不再摆烂！掌握这些妙招，轻松应对托福口语【生物类】超难Task 4
在托福口语的考试中，科学类Task 4算是一个王炸类题目，主打一个听的时候一头雾水，记的时候两眼放空，说的时候如坐针毡。很多同学一听到Task 4 出现了奇怪物种的名字心态就崩了，随即瞬间摆烂，同时虔诚地许愿下回不要碰到类似题目。但是其实Task 4 也没有我们想象得那么难，甚至从某些角度来说，如果掌握了正确的技巧很容易拿到高分。下面我们一起来看一道题目:
Q: Using the examples from the lecture explain why forest fires are beneficial to the forest ecosystem.
There's one more method of forest conservation I wanna talk about before we end today. And that's forest fires. It may come as a surprise to many of you, but fire is a key element of many ecosystems. For example, it’s a natural normal process that helps maintain a healthy forest. For decades, we believed fire should be suppressed at all costs, so they were put out as quickly as possible to preserve the environment. But in the last 20 years or so, we've come to realize the advantages of regular controlled fires to an ecosystem.
In fact, a lot of plant species depend on fire for survival. In a forest full of pine trees, for example, fire is necessary for reproduction. Pine trees in particular, need fire in order to spread their seeds. Pine trees of course have pine cones, which contain their seeds. So what happens is that the heat from a fire melts the resin, you know that sticky stuff that holds the cone scales together. So the resin melts, and the cones open up, and the seeds inside the cone are released on the ground. And eventually, young pine trees grow from them. So thanks to the fire, we've got a new generation of pine trees.
Like I said earlier, fires can help grow better forests, which in turn creates a better habitat for wildlife in the areas. For instance, they have an impact on the density of the forest. A fire that kills some trees but not others can open up a forest area previously thick with trees. This lets in sunshine, which encourages growth of new shrubs and grasses. The new plant life in turn brings in new animal species.
托福口语Task 4 的答题技巧我们应该都耳熟能详了，总而言之就是1+2+2， 一个概念+两个分观点+两个例子。当然了，对于今天的这个题目来说，我们没有什么需要介绍的概念，所以直接从第一个分观点开始说就可以，千万不要啰里八嗦地说前面的一堆泛泛而谈的内容。而Task 4 的得分点恰好是例子里面的重点细节信息。什么是重点细节呢？就是和所表达的分观点相关的具体的内容。因此，我们其实可以直接屏蔽一些信息，只认真听重要的语句，有效地节省脑细胞。经过筛选，我们需要听的内容为以下几句话:
分观点 1: In fact, a lot of plant species depend on fire for survival.
例子 1: Pine trees in particular, need fire in order to spread their seeds. Pine trees of course have pine cones, which contain their seeds. So what happens is that the heat from a fire melts the resin, you know that sticky stuff that holds the cone scales together. So the resin melts, and the cones open up, and the seeds inside the cone are released on the ground. And eventually, young pine trees grow from them. So thanks to the fire, we've got a new generation of pine trees.
分观点2: Like I said earlier, fires can help grow better forests, which in turn creates a better habitat for wildlife in the areas.
例子2: For instance, they have an impact on the density of the forest. A fire that kills some trees but not others can open up a forest area previously thick with trees. This lets in sunshine, which encourages growth of new shrubs and grasses. The new plant life in turn brings in new animal species.
我们笔记需要遵守的底层逻辑一是得符合原文的逻辑和顺序，这样也方便考官理解和检查我们覆盖的点。二是记录实意词，这样可以有效地提醒我们这一句的内容是什么，避免看了自己的笔记大脑还一片空白。最重要的是，我们记录的时候得接受自己不可能把每一句话都写下来的现实，所以不要为了一会儿说的时候省力而写好多连词，导致重点信息写不上。其实口语部分的听力内容还是比较人性化的，只要是不过于贪心，用一句话记一个点的节奏是可以都写下来的。就这样，我们可以得出以下的笔记内容。
1. Survival
e.g. pine trees- spread seeds
Pine cones — seeds
Heat melts resin— cones open — seeds release
Young grow
2. Better habitat
e.g. impact density forest
Open up area — lets in sunshine— growth grasses
Brings in animal
注意到，这个笔记并没有记录上所有信息， 比如说encourages grow of new shrubs and grasses, 这其中就选择只写了更容易记录的grasses。这是因为对于这种并列的内容，只写一个表达原文的大概意思就可以了。第一个例子的最后一句create new generation of pine trees也没有记录，因为从意义上来说和前面一句young pine trees grow from them 是重复的，而且坚持写这一句可能会导致后面的分观点句听不清楚，导致损失更加惨重。
这里的钻牛角尖分为两种情况：第一种是过于忠于原文对于自己要求过高，哪怕有一些点说起来很费劲也坚持说，导致卡壳浪费了很长时间。第二种是觉得原文的信息逻辑不通顺，非得自己解释补充半天，加上自己之前的背景知识，结果偏离原文还让考官倒扣分。这两种情况都是非常得不偿失的。首先，口语部分是有容错率的，有那么一两个点没有说上没有关系，主要是得保证自己的答案流利，清晰而且正确，主打一个抓大放小。其次，扭曲原文是非常不好的现象，会给考官一种压根就没有听懂在那里乱说的感觉，所以同学们还是不要在这里发挥创意，用尽量贴近原文的方式去说，能模仿多少就模仿多少。
其实这个题目里面最难的部分是pine cones里面有seeds, 然后森林大火的热量融化了resin, 导致pine cones 没有了把它粘接在一起的东西然后就打开了，所以最后种子掉到了地上。很多同学resin那个部分一下子听不懂，因为这也算是个生僻词汇了。怎么办呢？其实直接跳过就行，只需要说大火让pine cones打开了也可以得分。假设我没有听明白resin的那一部分，我也可以给出3.5分的答案。
Firstly, forest fire is beneficial for the survival of plants. For example, pine trees need forest fire to spread their seeds. Pine cones contain seeds, and because of forest fire, pine cones can open up and seeds would be released on the ground. As a result, young pine trees will grow from them.
Secondly, forest fire can help to create a better habitat. For example, it will have an impact of the density of the forest. Since it can open up an area, sunshine will come in, and grasses will grow. Therefore, forest fire can help to bring in new animal species.
以上的三个步骤同学们都学会了吗？其实生物类的Task 4 没有那么难，主要是需要用一些方法和技巧，在尽量多说内容的前提之下不要舍弃太多的流利度和语言正确性，时刻进行博弈。如果方法用好了，我们也可以拿高分。
