Professional Documents
Culture Documents
TOEFL Outlines # 1 - 50
TOEFL Outlines # 1 - 50
I. There are many reasons people attend college or university. Some attend in order to prepare for a career. Others
attend for personal fulfillment and still others attend in order to make more money in the job market.
IV. Some attend in order to make more money in the job market
a. If one has specialized skills, one can make more money in the job market (example: computer
programming skills)
b. One may need more education in order to get promoted in his/her job
V. In short, people attend college for many reasons some of which include the desire to prepare for a career,
personal fulfillment and financial rewards.
I. Movies and television influence peoples behavior in a number of ways. The negative ways television
influences peoples behavior is through advertisements and violent programs. Ads compel people to buy things
they may not need and violent programs sometimes cause young people to become violent. On the other hand,
the good influence is that people can learn new things from movies and television.
II. Advertisements compel people to buy things they may not need. Example:
a. Those who buy camping equipment and then never go camping.
b. Someone who buys a new car but cant really afford it.
c. Someone who buys a new computer even though his or her old computer works fine.
V. In conclusion, television and movies influence behavior in both positive and negative ways.
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I. There are those who enjoy living in a small town and others who enjoy living in a big city. I, personally, prefer
to live in a small town. Small towns are more personal; they are easier to get around in and people tend to be
friendlier.
III. Small towns are easier to get around in than big cities
a. You can often ride a bicycle across town
b. If there are buses, the rides are not long because the town is small
c. There is less traffic
V. In conclusion, I prefer to live in a small town to a big city. I enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and the friendships
that develop more easily than in a big city. I will continue to live in a small town.
I. Universities should not give the same amount of money to students sports activities as they give to
university libraries. Libraries should receive more money because all students can benefit from libraries
whereas only a few benefit from sports activities.
V. In conclusion, universities should spend more money on libraries than on sports activities because libraries
benefit more people and libraries are more important to students futures than sports activities.
I. People enjoy visiting museums when they travel. Some of the reasons are because you can learn new things, see
interesting exhibits and learn about other cultures.
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a. For example: animal exhibits give information about the lives and habits of the animals.
b. Military exhibits provide information about wars.
c. Art museums give information about the artist.
V. Museums provide people with a view of life they cant find in their own environment. A museum provides both
entertainment and education.
I. There are people who prefer to eat out at restaurants and others who would rather eat at home. I prefer to eat at
home because it is cheaper, faster and more nutritious.
V. In short, I prefer to eat at home because I can save money, eat quickly and eat well.
I. Our neighbors are important people in our lives. The qualities of a good neighbor should include: someone
whom you can trust, someone whom you can talk to, and someone with whom you have something in common.
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c. Small talk about the weather
V. People who live next to each other as neighbors should get along well; they should trust each other, talk to one
another and have something in common.
I. If they build a new restaurant in my neighborhood, I will support the plan. I will support the plan because the
restaurant will provide jobs and give us more options for places to eat.
III. The restaurant will give us more options for places to eat
a. We have only five good restaurants in town, another one will give more variety
b. Restaurants are not only for eating...but also for meeting and socializing
c. Two of the restaurants serve food which is not great...a new one will probably be better.
V. In short, if they want to build a restaurant in my town, I will support the plan because it will enhance the town
and provide more jobs.
I. If I received a gift of money and could spend it on either a piece of jewelry or tickets to a concert, I would buy a
piece of jewelry. I would buy the jewelry because it lasts longer than a concert; it can be given away and it becomes
more valuable over time.
V. In short, I would buy a piece of jewelry rather than go to a concert if I had the choice. Jewelry is longer lasting
and more valuable.
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TOEFL question #10:
Some people believe that university students should be required to attend classes. Others believe that going to
classes should be optional for students. Which point of view do you agree with? Use specific reasons and details to
support your answer.
I. There are those people who believe that university students should be required to go to classes and those who feel
that classes should be optional. I feel students should be required to go to classes and there are a number of reasons
I feel this way.
III. Students should get the entire university experience not just part of it.
a. If students dont go to class, they are not getting all the experiences they should
b. If they only get notes from a classmate about the class, they are not doing their fair share of the work
c. If students dont want to go to class, they should not enroll in university
IV. In short, university students enter university in order to get an education. They should be required to go to class
because this is the main focus of their education. They cannot get all the information they need if they do not attend
classes.
I. Important qualities of a good boss include someone who trusts you to do a good job, someone who gives you
encouragement and someone who lets you give your opinions about the work.
V. In short, a boss should be one who trusts his/her employees, one who gives encouragement and one who lets
others voice their opinions. With this type of boss, the company will be successful.
