Listen to a conversation between two students.
(woman) Hey, Steve, are you ready for classes to start?
(man) Not really. There’s still a big conflict in my course schedule.
(woman) What’s wrong?
(man) This is my last semester and I’ ve still got two required courses left to take in order to finish my literature degree.
(woman) Ok?
(man) I have to take both History of the Novel and Shakespeare or I can’t graduate! Problem is the two courses meet at the same time!
(woman) Uh, oh. What are you gonna do?
(man) Well, I talked to the professor who’s gonna teach Shakespeare, he said I could do an independent study to fulfill that requirement.
(woman) How would that work?
(man) I’d read the assigned text on my own, do all the same assignments, and meet with him when I need to, if I had an y questions.
(woman) Well, that sounds a good way to fulfill the requirement.
(man) Yeah, plus it’d be nice to have one-on-one discussions with the professor. It’s just that, well, working o n my own like that, I’m kind of concerned I won’t be able to motivate myself to get the work done on time. It’s easy to put things off when it’s not an actual class, you know?
(woman) Yeah, are there other options?
(man) Um, yeah, I found out that the Shakespeare class is being offered at another university about a half an hour from here. That university has a really great literature program and our university will accept their credits, so…
(woman) That’s an idea!
(man) Yeah, I’m sure it’ll be a good class. And it’d fulfill the requirement. Only thing is, you know, I’d have to drive a half an hour to get to the class and then half an hour to come back, three times a week! That’s a lot of time and gas money.
托福TPO8口语task5题目 Question:
Briefly summarize the problem the speakers are discussing. Then state which solution you would recommend. Explain the reasons for your recommendation.
托福TPO8口语task5 答案解析：
1. Listening key
(1.1) Problem: confliction of class schedule; two required classes are being offered at the same time
(1.2) Solution 1: do independent study
(1.2.1) Pro: meet with the professor when needs to
(1.2.2) Con: lack of motivation; might put things off
(1.3) Solution 2: take one of the course at another school
(1.3.1) Pro: his school takes the credit, and the course offered at the other school is excellent
(1.3.2) Con: it’s a long drive; waste of money and time
托福TPO8口语task5 范文：
The man’s problem is that there is a big conflict in his course schedule, he’s got to take two required courses to graduate but they are offered at the same time. He has two possible solutions, the first is to do an independent study on his Shakespeare course. The second solution is to take it at another school. I think the second solution is better. First of all, it’s mentioned in the conversation that the class being offered at the other school is excellent, also, he can make many friends when he’s over there. Second, in doing so, he still gets to go to lectures for it and work with the professor and classmates in class, which is more productive.
