TOEFL Speaking Task 3 Practice Test #33

Instructions

You will read a short academic passage (usually about a concept from psychology, biology, business, etc.), and then listen to part of a lecture in which a professor explains the same concept using one or more examples. After that, you will be asked a question that connects the reading and the lecture. You will have 30 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to speak.

The question for TOEFL Speaking Task 3 typically asks you to explain how the example (or examples) from the lecture illustrate the concept described in the reading. In your response, briefly summarize the concept from the reading and explain how the professor’s example helps to clarify or demonstrate it. This format is consistent across tests.

Reading Passage

Behavioral Exposure

At times, children may be reluctant to take part in certain behaviors that could be beneficial for them because they are afraid of failing or experiencing some other type of unpleasant outcome. One method that has been shown to help children overcome this kind of fear is known as behavioral exposure. In using this method, children are encouraged to perform the behavior they fear, starting with very small or manageable amounts and gradually increasing the extent of their involvement over time. Through repeated experiences in which they engage in the feared behavior and discover that nothing harmful occurs, children begin to develop a growing sense of confidence. They learn that the negative outcome they worry about is unlikely to happen, and as this confidence builds, they become capable of confronting the behavior without fear and eventually overcoming it entirely.

Listening

Transcript

Professor: I’ve used a version of this technique with my children. Uh, when my son, Tommy was eight years old, we moved here to Los Angeles. And when we first got here, Tommy was afraid to talk to the kids in the neighborhood. He was afraid they wouldn’t accept him, uh, that they wouldn’t like him.

Then one Saturday afternoon, I saw Tommy looking out the window, watching some kids riding their bikes outside. Now Tommy had a bike. He loved to ride, and I knew he really wanted to go out and play with those kids. So I said to him, Tommy, wanna walk down to the store and get some ice cream? And of course he said, okay. Then I said, and how about when we walked past those kids? Let’s just say hi. Okay, well, he was a little reluctant, but he said, okay.

So we walked to the store and as we approached the kids, I gave Tommy a little nudge and he very bravely said hi. And the kids all said hi back to him, and very friendly. And as we continued walking, I could see Tommy starting to relax.

Then on the way back from the store, I said to him, how about this time when we walked past the kids, you say something nice to them about their bikes. And he said, okay. And I could tell he was feeling a little more confident now. And this time when we approached the kids, Tommy said to one of them, that’s a really cool bike. I bet you can go really fast on that. And the other boy’s face lit up. And he said, yeah, watch. And he rode his bike as fast as he could.

Well, we reached home and a little while later, Tommy said to me, dad, I think I’m gonna go outside and ride my bicycle. So he went out on his bike and rode up to the other kids and they started talking. And by the end of the afternoon, he’d made several new friends.

TOEFL Speaking Task 3 Sample Questions [Reading Passages & Audio]

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