TOEFL Q1: Good Friend

DIRECTIONS

In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over question one from the TOEFL speaking test. Read
the question below out loud with the tutor.

What do you think are the most important qualities of a friend in a strong relationship? Include
specific details and reasons in your response.

Preparation time: 15 seconds l Response time: 45 seconds

WARM-UP

Choose a question at random from the list below. Answer the question right away without
making notes. Try to speak for at least 10 seconds.

● What do you like most about your best friend? ​My best friend is Jim. He is my classmate
and is very kind to everyone.
● What is one thing you would change about your best friend?
● What are some things you talk about with your friends?

BRAINSTORM
Use the following pointers as a guideline to refine your answer.

1. Introduction
○ There are many important qualities that a friend must have, but there are two
things that I care about the most.
2. Come up with supporting ideas
○ be able to keep secrets
○ always there to help
○ is trustworthy
○ supportive during difficult times
○ always tells the truth
○ shares common interest
3. Come up with details to explain two of your supporting ideas
○ trustworthiness: ​I want to be able to share many things from my life with my friend
○ common interest: ​I want to enjoy spending time with my friend

SAMPLE ANSWER

Reading great sample answers is one way to improve. Go over the sample answer with your
tutor. Ask questions if you have any.

Sample Answer

There are many important qualities that a friend must have, but there are two things that I care
about the most. First is trustworthiness. I want to be able to share many things from my life, but I
can only do that when I can trust him or her. Another important quality is having common
interests. I want to be able to enjoy spending time with my friend, and having an activity or
interest we both appreciate is important.

FURTHER STUDY
Got more time? Here is a list of common vocab words related to the text you studied today. Go
over each one with your tutor.

Additional Expressions

dependable (adj) able to be trusted to

do or provide what is
needed : able to be
depended on

e.g. He’s the team’s most

dependable​ [=consistent]
player.

loyal (adj) having or showing

complete and constant
support for someone or
something

e.g. She has provided the

company with many years
of loyal service.

genuine (adj) actual, real, or true :

not false or fake
 e.g. The signature is
genuine.​ [=authentic]

forgiving (adj) able or willing to

forgive someone or
something

e.g. He is a person with a

forgiving​ nature.

judgmental (adj) ​disapproving​: tending

to judge people too quickly
and critically

e.g. He’s ​judgmental​ about

everyone except himself.

sensitive (adj) easily upset by the

things that people think or
say about you

e.g. He acts like a tough

guy, but he’s really very
sensitive​ to criticism.
generous (adj) freely giving or
sharing money and other
valuable things

​ enerous​ with
e.g. He was g
both his time and his
money.

encouraging (adj) causing a hopeful

feeling

e.g. We’ve just heard some

encouraging​ news.

root for someone (idiom) support

e.g. Best friends always

root for​ each other.

sympathetic (adj) feeling or showing

concern about someone
who is in a bad situation :
having or showing feelings
of sympathy
e.g. He received much help
from ​sympathetic​ friends.