TOEFL Outlines ( 1 – 50 ) TOEFL question #41: You have been told that dormitory rooms at your university must be shared by two students. Would you rather have the university assign a student to share a room with you, or would you rather choose your own roommate? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer. I. If I were told that I had to share my university dormitory room with another person, I would want to choose my own roommate. There are several reasons for my decision. II. Familiarity & comfort a. At a new university, many things are new so it would be nice to have the familiarity of someone I know as my roommate. b. If my roommate and I already know each other, we will not have to spend a lot of time getting to know each other. c. If we know each other’s preferences, we can live together harmoniously from the beginning d. A new person might have certain expectations and this could lead to arguments e. A new person might be completely opposite from me (eg: she likes to party and I don’t, she doesn’t like to study but I do, she likes to sleep late but I don’t, she likes to get up late but I like to get up early, etc.) III. In short, I would be more comfortable with a roommate that I already know. We would both know each others expectations and there would not be any unpleasant surprises. There are enough new experiences at university that I would not want my roommate to be yet another new experience. TOEFL question #42: Some people say that physical exercise should be a required part of every school day. Other people believe that students should spend the whole school day on academic studies. Which opinion do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer. I. There are those people who think physical exercise should be daily part of school. Others think that the entire day should be spent on academics. I agree with the former and believe that physical education should be a part of every school day. Physical education helps make students well-rounded; it helps them relieve stress and it keeps them fit. II. Students will be well-rounded a. Students learn about academic subjects, but it is also important to learn about games, sports and physical fitness. b. Physical education classes help students understand how to work together as a team III. Physical activity relieves stress a. Students feel stressed when studying academic subjects, physical education is a good break from cerebral topics b. For example: when students run or play, their bodies and minds are able to relax IV. Physical education classes help students remain fit a. Playing games and using one’s body is good for health b. Example: students who never exercise tend to be fatter and don’t eat or feel as good as those who do exercise. V. In short, physical education is an important part of a students learning. Students need both academics and physical activity to be well-rounded and fit. TOEFL question #43: What do you consider to be the most important room in a house? Why is this room more important to you than any other room? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. I. There are many rooms in a house and each serves a purpose, but I feel that the most important room in a house is the kitchen. The kitchen provides food, conversation and history. II. The kitchen provides food a. Food which nourishes the body is prepared here b. Family members spend time eating here c. Cooking successes and failures happen here III. The kitchen provides conversation a. The kitchen is often the place where family members gather to talk b. For example: talk about work, school, and problems IV. The kitchen provides history a. With all the activities that happen in the kitchen, it includes a lot of history. b. For example: family members remember past events and conversations c. For example: family members talk about their own futures and pasts V. The kitchen is a place that is full of nourishment both for the body and for the soul. It provides family members a place to eat and talk and share hopes and dreams. TOEFL question #44: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Only people who earn a lot of money are successful. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. I. I do not agree that only people who earn a lot of money are successful. Money is only one measure of success; there are many other ways to determine success. II. Being a good person a. If a person lives his/her life in a good way, that person is a success (kind, considerate, helpful) b. Example: Mother Teresa who had no money was certainly successful in her work with the poor in India. III. Fulfillment in one’s job a. If one feels s/he is doing a good job, s/he does not have to be rich to be successful b. Example: salesman who makes enough money to live on but enjoys his work c. Example: teacher who makes little money, but educates many children IV. Fulfillment in one’s personal life a. If a person has a happy home life, s/he does not have to be rich to feel successful b. Example: someone who raises happy and healthy children V. In conclusion, money is not the only measure of success. There are many people who have little money who are also successful. TOEFL question #45: What are some of the qualities of a good parent? Use specific details and examples to explain your answer. I. The qualities of a good parent should include being a good listener, a good provider and a good role model. II. A good listener a. Parents should not assume they know what their children are thinking, they should listen b. Example: A child may say that s/he doesn’t like school .a parent needs to listen and try to solve the problem c. Example: A child may have problems with a neighbor .a parent should listen to the child and help him/her with it III. A good provider a. Example: provide good, healthy food at least three times a day b. Example: provide shelter (house or apartment in which to live) c. Example: provide clothing IV. A good role model a. Example: a parent should not smoke b. Example: a parent should not drink c. Example: a parent should not use bad words around children V. In conclusion, there are many qualities that parents should possess. Three of the most important are that they should be good listeners, good providers and good role models. If children grow up with parents who have these qualities, they will surely thrive. . TOEFL Outlines ( 1 – 50 ) TOEFL question # 41: You have been told that dormitory rooms at your university. food at least three times a day b. Example: provide shelter (house or apartment in which to live) c. Example: provide clothing IV. A good role model a. Example: