This is a new TOEFL iBT Writing test for you to practice and prepare for TOEFL Test 2018. The test format and timing are set exactly like in real TOEFL iBT test.
You should write your own essay, then compare it with sample essay to check how well you’ve written. The video also provides rater’s comments on the essays, so you can check how your essay is scored.
Practicing on these TOEFL tests helps raise your score in the TOEFL Writing Section. This is also a great exercise to practice writing and listening English in general.
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* READING PASSAGE
Fair elections depend on voting systems that best show which candidate is favored among the public. For this reason, many people have proposed that a computerized voting system which could be completed over the Internet be implemented. There are several advantages to using computerized voting systems rather than traditional voting systems.
First, computerized voting systems are much safer than using paper ballots. At every election, much care has to be taken in order to properly handle paper ballots. Unfortunately, the current system allows many opportunities for dishonesty. For example, someone could easily add extra ballots to an election when dealing with paper voting systems. Basically, computerized voting systems eliminate most of the chances for human errors, making voting safe, accurate, and reliable.
Second, the proposed system is much more affordable than the use of paper ballots. The current voting system requires thousands of ballots to be printed out on paper. The sheer volume of ballots needed makes this a very expensive task. However, a computerized voting system does not use any paper at all. Therefore, governments do not end up spending a fortune to produce the paper ballots, which translates into huge savings.
Finally, computerized voting systems result in fewer lost votes. Obviously, lost votes pose a big problem for elections. Unfortunately, it is very easy for a paper ballot to get lost during the craziness of an election. Additionally, some votes have to be thrown out if it is not clear which candidate the voter meant to specify. With computerized voting systems, however, all ballots are registered on an electronic database. It is impossible for computerized voting systems to lose votes.
* AUDIO SCRIPT OF LECTURE
Computerized voting systems have drawn a lot of attention recently as a possible alternative to the current paper-based systems. Many governments are currently looking into switching to the new system. However, before we change everything, I think it is important to consider some of the drawbacks of using such a system. Let me give you three examples of how computerized voting systems are bad.
First, supporters of the computerized system say that it is a lot safer than the current voting methods. But that’s not true at all. Let’s be honest: there are just as many possibilities for the system to be mishandled over the internet as on paper. If we’re going to start voting over the Internet, we have to be aware of the dangers that are present on the web. For example, hackers could completely ruin an election if they were to attack the computer- based system. A skilled hacker with a particular partiality could easily get into the system and add or subtract votes. Clearly, this is no safer than paper ballots.
Next, computerized systems aren’t actually cheaper for governments, either. En order to implement the system, a lot of expensive equipment is needed for counting and managing the electronic votes. So if a country wants to switch over, they’ll have to be willing to invest in the equipment to begin with, The expenses don’t stop there, See, these machines cost money to maintain and operate. Overall, the system would introduce an on-going expense for governments rather than saving money.
Finally, I want to clarify that it is possible for computerized systems to lose votes. In fact, they result in more lost votes than traditional paper ballots. Why? The system relies entirely on machines to sort and count votes. This is ail very nice when it’s functioning, but what happens if the machines break down. A mechanical failure would result in the loss of all the votes registered on that computer. In the end, thousands of votes could be lost from a single failure.
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FLAVIA DINIZ says
The reading passage and the lecture both discuss aspects of the two different voting systems used in elections nowadays. The author of the reading affirms that the computerized voting system is more advantageous than the traditional one, based on paper votes. The professor, however, casts doubt on each of the author´s reasons and states that the computerized voting system has many drawbacks that we need to have in mind.
First of all, the author claims that the computerized voting system is much safer than the traditional one. That is because the new system uses computer and internet to register the votes, instead of paper ballots, which avoids mistakes and the loss papers and votes. The professor, however, disagrees with this idea and points out that the internet and computerized voting system cannot be so safe as one might think. That is because there are many possibilities that can harm the process online, for example, the attack of hackers that could be adding votes to the machines, the mishandling of the machines by people. In other words, the computerized system can also be manipulated and is also vulnerable.
As a second point, the author argues that the computerized system is more affordable than the traditional system, because the traditional requires a lot of paper to be printed out. The computerized, on the other hand, requires only the machines. The professor, though, objects to this point by affirming that there is no save of money by using the computerized system. He claims that the government would spend a lot of money to buy the voting equipments, to have people manage all these electronic devices, and also, maintaining these machines in good functioning over the time costs a lot of money. Thus, government would not be saving money at all; rather, it would have more expenses with the elections.