I. Being truthful is important, but I feel that sometimes it is better not to tell the truth. There are several reasons I
feel this way.
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II. You could hurt someones feelings
a. For example: you dont like someones new shirt or new haircut but if you tell that person, s/he will feel
bad. It is not necessary to tell the truth.
b. For example: if you dont want to go to the movie with someone because you always have to pay, it
may be better not to tell the whole truth.
V. To conclude, it is sometimes better not to tell the truth. Everyone must decide under which circumstances the
truth should or should not be told and have good reasons for making that decision.
I. Organizations are important to people for a number of reasons. Some people like the structure of an organization.
Others like the friendly atmosphere and still others enjoy the activities they do with the organization or group.
V. In conclusion, people enjoy groups and organizations for many different reasons. Most people enjoy the
structure, the other people in the group and the activities that are offered through the organization.
I. Often students want to study at university outside their home countries. There are many reasons students choose
to do this. Some of the reasons include: prestige, scholarship, and necessity.
II. Prestige
a. To get a college degree from a university outside their home country may be prestigious for students.
b. Students may get a better education outside their home country.
c. Students may get more money in their job if they have a degree from outside the country.
III. Scholarship
a. Some students may get scholarships to study abroad
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b. Some students may pay less to study abroad
c. Some students may feel the programs are better abroad
IV. Necessity
a. Some students may not be accepted to a home country university
b. Some students may have no other choice but to study abroad
c. Some students may feel it is necessary to get the best education
V. In short, students study abroad for a number of reasons. Most students get a good education wherever they go if
they are determined to succeed in their studies.
I. Staying healthy is important. I stay healthy by eating well, doing lots of exercise and getting plenty of sleep.
V. In short, I am very healthy because I eat well, exercise everyday and sleep well. People need to have good habits
in order to stay healthy.
I. People all over the world enjoy movies. There are many reasons movies are popular. They offer an escape, they
provide entertainment and they are generally available everywhere.
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V. In short, there are many reasons that people enjoy movies. They provide entertainment for some and an escape
for others. They all you to dream and show you worlds you might not otherwise see.
I. Each generation is unique. My parents generation is different from my generation in many ways such as:
employment, dress, and values.
II. Employment
a. In my parents generation, the husband usually worked and the wife did not. In my generation, 75% of
wives work.
b. There were many more small, locally owned businesses in my parents generation, now there are many
more large corporations.
III. Dress
a. My parents dressed more conservatively...shirts and ties, long dresses. In my generation, people wear
anything...short shorts, tight jeans, etc.
b. In my parents generation, they had to dress up for work but in my generation, more casual dress is
usually the norm.
IV. Values
a. My parents value things like eating dinner together, taking a drive in the country, going to a movie
together or attending church.
b. In my generation, people are more materialistic and value things: computers, stereos, cars, big houses,
and nice yards.
V. In short, there are a number of differences in my parents generation and in my generation. However, that does
not mean one is better than the other...they are just different.
I. If I could visit any country in the world for two weeks, I would choose to go to Switzerland. There are many
reasons for this choice.
II. History
a. My ancestors come from Switzerland and I would like to see where they lived
b. I could learn more about the history of the country by visiting & see important places
III. Beauty
a. Switzerland is mountainous and I enjoy going to the mountains
b. There are lots of green valleys and high mountains
V. In conclusion, I would like to visit Switzerland to learn more about my own history. I could learn about my
ancestors; how they lived, their customs and culture.
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I. People often remember gifts they were given when the gift was given for a special occasion. They also remember
gifts because of the person who gave the gift or because of the meaning of the gift itself.
V. There are many reasons that people remember the gifts they receive. The gift may not be the most important
thing. It may be the person who gave the gift of the occasion for the gift. Whatever the reason, gifts are fun to
receive but even more fun to give.
I. There are good reasons to take a vacation and equally good reasons to buy a car. After comparing the two, I
would advise my friend to take a vacation rather than to buy a car.
II. Longevity
a. A car will last about 8 10 years but the memories of a vacation will last a lifetime.
III. Experience
a. A car will take you many places and give you many interesting experiences but a vacation will take you
to places that a car cannot and allow you to learn about other cultures.
IV. Cost
a. A car will cost you more than the purchase price...you need to do maintenance, fill it with gas and keep it
in good condition but the cost of a vacation will not increase after you have finished the vacation.
V. In conclusion, a vacation will last much longer than a car and cost less overall. My friend should choose to take
a vacation that will last a lifetime. As for transportation, he can take the bus!
I. There are schools which require school uniforms and those which do not. I feel that school uniforms should be
required. Uniforms give all students equality, identity and pride.
