Professional Documents
Culture Documents
I will include an alphabetical list of reporting verbs with their definitions and sample
sentences so you can see how they can be used in TOEFL integrated speaking and writing
tasks.
The speaker in the listening passage acknowledges that some natural factors may be
contributing to global warming, but he believes that human activities are accelerating
this warming trend.
Admit: To accept and agree unwillingly that something is true or that someone else is
right.
The author in the reading passage explains that even long meetings are important for
employees to attend. However, long meetings, admits the author, may cause some
workers to become bored.
The author in the reading passage claims that irresponsible parents who homeschool
their children will give these kids a lesser quality education. While the speaker in the
listening passage agrees that irresponsible parents may cast a negative net over
homeschooling, the speakers believes that most parents who homeschool their children
do not fit into this category.
The author and the speaker in the two passages analyze the effects of the Internet on
civilization by explaining whether this new technology has positive or negative effects.
Argue: To state by presenting clear reasons and evidence that something is true.
Even though the author explains that reading all documents in their entirety is necessary,
the speaker in the listening passage argues that employees should only focus on the main
and most important support points in the documents that management gives employees to
read.
Assert: To state firmly that something is true.
The author in the reading passage recommends that, when bears attack, victims should
run away as fast as possible to get away. In contrast, the speaker asserts that running
away from bears will trigger predatory responses in them causing them to chase their
victims. Since bears can run as fast as 35 miles per hour, the speakers observes, victims
will not be fast enough to outrun these giant predators.
Believe: To be sure that something is true or that someone is telling the truth
When bears stand on their hind legs, believes the speaker, they are not preparing to
attack. Rather, these immense mammals are sizing up their victims and may be trying to
intimidate them.
The author in the reading passage claims that the retreat of glaciers between 2000 and
2008 is accelerating 22 times faster than in the past.
Artic foxes’ fur coats whiten as winter approaches. This change of color, comments the
speaker, acts as camouflage to protect these cunning animals from larger predators.
Human activities seem to be having a large impact on the eroding of the glacial ice in the
polar regions. However, some of this climate change, concedes the author, may be due
to natural factors.
The author concludes that homeschooled children do not get quality education because
they are often taught by irresponsible and unqualified parents.
The author in the reading passage defines the concept of inflation, and the speaker in the
lectures uses an example to confirm the truth of this economic principle.
The author in the reading passage explains three theories about adult language
acquisition, and in the listening passage, the professor criticizes each theory.
In the lecture, the speaker describes glaciers as being compressed multi-layered sheets
of ice with a density about 1/2 as thick as water.
The author believes that following the steps in the writing process is too time consuming.
However, the speaker disagrees with this assertion and claims that using the writing
process will help employees to write more efficient and polished reports.
The author in the reading passage defines photosynthesis, and the two students in the
listening passage discuss the concept further by providing some examples.
Even though the author in the reading passages theorizes that dinosaurs might have
become extinct due to overdosing on toxic plants, the speaker in the lecture disputes this
notion claiming that there is no evidence to prove or disprove this claim.
The speaker emphasizes that there is no way to know what dinosaurs ate because their
livers and stomachs did not fossilize. Therefore, scientists can not find out whether or not
dinosaurs died because of overdosing on toxic plants.
Explain: To make an idea, argument, or issue clearer by revealing more facts and
details.
In the lecture, the speaker explains how glaciers form in colder regions on steep angles
where ample snowfall accumulates over time.
The woman expresses to the man how she feels about the new policy regarding bicycle
parking on campus.
In the listening passage, after the man finds out about the woman’s problem with the
biology class, he recommends two solutions to help her: She can join the weekly study
group, or she can go to the professor’s office to get ideas on how to prepare for her
upcoming exam.
In the reading passage, the author defines the concept of survival of the fittest, and in the
lecture, the speaker gives an example to illustrate the concept.
In the lecture, when bears get on all fours, slap the ground several times with their paws,
and begin to grunt, the professor interprets this behavior as the precursors to charges to
their prey.
Even though some contrary evidence suggests that natural factors may be part of the
cause for the rapid melting of glaciers, the professor maintains that in large part global
warming is mostly due to human activities.
The author notes that the rapidly melting glaciers in the tropic regions have caused the
glaciers on Mount Kilimanjaro to melt at a much faster pace than in the past.
The author in the reading passage explains three dangers of social media on society, and
in the listening passage, the speaker opposes each of those points.
During their discussion, the man and the woman point out that prohibiting bicycle
parking near classrooms will discourage students from biking. As a result, the speakers
add, students will go back to using their cars, which is unhealthy for the environment.
The author in the reading passage explains three theories regarding the extinction of
dinosaurs, and the speaker in the lecture refutes two of the three theories as being
speculation.
After the man explains why he prefers final exams days extended from 3 to 7, the
woman remarks that having more time for these important exams will result in better
performances among the student body.
Report: To give a spoken or written account of something that has been observed,
investigated, or studied.
In the article, the author reports that an ongoing problem with irresponsible cell phone
use will result in a new policy on campus restricting phone use during class lectures.
The man claims that limiting cell phone use during class will minimize distraction and
encourage participation since students will not be looking at their phones; however, the
woman responds to this assertion by saying that cell phones are sometimes needed when
emergencies arise.
Speculate: To form a theory or guess about something without having firm evidence or
proof.
Even though no evidence can prove or disprove his ideas, the professor speculates that
dinosaurs might have become extinct because of a gradual warming trend which caused
their testes to fail to function, thereby prohibiting them from reproducing.
The author in the reading passage states that advertising can affect consumers’ behavior
in that these customers tend not to buy items about which they have not heard anything.
In the lecture, the speaker suggests that advertising also affects people’s behaviors
politically inasmuch as these voters tend to vote for candidates who have heavily
advertised themselves.
In the listening passage, the woman thinks that encouraging students, faculty, and staff
to bicycle on campus will result in a cleaner environment and a healthier lifestyle.
Write: Mark letters, words, or symbols onto a surface such as paper with a pen, pencil, or
similar instrument.
The author in the reading passage writes that the International Atomic Energy Agency
has difficulty monitoring what countries are doing with the enriched uranium that they
have processed. For example, it is difficult to know, writes the author, whether these
countries are using the uranium for nuclear weapons or for energy.
Good luck!
SOURCE: TOEFL Vocabulary for Integrated Speaking and Writing Tasks - Online
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