第二章-托福口语考试概述之Task3（原Task4）鸟瞰

Task 3（原Task 4）鸟瞰
Task 3 考试形式： 
① Reading
 
 ② Listening
 
 ③ Speaking
 
第 3 题的考试形式和第 2 题很相似，都是需要先阅读、再听录音、最后才是口语作答。与第 2 题的校园题材不同的是， 第 3题往往是学术类文章。所以在第 3 题中，考生们读到的文章是学术小短文，听到的是老师关于学术话题的讲座节选。很多考生会认为第 3题比第 2 题更难，正是因为第 3 题是学术类题材，所以它往往在背景知识方面讲述的是考生们以前所不熟悉的话题；而第 2 题毕竟是校园话题，看过电视、对大学生活 有所了解的同学，猜一猜也总是能猜到的。事实上，我在这里 也想提醒大家：第 3题尽管涉及生命科学、社会科学、自然科学和人文科学四个大的方面，但这些学术题材是不需要我们对 它们有任何的深入背景了解的；如果水平足够高（听力和阅读 水平足够高），即便有大量专有名词，我们在不理解专有名词的 情况下也能正确复述，而且文章中真正需要理解之后才能往下 复述的内容也会有相应的定义部分（这个定义恰好能帮助我们 了解文章的主旨）。 
总体而言，大家可以将阅读材料和听力材料分别看作是课 本和老师的讲解。大家需要注意的是：在大学的课堂上，老师 讲解的内容并不一定都是正面地支持课本的内容，也有可能是 对课本的内容提出反例。这可能和传统的中国学生所了解的并 不一致。既然一个是课本、一个是老师上课讲的话题，那么大 家要知道老师上课讲的东西与课本内容肯定是特别相关的。讲座内容往往会更加具体、更加详细，是对某一个具体案例的扩展或者是举反例，运用到的正是课本或者是考生面前阅读文章 中的具体概念。最终的口语作答，有可能是要求考生根据听到 的讲座的具体内容，比如说是一个例子或者是一个扩充、扩展， 来解释阅读文章中的某一个定义和概念；也有可能是因为听力 材料中描述了一个解决方案，那么就要求考生根据听力材料中 刚刚所听到的解决方案来说明其是否可以解决阅读文章中的所 提到的特定问题。好了，下面我们一起来看一个具体案例，试着找一找这种先读完课本内容，再听老师对课本内容的阐述并 且尝试作答的感觉。
 
 
Reading
Revealing Coloration 
Many animals use coloration to protect themselves from predators. One defensive strategy involving the use of coloration is what is known as revealing coloration.   Animals employing this strategy have an area of bright color on some part of their body; this bright color is usually hidden from predators’ view. When approached by a predator, the animal suddenly reveals the area of bright color; this unexpected display of color startles or confuses the predator and provides the would-be prey with an opportunity to escape.
Listening 
Professor 
There is a large tropical insect called the Peanut Bug, yes, like the peanuts that you eat. Um and the Peanut Bug’s front wings are colored so that they blend in with their   surroundings. But its back wings, which are usually closed and hidden, have these bright colorful spots on them and   when the Peanut Bug is attacked, it suddenly opens its   back wings and out pops these big bright colors. And that surprises the predator and gives the Peanut Bug a chance to get away.   
Um and then you have a butterfly called the Morpho Butterfly, and parts of the Morpho Butterfly’s wings are very shiny. They reflect a lot of sunlight. When this butterfly is   resting, this shiny part of its wings is hidden. Now Morpho Butterflies are often attacked by birds. So when a bird approaches, the Morpho flies away. And when the Morpho   flaps its wings, all the bird can see are flashes of light reflected from the Morpho’s wings. Those flashes of light make it very difficult for the bird to follow the Morpho, and the Morpho is usually able to get away.
Question 
   Using the examples of the Peanut Bug and the Morpho Butterfly, explain the concept of revealing coloration.
TPO-8 TASK 4
   
首先，我们要看清楚每道题目的问法，并据此来安排我们 将要回答的问题。事实上，第 3 题都是让你用听力材料中所听 到的内容来进一步解释阅读中所阐述的定义。也正因为如此， 我们在读阅读材料的时候就应该对概念的定义是什么有清楚的 认识，并且能在听录音的时候能围绕着特定的定义来记录，这 样才能正确地找到听力文本与阅读文本之间的关系。譬如上面 这个题目，我们来看一下参考答案。
 
 
参考答案：
Revealing coloration is a technique that many animals use when they are being preyed upon, as it helps them escape. These animals have a colorful or bright part of their   body that usually remains hidden. When in danger, they reveal this part, which surprises the predator and allows them to escape. The examples the professor uses are of the Peanut Bug and the Morpho Butterfly. The Peanut Bug has bright, colorful back wings that it shows when it is attacked, and the bright colors distract long enough for the   bug to escape. The Morpho Butterfly has very shiny wings, so when it is chased by birds, it reflects the sunlight and makes it hard for the birds to follow it.
   ——《新托福真题详解——口语分卷（第一册）第二版》
   
参考答案是一份优秀答案。它在第一句话中就清楚地解释 了到底什么是“revealing coloration”（警戒色）。第二句话对于 什么是警戒色进行展开，事实上这也是阅读材料中所提及的东西。随后就清楚地描述了听力材料中的两个例子到底是如何印 证我们的定义的。“Peanut Bug”和“Morpho Butterfly”都是将 定义重新使用了一遍。其实这个题目考查的就是我们的复述能 力，即课本中的定义和老师的解释是否能在最后的复述过程中 有所表达，是否能将老师讲的东西和课本中所描述的概念结合 在一起进行理解和分析。第 3 题就是模拟了这样的学习过程。