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a. All students do not have the same financial resources and cant afford expensive clothes. Uniforms
make it more equal among the rich and poor students.
b. For example: Student may want to wear designer clothes which some can afford but others cant. It
would be very obvious who was poor and who was not.
V. Overall, I think wearing uniforms is a good thing. Students can feel equal to one another. They can feel a sense
of identity and pride that they wouldnt be able to feel as well if they didnt wear uniforms.
I. I feel that people are rarely satisfied with what they have. Most people strive to have more or better things. For
some people that means a better lifestyle, better material possessions or a better job.
V. In conclusion, I think people are never really satisfied with their lives. Many feel their lives could always be
better and they look for ways to improve their lives.
I. Some people enjoy doing activities indoors and other people enjoy doing activities outdoors. I prefer to spend my
free time outdoors because I enjoy outdoor activities more than indoor activities. I enjoy the outdoor atmosphere
and I can get better exercise outdoors.
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b. For example: riding my bike, playing soccer, and playing tennis
V. In conclusion, I prefer being outdoors. There are many outdoor activities that I enjoy and being in nature makes
me feel comfortable and alive.
I. Giving a present to a child is an opportunity to help that child develop. When I give a gift to a child I usually give
a book. A book can teach lessons; it can help a child learn to read and it can help a child learn about others.
V. In conclusion, I enjoy giving a book to a child when I give a gift. I think it is one of the best ways for a child to
learn about the world and develop a good sense of self.
I. Natural resources are something that we all need, but many are disappearing. In my opinion, forests need to be
saved because they provide a home for animals, resources for people and beauty.
IV. Beauty
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a. Forests are beautiful to look at and walk through
b. For example: hike in the forest, look at all the flowers
c. For example: take photographs
V. In short, forests are a natural resource that must be saved because they provide so much good for so many people
and animals.
I. People make decisions in different ways. Some do so quickly and others take a lot of time. I do not believe that
you must always take a lot of time making a decision. Sometimes it is better to make a quick decision.
V. In conclusion, it is wise to think through important decisions but you should not always have to take a lot of time
making decisions. Sometimes the best decisions are the ones you make spontaneously.
I. I live in a big city and there are many options for traveling. If I had to travel 64 kilometers from my home I could
choose a car, a train or a bus. I would choose my own car for several reasons.
IV. I trust myself more than the bus driver or train conductor
a. If I drive myself, I am in control. If I take a bus or train, someone else is in control and I dont know if
that person has been drinking, is depressed, etc. I feel safer if I drive.
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b. I prefer to drive in varying weather conditions because I dont like to be a passenger in these conditions.
I feel that I have no control over the vehicle.
V. In short, I would take my own car if I had to travel far from my home. It is quicker, cheaper, more convenient
and safer than either a bus or a train.
I. People experience stress in their daily lives. There are many ways to alleviate stress, but I think the best ways
include reading and walking.
IV. In conclusion, people relieve stress in different ways. What is useful for one person may not be useful for
another so you should experiment and see what works best for you!
I. Teachers are important to schools and they should be good at their jobs. One way to know if they are effective is
to have students evaluate them.
II. Teachers need to be evaluated by the students who learn from them
a. Students have contact with their teachers everyday. Their evaluation would be useful to the
administration.
b. Students are honest. If a teacher is bad or if a teacher is good, students will say so
III. Teachers need to get information about their own teaching from more than one source.
a. Teachers are evaluated by administration
b. Teachers should be evaluated by students (for another opinion)
c. Perhaps teachers should even be evaluated by other teachers (for a third opinion)
V. In short, if students evaluate their teachers, everyone wins. The students give input on their teachers skills and
the teachers really understand how well they are teaching their lessons and how well their students are learning.
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I. Some people travel alone and others travel with a companion. There are pros and cons to each. I prefer to travel
with a companion. A companion provides someone to talk to, someone to share the experience with and someone to
share the cost with.
V. To conclude, I prefer to travel with a companion so I can have someone to talk to, share all the new experiences
and share the costs.
I. Peoples life expectancy is longer now than in the past. This is due to many factors. Some of the factors include:
medical advances, better food & water, more awareness of what is healthy.
V. In conclusion, people are living longer for many reasons. Many people are simply healthier than in the past and
are better educated about what will keep them healthy.
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I. I support the idea of a new shopping center being built in my neighborhood. A new shopping center will provide
jobs. It will mean that people do not have to travel a long distance to shop and it will give people a convenient
meeting place.
V. A shopping center would be good for my town. People would be able to find jobs; they would have the
convenience of shopping nearby and they would have a good place to meet friends. I definitely support the plan!
I. I feel that communication between friends and family has been destroyed due to television. Television is such a
passive activity that family and friends often forget what meaningful communication is.
