今天这一期，我们来了解一下科技类题目。“科技类”话题一直是近年来独立考题中的常见考题。本次分享中提到的”科技类“题目，是指一切和“现代科技产品”相关的题目，比如科技和学习结合：要不要上网课？或者科技和校园生活相结合：要电子版信息还是纸质版信息？还有科技对日常生活的影响：孩子们应该从小学习电脑吗？
在2019-2020当中，科技相关的独立题目占所有题目的16%；截至目前，在2018年出现的考题中，“科技”则出现了12%。换个角度思考，从大概率上看，每五场考试中就会出现一道此类题目；因此掌握这类题目的思路是非常重要的。
科技类话题怎么问？
这类话题有一个套路，通常是需要我们站队选择科技好或者不好。我们可以把它看作“今昔对比”，即选择科技会带来什么好处，或者选择科技会带来什么弊端。今天这篇文章中，我们来总结一下科技类话题当中，好处可以说什么。首先，我们筛选出“科技类”话题最常见到的几个关键词“electronic books”, “digital news”, “cellphones”, “e-mails”是科技类话题中反复出现的关键词，我们如果选择使用这些科技产品，对生活会带来怎样的好处或者弊端呢？
视频聊天
By FaceTime with my friends and family, not only can I hear their voices, but also I can see their facial expressions and body movements. I think the Internet brings people closer than ever, and it makes communication very instant and effective.
解析：
解析有了网络摄像头，人们可以通过视频进行高效交流。因此，考生可以选择“通过和家人视频缓解想家的心情”“视频聊天是科技给人类带来的好处之一”“网络拉近人们之间的距离，因为人们可以视频聊天”等。使用此类素材回答时，主题句中的关键词为: FaceTime with.../bring people closer/
词汇和表达:
★ FaceTime with one's friends and family与朋友和家人视频聊天
★ bring people closer让人们更加亲密
★ make communication very instant and effective 使沟通非常即时和有效
★ see one's facial expressions and body movements看到某人的面部表情和肢体动作
适用题目范围:
如何缓解想家的心情/科技带来的好处/网络拉近了人与人之间的距离等
适用题目：
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Important business meetings should be held in person （face to face） rather than via technology like video conferencing calls？［2018-5-6］
Some people believe technology has brought people closer, while others believe that technology actually isolates people. Which one do you agree with? Explain why.［2015-10-25］
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Internet plays a big role in our life？［2012-3-18］
由视频聊天衍生出的素材:面对面交流
When talking face to face, people can show body language and facial expressions, which are very important to convey emotions. Thus, they can understand each other more clearly and intuitively.
解析:
面对面交流更高效，因为可以看到对方的肢体语言和面部表情。
词汇和表达:
★ show body language and facial expressions 展示肢体语言和面部表情
★ understand each other more clearly and intuitively
更清楚、直观地了解对方
适用题目范围:
面对面给学生反馈/面对面布置作业/面对面沟通解决问题会更好等
适用题目:
Some teachers give feedback to students face to face with regard to their projects, while others prefer to provide written comments to students on their projects. Which one do you think is better and why？［2018-7-8］ ［2017-11-4］
Some people solve problems with their friends face to face or on the phone, while others prefer to send text messages or e-mails. Which one do you prefer and why?［2017-10-29］
Some teachers prefer students to ask questions about course work or assignments by e-mails, while other teachers prefer students to ask these questions in person. Which one do you prefer and why？［2014-1-18］
在线课程
省时: can save lots of time if take online classes. All need is the Internet and a laptop. I do not have to commute to a traditional classroom. You know, I live in a big city with serious traffic jams. It takes me almost an hour to get to campus.
高效: With a webcam, not only can hear the teachers' voice but also can see his facial expressions and body movements. I can ask the teacher questions and exchange ideas with other students. There is no difference between taking online classes and going to take traditional classes.
解析:
这段素材强调在线课程可以节省时间, 比如考生也可以选择“学习在线课程而不是去教室上课”“学校应该把课程视频放在网上, 这样既省时间又能使课堂沟通变得高效。使用此类素材回答时, 主题句中的关键词为: save time, convenient effective communication between teachers and students等。
词汇和表达：
★ save lots of time节省很多时间
★ ask the teacher questions问老师问题
★ take online classes学习在线课程
★ exchange ideas with other students与
★ commute to经常往返于…其他学生交换意见
★ serious traffic jams严重的交通拥堵
★ take traditional classes上传统的课程
适用题目范围:
选择在线课程/在家上课不去学校/学校把课程放在网上等
适用题目:
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Homeschool taught by parents and private teachers is a good choice for kids？［2018-9-16］［2018-1-6］
Your university is planning to film all large lecture classes and put them on the university website. Do you agree or disagree with this plan and why?［2017-11-18］
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Online courses will one day replace traditional classes?［2015-1-10]
电子书
Electronic devices are just so convenient. They are very portable so that people can carry with them everywhere they go. For instance, I can read books on Kindle whenever I want, for example, when I am waiting for the bus, riding on the train, or even waiting in line for food.