Finally, the author defends the argument that the computerized voting system lead to fewer lost votes. Due to the fact that a paper is usually easier to be lost than a vote that is registered in an electronic machine. The professor, on the other hand, opposes to this idea and states that the loss of votes also happens in the computerized voting system. He says that sometimes the machines can get broken, collapse, and cause all the registered votes to be lost. Thus, it is very dangerous also to rely on only one machine to have all the votes, since electronic problems on the machine can occur.
Omid Al-Ghani says
Guys what do you think of my essay…
The author and the lecturer both are about traditional paper vote and computerize vote system.
First, The author suggest computerize voting system is more beneficial and reliable then traditional vote system, he says dishonesty around the world is on peak easily people can cheat on paper ballots vote system they can add or subtract to their chosen candidate. The lecturer challenge the argument. He says, well skills hacker can easily mishandle the vote, furthermore, it can cause huge lost in election compare to paper ballets vote system.
Second, the writer contend that computerize eliminate most of human being chances safe, accurate, and reliable; the article notes, paper votes requires a lots of hard work in of printing and division all these staff. The lecturer, however rebut this by asserting computerize voting system is not cheap either, purchasing new equipment’s latter on installing software it cost enormous budget to the government, he elaborates the by mentioning, the expenses have not stop here latter on you will be keep tracking of maintenance.
Finally, it is state in the article lots of vote can disappear through traditional paper vote system compare to computerize vote system, computer simply connect with database and easily computer can transfer whole package of data at once. The author establish that what if the paper ballots cause any damages, therefore, it cause losing of all votes. The lecturer on the other posits that, computer, server with the database what if all are they breakdown and crash all data at once, he puts forth the idea that on paper vote system or traditional vote system you will note lose all of your data, computerize vote system may cause colossal damage to the election.
Alan Marruenda says
Could someone rate my answer? Please!
The set of materials talk about a computerized voting system. It means that elections could be done on the Internet. On one hand, the author of the passage thinks that it would bring several advantages over the traditional voting systems, for example, a computerized voting system would be safer, more affordable, and fewer votes would be lost. On the other hand, during the lecture, the professor was challenging the passage arguments.
First, the passage states that the traditional voting system allows human errors, and dishonesty. While a computerized voting system eliminates those drawbacks, making voting safer, more accurate, and more reliable. However, the lecturer thinks that it is not true at all. The computerized voting system could be mishandled, and even more dangerous, hackers could easily modify the results.
Second, the text establishes that a computer voting system is much more affordable than using paper ballots. In contrast, the professor pointed out the expenses behind changing the traditional based on paper ballots voting system for a computerized system. It would result on buying expensive equipment to manage and count the votes, as well as maintenance expenses.
Finally, the author of the passage asserts that a computerized voting system will result in fewer lost votes, both from management errors and unclear votes. The lecturer thinks that a mechanical failure would not only result in a single lost vote, but a thousand votes.
Dima Atalla says
In this set of material, the reading passage and the lecture discuss fair election. While the reading passage states the traits of computerized voting system, the lecture refuses that by the wider disadvantages of it.
First of all, the reading passage claims that computerized voting system is safer and is less likely to be inaccurate as it is quiet easy to add any extra ballets in traditional voting systems. However, the lecture refutes that by pointing that webs can be mishandled and get hacked by a skilled hackers through adding or subtracting votes.
In addition, the reading part makes an argument that the computerized voting system is more affordable by illustrating that the government will not be printing thousands of ballots. The lecture counters this by stating that it is not true, as the government will first have to plan, implement the system and then start investing a new equipment which will take more time and expense.
Lastly, the reading passage argues that it could reduce lost votes. Some ballots can get lost with the craziness of the condition or the ballot can be thrown away if it is not clear which candidate the person is voting for. The lecture refutes this claim by pointing out that computerized voting systems could lose more votes because it all relies on machines. Moreover, the professor adds that one single mechanism failure can lost thousands of votes.
Jiri says
Thank you very much for these uploads. I am helping prepare a hearing-impaired student for the TOEFL test and it is very hard to find the integrated task audio transcript for him to practice with. As he can only lip-read, he obviously needs the transcript to take the test. Once again, thank you!
