TOEFL Speaking Task 3 Practice Test #34

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.

Exaptation

The physical characteristics of an animal’s body generally serve a specific function, with the primary goal of increasing the animal’s chances of survival in its natural environment. However, over the course of time, in response to particular challenges or changes in its surroundings, an animal species will sometimes begin to use one of its existing physical features for a completely new purpose. This phenomenon is referred to as exaptation. Through this process, an animal is able to find an additional use for a body feature that was originally adapted for a different function, enabling it to respond more effectively to a wider range of environmental challenges. Importantly, the animal may continue to employ the physical feature for its original function while simultaneously using it to serve the new purpose, thereby gaining a dual advantage in its survival strategy.