Make sure your headset is on. This section measures your ability to use writing to communicate in an academic environment. There will be two writing tasks. For the first writing task, you will read a passage and listen to a lecture and then answer a question based on what you have read and heard. For the second writing task, you will answer a question based on your own knowledge and experience. Now listen to the directions for the first writing task.
1. Zoning laws regulate the development of a region's land and are specifically focused on what structures can be built in various places. For the most part, zoning laws are designed to prevent incompatible structures, such as factories and schools, from being built alongside one another. Thus urban areas have many different zones. Among them are residential zones for housing and schools, business zones for offices, stores, and shopping malls, green zones for parks and recreation, and industrial zones for factories and other manufacturing centers. The zones provide benefits for their communities in a variety of ways. One is that they preserve the property value of private land. For instance, homeowners prefer to live in regions which only have houses and schools and have small numbers of stores and office buildings. A person's home would lose much of its value if a large factory were suddenly erected across the street from it. The homeowner would consequently have trouble selling the house, which is something zoning laws prevent from happening. Zoning laws further help maintain the integrity and safety of neighborhoods by preventing certain types of entertainment establishments from being built in residential zones. Most cities, as an example, do not permit nightclubs and bars to be opened near schools and housing areas. Zoning laws additionally preserve green lands in urban regions. Therefore, parks and recreation zones are safe from being developed for purposes that would destroy their natural beauty. A third benefit of zoning laws is that they maintain the historical integrity of communities which are in danger of being developed for new, yet incompatible, purposes. In that way, they can enable neighborhoods with historical structures of significance to avoid being transformed into industrial or entertainment districts that can bring ruination to the older buildings.
Directions You have 20 minutes to plan and write your response. Your response will be judged on the basis of the quality of your writing and on how well your response presents the points in the lecture and their relationship to the passage. Typically, an effective response will be 150-225 words. Question Summarize the points made in the lecture, being sure to explain how they challenge specific arguments made in the reading passage.
Sample Note-READING are benefits provided by zoning laws 1 preserve property values -homeowners live in places w/few stores and office buildings -it build factory, home loses value 2 maintain integrity and safety of neighborhoods -prevent certain establishments from being built -no nightclubs and bars near schools and housing areas -preserve green lands in cities 3 maintain historical integrity of communities -keep neighborhoods w/historical structures from being transformed -don't let old buildings get ruined Sample Note-LISTENING zoning laws have bad effects on neighborhoods 1 infringe on rights of property owners -want to sell land but can't because of zoning laws -company wanted to open mall→people wanted to sell land →zoning laws prevented sale of land and opening of mall 2 create urban stagnation -keep neighborhoods the same for decades -people have to travel far for entertainment -too many great areas→parks sitting on prime land 3 cause problems for historical neighborhoods and structures -buildings have structural problems→zoning laws don't allow repair work -buildings lack modern conveniences→zoning laws prohibit enhancements Sample Essay The author of the reading passage writes in support of zoning laws in cities. However, the professor disputes the arguments made in the reading passage and explains why she believes zoning laws are problematic. The first problem with zoning laws that the professor covers concerns their effects on the rights of property owners. While the reading passage claims that zoning laws benefit homeowners by preventing businesses from setting up in residential areas, the professor says this prevents property owners from doing what they want with their land. She points out how zoning laws kept some local landowners from making lots of money recently. The professor next argues against zoning laws on the basis that they cause stagnation in cities. She states that entertainment centers cannot be opened in certain places and that there are too many parks in some cities. According to her, both factors lead to urban stagnation. In that way, she challenges the argument in the reading passage that zoning laws keep neighborhoods safe and green. The final argument against zoning laws that the professor makes is with regard to historical buildings and neighborhoods. While the reading passage praises zoning laws for keeping these buildings and places safe, the professor criticizes them because old buildings can be inconvenient to people on account of structural problems or the absence of modern conveniences.
[听力原文] Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about. W Professor: While I understand the premise of zoning laws, they are interpreted too strictly at times. As a result, they tend to have deleterious effects on the neighborhoods they're theoretically looking after. Arguably the biggest problem with zoning laws is that they infringe upon the individual rights of property owners. Sometimes people may want to sell their homes or land, but the zoning laws in their regions obstruct them. You remember how there were many local homeowners upset about the zoning laws here two months ago, right? What happened...? Well, uh, an out-of-state company was planning to build a shopping mall, and it had agreed to purchase large plots of land. However, the city stepped in and, citing zoning laws, refused to let the mall be built there, so numerous property owners lost out on a great chance to get excellent value for their land. Urban stagnation is something else that zoning laws contribute to. How...? You see, uh, zoning laws prevent new businesses from moving into certain places, which causes some neighborhoods to remain the same for decades. Thus people have to travel far to find entertainment options since theaters, bars, and other similar places can't open in their neighborhoods. It's the same thing with parks. Yes, green areas are nice, but some cities have too many. And numerous parks sit on prime land that should be developed to improve the quality of cities and to keep them from stagnating. A final issue concerns historical neighborhoods and buildings, which are traditionally protected by zoning laws. Sadly, these buildings often have structural problems or lack modern conveniences such as plumbing and wiring. They therefore inconvenience the people who live in them and can even endanger their lives since zoning laws may prohibit repair work or enhancements being done on the buildings.
