Integrated task for the TOEFL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hKJTJv4bjY
My response:
The reading passage presents some flaws in the current voting system in the United States, and states that is is inefficient and inaccurate system for vote counting. However, the lecturer casts doubt on each of the points made in the reading passage and states that the computer system is not trustful.
To begin with, the reading passage mentions that the traditional system of voting is a major source of inaccuracy because people with poor eye sighting may accidentally vote for the wrong candidate as they have to find the name of the candidate on the paper. However, the lecturer asserts that humans can make mistakes using computers also. Many people may not have used computers in their lives before. They can make mistakes in voting for a candidate in a fear of using a new technology. This directly challenges the information stated in the reading passage.
In addition, the reading passage points out that the procedure of vote counting is done by humans in the old system. Thus, there are great chances of making errors by humans in this process. However, the lecturer mentions that all computer programs are made by humans, so there is a possibility of making a mistake in counting by computers. Furthermore, the lecture states that there is no physical record of voting in the computer system, and if there is an error in computers calculations, it would be a big mistake. This disputes the point that is made in the reading passage.
Last but not least, the reading passage states that computer system is trust worthy as people use this system for their banking transaction and communication of the sensitive information. However, the lecturer points out that the computers system for banking is used for the daily basis, so people can trust on it. On the other hand, the computer system for voting is very new, and it is used every two years in the United States and twice a year for the local election, so we cannot trust it. This appears to be a contradiction to the assertion stated in the reading passage.
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Comments
The article introduces the…
The article introduces the topic of how the voting system in the US has been criticized. More specifically,in regard to the passage, the writer puts forth the idea of replacement of the traditional system to a more efficient computerized one in order to improve the counting process. The lecturer in the listening passage doesn't believe that a new computerized system can make the counting process any better.
In the reading, the author begins by stating that the traditional system is confusing because voters have to find the candidate’s name in a long list and since the computerized system is friendly to the user, the voters would only have to touch on the candidate’s name. The lecturer, however, disagrees by stating that a new system may be easy for technology’s regular users but not for those who can’t afford a computer or don’t use it on a daily basis.
The author also claims that it is almost inevitable to avoid mistakes during the counting process in the traditional system and recount is an expensive process that can be done by a computer with any additional cost. Not surprisingly, the lecturer believes there are flaws in the writer’s argument. The speaker holds that it is impossible to be sure that the computer won’t flaw as well once it is programmed by people. She goes on to say that people can miss a vote but computers can delete it forever, resulting in even more serious problems.
Finally, the author brings his argument to a close by saying that people who are claiming that the implementation of the computerized system is complicated should consider that this kind of system is used everyday in baking transactions. In contrast, the lecturer’s claims that because the baking system is used everyday it is easy to identify and fix the flaws. The voting system, however, is used only every four years and it takes time to develop a reliable system.
and states that is is inefficient and inaccurate system for vote counting.
and states that it is an inefficient and inaccurate system for vote counting.
flaws:
No. of Words: 346 250
Around 250 words wanted and need to remove duplicate words.
Attribute Value Ideal
Score: 24 in 30
Category: Good Excellent
No. of Grammatical Errors: 1 2
No. of Spelling Errors: 0 2
No. of Sentences: 18 12
No. of Words: 346 250
No. of Characters: 1675 1200
No. of Different Words: 152 150
Fourth Root of Number of Words: 4.344 4.2
Average Word Length: 4.705 4.6
Word Length SD: 2.518 2.4
No. of Words greater than 5 chars: 128 80
No. of Words greater than 6 chars: 84 60
No. of Words greater than 7 chars: 53 40
No. of Words greater than 8 chars: 27 20
Use of Passive Voice (%): 0 0
Avg. Sentence Length: 19.778 21.0
Sentence Length SD: 10.932 7.5
Use of Discourse Markers (%): 0.611 0.12
Sentence-Text Coherence: 0.348 0.35
Sentence-Para Coherence: 0.602 0.50
Sentence-Sentence Coherence: 0.116 0.07
Number of Paragraphs: 4 4