TOEFL iBT Integrated Speaking Task

Dodo sample speech
In this set of materials, the reading passage describes the popular idea of why the dodo became extinct, and the listening passage tells us the real reason this happened.

The reading passage tells us what most people think is the reason for the dodo’s extinction. The dodo lived on Mauritius.  It was a big bird that couldn’t fly and had no fear of humans.  European sailors came to Mauritius in the 16th century, and most people believe that the dodo disappeared because they were hunted by these European. After a hundred years of hunting the dodos were all gone.

The listening passage, however, tells us the true reason the dodos disappeared.  The dodos’ meat tasted really bad, so actually they were not hunted by Europeans. The Europeans however, brought other animals to Mauritius and they destroyed the dodos’ eggs. Also, the European cleared the forest areas where the dodos had their nests. It was cutting down trees and outside animals that wiped out the dodos. (165 words)

Look below at the sample notes. You can see what I included in the speech highlighted in light blue. Notice that I left many things out. remember, you do NOT need to include everything you make notes on.
Dodo Reading notes
Main Idea: why the dodo became extinct (later revised to the popular idea of why the dodo became extinct)
     MP1 --- phrase dead as dodo means totally dead
     MP2 --- dodo flightless bird
                   -- lived on Mauritius
                   -- up to 1m tall, 20kgs
     MP3 --- no natural predators, so fearless
     MP4 --- most people think European sailors killed all dodos
                   -- Europeans came to Mauritius in 16th, 17th cent.
                   -- dodos unafraid so easy to catch for food
                   -- by end 17th cent dodos extinct


Dodo Listening notes
Main Idea: real reason dods became extinct
    MP1 ---unlikely Europeans hunted dodo (diaries say dodo meat tough, bad taste)
                 -- other tasty birds on island
                 -- why hunt dodo?
    MP2 --- 1st reason: Europeans brought animals –dogs, pigs, rats
                 -- like dodo eggs
                 -- destroyed dodo nests
    MP2 --- 2nd reason: Europeans cut down forests
                 -- destroyed dodo’s natural habitat

Question: How does the information in the listening passage differ from the information in the listening passage?

Click here for reading passage

Click here for listening transcript

Click here for sample notes