2. A Reading Passage Read the following passage carefully. Cheatgrass is an invasive plant found in North America which is threatening to outcompete native grasses and other plants. It grows rapidly and can reproduce faster than most native grasses, so it can take better advantage of the natural resources in the areas it grows. It is also able to spread rapidly since its seeds are blown by the wind and carried by water and animals. As a result, the plant has become a nuisance that many people wish to eradicate. One method that has met with success has been for people physically to destroy cheatgrass by cutting it with mowers, tilling it under the ground, or pulling it up by its roots. This is a labor-intensive method so is usually only done for small infestations rather than large-scale ones. In addition, fires are effective at killing cheatgrass, so people often use them in conjunction with other methods to rid themselves of it. A more effective method that farmers have discovered is to allow their livestock to graze on land in which cheatgrass is growing. When cheatgrass first starts sprouting in spring, it contains high levels of protein and is therefore beneficial when consumed by livestock, particularly cattle. The best time for animals to graze on cheatgrass is the first six to eight weeks after it emerges from the ground. It is also possible to remove cheatgrass through chemical means. Herbicides can be sprayed from backpack containers by individuals covering small areas, or they may be sprayed from motorized equipment or by crop dusters if there are particularly large infestations. The most effective time to utilize herbicides is in fall before the first frost as the plants become dormant during winter when it becomes too cold. In spring, herbicides are also effective right when the plants start growing. Outlining Write an outline of the reading passage in the space provided. Main Point ________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ Argument 1 ________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ Argument 2 ________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ Argument 3 ________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________ Paraphrasing Exercises Read the following sentences. Then, paraphrase them. Be sure to include the key information in each sentence. 1 One method that has met with success has been for people physically to destroy cheatgrass by cutting it with mowers, tilling it under the ground, or pulling it up by its roots. →________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ 2 When cheatgrass first starts sprouting in spring, it contains high levels of protein and is therefore beneficial when consumed by livestock, particularly cattle. →________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ 3 Herbicides can be sprayed from backpack containers by individuals covering small areas, or they may be sprayed from motorized equipment or by crop dusters if there are particularly large infestations. →________________________________________________ __________________________________________________
Outlining Main Point: people want to eliminate cheatgrass Argument 1: physically destroy it -cut w/mowers, till, or pull up by roots -can use fires to kill Argument 2: letting livestock graze on it -when sprouts, is high in protein→beneficial to animals -best time to graze is when first comes up Argument 3: using chemicals -spray herbicides from backpacks or crop dusters -best times to kill are in fall and spring Paraphrasing Exercises 1 People can kill cheatgrass by cutting it, tilling it, or pulling it up from the ground. 2 New cheatgrass is rich in protein and can benefit the livestock that eats it. 3 People can spray herbicides in small fields or use crop dusters for big infestations.
3. B Listening Lecture Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about.
Note-Taking Main Point _______________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Argument 1 _______________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Argument 2 _______________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Argument 3 _______________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Paraphrasing Exercises Read the following sentences. Then, paraphrase them. Be sure to include the key information in each sentence. 1 Only experts should try to burn cheatgrass lest the people doing it wind up unintentionally burning large areas of land. →________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ 2 For instance, livestock aren't allowed on most public lands, so farmers can remove the cheatgrass growing on their land, but they can't do anything about the public lands adjoining their property. →________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ 3 They're also expensive, and they harm the grasses and other plants growing alongside cheatgrass. →________________________________________________ __________________________________________________
Note-Taking Main Point: methods of eliminating cheatgrass have problems Argument 1: mowing, tilling, and burning have problems -plant often grows back if mowed or tilled→have to do again and again -cheatgrass burns easily→fires can get out of control Argument 2: livestock not always effective -can't graze on public land→not allowed -cheatgrass grows on public land next to farms→next year, spreads to farmers' fields Argument 3: herbicides limited in effectiveness -only effective at certain times of year+are expensive -harm plants and grasses growing alongside cheatgrass Paraphrasing Exercises 1 People who aren't experts shouldn't burn cheatgrass since the fires could get out of control. 2 Livestock can't go on most public lands, so even if farmers get rid of cheatgrass on their land, it will still be on public lands. 3 They're expensive and hurt plants other than cheatgrass.
