults who can't be easily affected by the shows, it's unfair to take these elements
away since the swears and rage help the storylines to move on. On the other hand,
according to the theory of reactance, when people's behavior is unfairly limited, they
have a strong urge to contradict the rule in order to restore their freedom. In this case,
teenagers are even more curious than before and they will probably go online and
search for the complete versions.
12. 多人合作 VS. 独立完成

参考表达
Individual work yields greater personal accomplishment.
You are fully acknowledged for your work and don't have to worry about others taking
away your credit.
There is no free rider problem, meaning others won't take the credit for your work.

思路分析
托福口语独立任务经常出现的题型就是“独立做某事”vs.“合作/与别人一起
做某事”。例如独立复习考试还是加入小组复习考试，碰到复杂问题独立解决还
是合作完成，时间要求相同的两份工作，选择独立工作还是团队的工作。其中任
务类话题，大家都比较偏爱选择“合作完成”，因为容易破题，常规原因较容易展
开，例如“解决问题的效率更高”、“培养团队精神”，但“独立完成”的理由除了老
套的锻炼能力之外，no free rider problem 和 get all the credit 也十分万能好用且
清新脱俗。

实战演练
Some people like to work alone; others like to work with others. Which do you
prefer?

理由：You get all the acknowledgement from your own work.

个人任务的成功毫无疑问可以归结为个人的努力和能力，但是团队的成功却
更多归结为群体性努力，个人的杰出贡献在团队中很容易被磨灭或淡化。对于能
力较强或者付出较多的个人来说是比较不公平的。When the work is done, you are
fully acknowledged for your work and don't have to worry about others taking away
your credit. However, when working as a group, it's hard to stand out since individual
effort is either unmeasured or drown out.
 Some people prefer to do team sports, others prefer to do individual sports. Which
do you prefer?

理由：There is no free rider problem in an individual game.

个人竞技中，每位运动员都需要全力拼搏发挥出最高水准；但是在团队竞技
中，能力较强的个人需要为懒惰的个人付出更多的努力，容易出现拖后腿的情况。
In individual games, each player has to give their A game in order to defeat others.
However, in team sports, it's easy for free rider problems to happen. Eventually, more
competitive athletes pay the price for the less abled player.