解析:
这段素材强调电子书非常便捷，考生可以选择“电子书会替代纸质书”“图书馆会消失”“电子书是科技带来的一大便利”等。使用此类素材回答时，主题句中的关键词为 convenient、 portable等。
词汇和表达：
★ read books on Kindle在电子阅读器
★ ride on the train乘坐火车
★ wait in line for food排队等候食物 Kindle上看书
★ wait for the bus等公交车
适用题目范围：
电子书可以代替纸质书/图书馆将会消失/科技带来的便利等
适用题目：
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Entertainment technology leaves less time for people to read books for pleasure？［2017-2-18］
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Some universities will sell their paper books and replace them with electronic books？［2014-5-5 NA］
网络上瘾
Spending too much time online can be addictive. It poses threat to your health. Staring at the screen for a long time could hurt your eyesight and cause dizziness. It can also lead to other problems liks backache, neck pain, and even obesity.
解析:
这段素材强调迷恋上网会有害健康，考生可以选择“应该禁止学生带电脑”“电脑游戏的坏处是有害健康”“孩子不应该使用电子产品，因为可能会成瘾”等。使用此类素材回答时，主题句中的关键词为: jeopardize health等。
词汇和表达：
★backache腰痛
★ addictive使上瘾的
★ neck pain颈部疼痛
★ hurt one's eyesight伤害某人的视力
★ obesity肥胖
★ cause dizziness引起头晕
适用题目范围:
学生不应该带电脑/电脑游戏的坏处/禁止带电脑的好处/工作的时候不需要科技产品的帮助/小孩不该使用电子产品等。
适用题目:
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Children should gain access to computers and other electronic devices as early as possible？［2018-3-31］
Some people prefer to use technological devices to help them to work, while others prefer to work without technological devices like computers. Which one do you prefer and why？［2015-7-11］（答题提示:选择利用科技，交流更便捷；选择不利用科技，考虑到安全问题和健康问题）
为什么口语标准线放置在23/24这个分数段？
细心的童鞋也会发现很多美国大学对于申请TA（Teacher Assist)和RA (Research Assist)奖学金，都设置了一条非常重要的标准线，也就是托福口语要过23分。
客观地说，托福口语助教和研究助理奖学金设置标准放置在23/24这个分数段，是因为该分数段恰好是能够正常交流的底线，能够带本科生的课和能够带实验室的实验。
所以中国大多数考生也会从实用角度出发，口语成绩能够达到24左右的时候就觉得达标了。
然而，尽管现实中24分无论从学术角度还是生活角度都已经够用，但还是很多完美主义的童鞋想进一步突破自己，挑战极限，想跨越这条珠穆朗玛峰线。
所以今天将简要从语法和内容这个两个维度来教大家如何突破24这条珠穆朗玛峰线。
在托福口语中的语法体现在语言使用和口语的简单语法，重心主要是语言使用。
许多24+高分口语学生群体的一个最明显的特点就是语言简单粗暴地道，能用一个词尽量不用两个词：如“引起”，用trigger而不用give rise to；
而且这些学生更多使用地道的说法，就是老外听了比较熟悉的语言，比如面包店不会说成bread shop，而是bakery，餐馆除了说restaurant,他们还会说bistro，酒店他们也会用inn等；
另外他们用的短语也都是比较地道的：
比如能去做什么，他们会说get to do sth 而不是只会用can/be able to do sth,在表达过程中偶尔会加入一些习语谚语之类的；
比如想表达annoy或者bother someone，可以直接用 get on one’s nerve；
比如“That girl's gum chewing is so loud it's starting to get on my nerves.” 表示让我恼怒的意思。
这样一来，考官听你的答案之后觉得很亲切，很熟悉，不给高分也难。
因此，大家平时一定要注意这类语言的积累，比如地道说法，短语搭配，习语，谚语，名人名言等。
你觉得自己发音很难在短时间内突破，语法很难积累的时候，可以重点关注内容这一块，可以帮你最大程度上弥补上面两个维度的缺陷。
因为当你在准备内容，也就是我们的素材的时候，其实也是在准备语法，语言使用，句子多样性等。
怎么准备呢？
大家可以利用地道网站，杂志，书籍来准备，尤其是网站，很便利。
比如大家可以通过google去搜托福口语题目关键词汇，锁定目标信息---地道文章素材，然后进行阅读，分析，最后转述成自己的地道口语语料。
为什么要这样做呢？
因为不经过这个过程而原封不动地背诵抄袭会让考官觉得你是机器人或者你在参加朗诵大赛，而且大多数文章语域过于书面，考官理解起来也费力生涩，比如关于cooking技能的重要性，你如果直接把某杂志网里看到的下面这段话说出来，估计很难让听众瞬间理解。
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