[听力原文] Now listen to part of a lecture on the topic you just read about. W Professor: This is a picture of cheatgrass...It's an invasive weed that's becoming a tremendous problem in many parts of the United States and Canada. It's dominating other grasses and is also a fire hazard since mature plants easily catch fire and burn quickly. People everywhere are trying to eliminate cheatgrass, and, while they've encountered some success, there are problems with the methods being employed. Some people mow cheatgrass or till it, and that works on small areas, but it's not practical for areas with lots of cheatgrass. In addition, those two methods don't kill the plant since it grows back. Thus people have to keep mowing or tilling it, which requires a great deal of work. So does pulling it out of the ground. Additionally, while fires do kill cheatgrass, they must be controlled burns because cheatgrass fires can easily rage out of control. Only experts should try to burn cheatgrass lest the people doing it wind up unintentionally burning large areas of land. Letting livestock graze on cheatgrass is effective but doesn't work in every situation. After all, uh, animals can't graze everywhere that cheatgrass grows. For instance, livestock aren't allowed on most public lands, so farmers can remove the cheatgrass growing on their land, but, uh, they can't do anything about the public lands adjoining their property. As a result, cheatgrass thrives there and then spreads onto the farmers' lands the following year. As for herbicides...Well, they're effective only at certain times of the year, so they have to be properly managed. They're also expensive, and, you know, they harm the grasses and other plants growing alongside cheatgrass. So, uh, as you can see, there's no single solution to getting rid of cheatgrass. Unfortunately, it appears as though the weed is here to stay for a long time.
4. C Combining the Main Points Read the following sentences from the reading passage and listening lecture. Then, combine each pair of sentences by using the given patterns. 1 Reading One method that has met with success has been for people physically to destroy cheatgrass by cutting it with mowers, tilling it under the ground, or pulling it up by its roots. Listening In addition, those two methods don't kill the plant since it grows back. Thus people have to keep mowing or tilling it, which requires a great deal of work. So does pulling it out of the ground. →For example, the first proposal is to ______________________________. The professor finds fault with these solutions though. She declares that ______________________________. 2 Reading A more effective method that farmers have discovered is to allow their livestock to graze on land in which cheatgrass is growing. Listening For instance, livestock aren't allowed on most public lands, so farmers can remove the cheatgrass growing on their land, but they can't do anything about the public lands adjoining their property. →The professor disregards the suggestion in the reading passage ________________________. She remarks that ______________________________. 3 Reading It is also possible to remove cheatgrass through chemical means. Herbicides can be sprayed from backpack containers by individuals covering small areas, or they may be sprayed from motorized equipment or by crop dusters if there are particularly large infestations. Listening As for herbicides...Well, they're effective only at certain times of the year, so they have to be properly managed. They're also expensive, and, you know, they harm the grasses and other plants growing alongside cheatgrass. →The professor further challenges the argument in the reading passage that __________________________________________.
1 For example, the first proposal is to physically remove cheatgrass by mowing it, tilling it, pulling it up, or burning it. The professor finds fault with these solutions though. She declares that mowing and tilling cheatgrass do not kill it and that pulling it up is labor intensive. 2 The professor disregards the suggestion in the reading passage that farmers should let their livestock, such as cattle, graze on cheatgrass. She remarks that while cows can eat all the cheatgrass in some areas, they cannot go onto adjoining public lands. 3 The professor further challenges the argument in the reading passage that herbicides are useful by mentioning that they kill other plants and grasses, not just cheatgrass.
5. D Completing the Essay Complete the following sample essay. Use the phrases to help you write your essay. The professor and the author of the reading passage acknowledge that ______________________________. Yet while the author of the reading passage suggests ________________________, the professor challenges __________________. For example, the first proposal is to ________________________. The professor finds fault with these solutions though. She declares that ______________________________. The professor disregards the suggestion in the reading passage that ________________________. She remarks that ____________________________________. As for herbicides, the professor explains that ______________________________. She further challenges the argument in the reading passage that ______________________________.
Sample Essay The professor and the author of the reading passage acknowledge that cheatgrass is an invasive species making a nuisance of itself in North America. Yet while the author of the reading passage suggests some ways to eliminate the cheatgrass problem, the professor challenges each argument that is made. For example, the first proposal is to physically remove cheatgrass by mowing it, tilling it, pulling it up, or burning it. The professor finds fault with these solutions though. She declares that mowing and tilling cheatgrass do not kill it and that pulling it up is labor intensive. As for using fires, she comments that cheatgrass burns easily, so burning it is difficult because the fires can get out of control. The professor disregards the suggestion in the reading passage that farmers should let their livestock, such as cattle, graze on cheatgrass. She remarks that while cows can eat all the cheatgrass in some areas, they cannot go onto adjoining public lands. What happens is that cheatgrass grows well on those public lands and then spreads to the farmers' lands the next year. As for herbicides, the professor explains that they are useful only for a part of the year. She further challenges the argument in the reading passage that herbicides are useful by mentioning that they kill other plants and grasses, not just cheatgrass.