V. In conclusion, television has destroyed communication between family and friends. People do not communicate
in the same way as they did before television was invented. People spend less time with family and friends and
more time with tv...this is destructive.
I. I believe that it can be very good for people to do things they do not enjoy doing. It allows people to have new
experiences, to grow as a person and to see that new things can be fun.
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a. People need to have new experiences. They may find out that what they thought they did not enjoy, they
really do enjoy.
b. For example: public speaking is difficult, but it can be good to try it
c. For example: someone is afraid of the water, but one day you may be in a situation where you have to
swim (to save someone)
V. To conclude, it is good to try new things, even things you think you will not like because you will usually be
surprised. Doing things you dont like to do means you are an open, adventurous person which is better than being a
dull, uninteresting person.
I. I live in a very nice city and there are many wonderful things about my city. My friend is planning to move here
very soon. I know that she will enjoy the cultural activities and the outdoor sports, but she will not like the summer
and winter weather.
V. In short, my city has a lot to offer. There are many cultural activities and outdoor activities, but some people will
not like the hot summers and the cold winters. Overall, one gets used to the negative things because there are so
many positive things.
I. Many people like to spend their money when they earn it and other like to save their money for the future. In my
opinion, it is good to enjoy a small amount of money when you earn it and save a larger amount for the future.
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II. People need to enjoy their money
a. Spend money for entertainment, new clothes or material goods...within reason (dont spend too much)
b. If you dont enjoy some of your money when you earn it, you will live a dull life
c. It is good to budget money for necessities (rent and clothing) and for fun things (vacations)
IV. To conclude, people need to budget their money and spend it wisely. The majority of ones earnings should be
kept for the future, but one should also enjoy some of their money when they earn it.
I. I believe that face-to-face communication is better than other forms of communication. It is more personal, more
effective and more honest.
V. In short, face-to-face communication is better than other forms of communication. Most people have more
personal, effective and honest conversations when they meet face-to-face.
I. There are many kinds of movies. Some are serious and thought-provoking while others are pure entertainment.
Both kinds of movies are interesting, but I prefer those which amuse and entertain for a number of reasons.
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IV. When I go to the movies, I want to be entertained. I do not want to have to think too deeply about the plot or the
characters. I like being able to laugh and relax when I see a movie and that is why I prefer light movies to
heavy movies.
I. People dress differently in different situations and I believe that the way they dress affects their behavior. There
are several reasons why I feel this is true.
VI. There is an expression, Clothes make the man. This means that how one dresses affects how one behaves. I
definitely think there is a connection between what one wears and how one acts.
I. There are those people who enjoy doing work by hand and others who enjoy using machines. I prefer to do work
using machines because they tend to be faster, more accurate and make the job easier.
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V. In short, I prefer to use machines than to work by hand because machines are faster, more accurate and make the
job easier. The time that I save can be spent doing things I really enjoy.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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.
V. In conclusion, money is not the only measure of success. There are many people who have little money who are
also successful.
I. The qualities of a good parent should include being a good listener, a good provider and a good role model.
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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
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.
I. There are those students who like to study alone and others who like to study with a group. In general, I prefer to
study with a group because you can get many different perspectives, you can share the work and you can feel more
confident.
V. In short, studying with a group can be very beneficial. I, personally, enjoy getting different opinions, sharing the
work and feeling more confident.
I. In order to improve the community where I live, I will choose to clean up the environment. There are many
reasons for my choice. I want to improve the appearance of my community. I feel a sense of pride in helping to
clean up and community involvement is important.
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b. I like my town and I want it to look nice
c. You feel good when you do something for others
V. To conclude, I would help clean up my community in order to enhance the appearance of the community, get a
sense of pride and feel involved. I think it is important to care about the community in which you live.
I. Complaining about a product or service is necessary sometimes. It is never easy to do this. I prefer to complain
in writing because I can be clearer and I feel more comfortable when I write my complaint.
IV. In conclusion, complaining is not easy and that is why I prefer to complain in writing rather than in person.
When I write, I can choose my words carefully and I feel more comfortable.
I. When students enter university they have many housing options. There are advantages to living in a dormitory
and there are advantages to living in an apartment. I would prefer to live in an apartment for a number of reasons.
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IV. Overall, I prefer to live in an apartment because I can be more independent. I can cook for myself, have more
space, not have so many people around and do more things for myself.
I. People work for many reasons. The main reason is that they need money in order to live. Other reasons that
people work are to feel a sense of accomplishment and to contribute to society.
IV. In short, people work for many reasons. Besides the need to earn money, people also work to get a sense of
accomplishment and to contribute to society. Working makes people feed needed and useful.
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