Abhiruchi Jain says
The reading and lecture are both about the Computerized Voting System vs. Paper Ballot Voting System. Both discussed pros and cons of each method of voting. The author of the reading favored the Computerized Voting System(C.V.S) and believes that this system of voting is more good than the Paper Ballot System. The lecturer casts doubt on the claim made in the article. He thinks that the Computerized Voting System is not that effective and he points out some drawbacks of the C.V.S. He supported paper ballot system.
First of all, the author claims that using C.V.S is much safer than using the paper ballots as it eliminates the chances of human errors by making voting safe, accurate and reliable .He believed that there are less chances of tampering in C.V.S than that of the paper ballot system. This point is challenged by the lecturer. She says that even the Computerized Voting System can be mishandled. Furthermore, she added that there are chances of hacking by the skilled hackers who could add or subtract the votes in the Computer based voting system.
Secondly, the author states that the C.V.S is more affordable that the Paper Ballot System. He argues that Paper ballot mode requires the thousands of Ballots to be printed on paper which costs a lot of money. The lecturer rebuts this argument. He suggests that the C.V.S. is more expensive than the Paper Ballot System because it requires lots of expensive equipment for voting and that would cost more money. She elaborates on this by mentioning that the operation and maintenance of the electronic devices can cost a lot of money to government in making arrangements for this.
Finally, the author mentions that the C.V.S would result in fewer lost votes. He is of the opinion, that a lot of votes gets lost in the craziness of election in a paper ballot system which can be avoided by bringing C.V.S. The lecturer, on the other hand, states that this is not true. He puts forth the idea that there are chances of losing votes in C.V.S too, as the machines are not that reliable and can break down by mechanical failure causing thousands of votes to get lost.
In conclusion, the lecturer effectively casts doubt on all the claims and theories presented in the reading.
이승주 says
can you give me feedback for my essay?
Both the writer and the professor discuss about the issue of switching voting system from paper-based to electronic one. while the writer lists several potential advantages of the online voting system, the professor claims that there are critical risks in the electronic voting system.
First, the writer argues that the electronic voting system, which saves the voting data on the online database, is less vulnerable to either human errors or hands of corruption. However, the professor explains that the online system is even less secure than the traditional one. Then he elaborates this idea by mentioning that hackers can distort the voting data in the online database.
Next, the writer contends that the automatic voting system, which is managed by the computer, costs less than the traditional system that requires a lot of papers. On the other hand, the professor counter this argument by explaining that the new system would cost more than the current system. In fact, machines to oversee the voting process themselves are expensive more than the sum of the voting papers. Furthermore, the professor points out that it would require maintenance fee also.
Lastly, the writer asserts that there is no risk of missing votes, especially for unclear notes on the paper. Whereas, the professor concerns the malfunctioning of the machines, which would eventually lead to total loss of voting data.
hricha aryal says
please rate my answer
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The reading and the lecture both are about the use of computerized voting system which could be used as the alternative to the traditional voting system. The author of the reading suggests that computerized voting system completed over the Internet should be implemented and draws its advantages in three reasons. The lecturer casts doubts on each claim made in the article. He believes that computerized voting system has many flaws.
To begin with, the author believes that computerized voting system is safer than voting by using ballot papers. It eliminates chances for the human error, and also avoids the mischief of the voters who intend to vote twice. He notes that the votes become safe, accurate and reliable. The lecturer rebuts this argument. He posits that votes handled over the internet are susceptible to the hackers. Further, the hackers can add or subtract the votes. Thus, the computerized voting system is no longer reliable.
Secondly, the reading claims that electronic voting system can reduce the great cost of the government for the elections. He describes that large amount of ballot papers should not be printed and this minimizes the cost of the government. There is a huge saving. This point is challenged by the lecturer. He mentions that computerized voting system is rather expensive. The government has to buy the expensive electronic equipments. It also adds costs to maintain and operate those equipments. So, this doesn’t save money at all.
Finally, the author contends that computerized voting system can decrease the number of lost votes during the election. He elaborates that votes are registered in the electronic database and it is impossible to lose votes. The lecturer, on the other hand, believes that votes are not safe when the system breaks out. The system is always vulnerable to mechanical failure so this can lead to lose large number of votes.
muhammad kashif says
splendid