The Writing section tests your ability to write essays in English similar to those that you would write in college courses.

INTEGRATED ESSAY "’THE TURING TEST"
First, read the passage on page 199 and take notes.
Model Test 2, Writing Section, Audio-04, Track 2
Narrator: Now listen to a lecture on the same topic as the passage that you have just read.
Professor:
   Philosopher John Searle has challenged the validity of the Turing Test because it’s premised on behavior rather than on thought. To prove his argument, he’s suggested a paradox, which he refers to as the Chinese Room. If a monolingual English-speaking person receives questions on a computer terminal from a Chinese person in another room, naturally the English-speaking person won’t understand the questions. However, if there’s a large reference that can be accessed, and if the reference is detailed and comprehensible, then the English speaker could, conceivably, break the code. For example, if a sequence of Chinese characters are received, the reference could indicate which sequence of Chinese characters would be expected in response. In other words, the behavior would be correct, although the English speaker wouldn’t be thinking at a level that included meaning. The person would be manipulating symbols without understanding them, or, as Searle suggests, the person would be acting intelligent without being intelligent, which is exactly what a computer could be programmed to do.
   Therefore, at least theoretically, a computer could be designed with complex input that would allow it to provide adequate behavioral output without being aware of what it’s doing. If so, then it could pass the Turing Test. But the test itself would be meaningless because it doesn’t really answer the most basic question about artificial intelligence, which is, can the computer think?
   Example Answers and Checklists for Speaking and Writing
   Model Test 2, Example Answers, Audio-04, Track 3
   EXAMPLE ANSWER FOR INDEPENDENT SPEAKING QUESTION 1 "A BIRTHDAY" in my country, birthdays are celebrated every year but the most important birthday for a young girl is the quinceaera, the birthday when she’s fifteen. This is celebrated with a church service. The girl wears a white dress, kind of like a Wedding dress, and several attendants accompany her to the altar where the priest talks with her about becoming an adult woman. After the service, the whole family celebrates with friends. And there’s music and dancing and food. Traditionally, only relatives and close friends are invited to the church service, but many more people attend the party afterward. Um, in the old days, the ceremony presented the girl to society for marriage proposals.., but now she’s considered the appropriate age to begin dating.
   Checklist 1
   The talk answers the topic question.
   The point of view or position is clear.
   The talk is direct and well-organized.
   The sentences are logically connected.
   Details and examples support the main idea.
   The speaker expresses complete thoughts.
   The meaning is easy to comprehend.
   A wide range of vocabulary is used.
   There are only minor errors in grammar.
   The talk is within a range of 125-150 words.
   EXAMPLE ANSWER FOR INDEPENDENT SPEAKING QUESTION 2 "COURSE REQUIREMENTS"
   I prefer to write a paper instead of taking a test because I know exactly what the topic is when I’m researching a paper, but there are a large number of possibilities for questions on a test and that makes it much more difficult to prepare for. Besides, in my experience, some teachers aren’t very straightforward about their tests, and even though I’ve studied and understand the subject, well, sometimes the questions that you would expect to see aren’t on the test and some obscure information is tested instead. But probably the most important reason for my preference is that 1 get very nervous when I’m taking a test, and that can affect my performance. Writing a paper doesn’t cause me the same level of anxiety.
   Checklist 2
   The talk answers the topic question.
   The point of view or position is clear.
   The talk is direct and well-organized.
   The sentences are logically connected.
   Details and examples support the main idea.
   The speaker expresses complete thoughts.
   The meaning is easy to comprehend.
   A wide range of vocabulary is used.
   There are only minor errors in grammar.
   The talk is within a range of 125-150 words.
   EXAMPLE ANSWER FOR INTEGRATED SPEAKING QUESTION 3 "HEALTH INSURANCE"
   The foreign student advisor agrees with the policy that requires international students to purchase health insurance from the university at registration. He assures students that the university isn’t trying to increase fees for international students by doing this. He explains that health care is very expensive. For example, a visit to the emergency room can be a financial burden to a family who doesn’t have medical insurance. He says that most families of international students don’t expect the costs to be so excessive. And the reason that the university doesn’t allow students to substitute other health care providers is because the local medical community has had problems with validation for health insurance plans from abroad and now refuses to accept them. So, um, in order to protect the students, the school doesn’t make any exceptions to the policy.
   Checklist 3
   The talk summarizes the situation and opinion.
   The point of view or position is clear.
   The talk is direct and well-organized.
   The sentences are logically connected.
   Details and examples support the opinion.
   The speaker expresses complete thoughts.
   The meaning is easy to comprehend.
   A wide range of vocabulary is used.
   Errors in grammar are minor.
   The talk is within a range of 125-150 words.
   EXAMPLE ANSWER FOR INTEGRATED SPEAKING QUESTION 4 "ANTARCTICA"
   Many countries have staked claims in Antarctica because the natural resources in other areas are being depleted and, uh, research indicates that minerals, fuels, and even some sources of protein are probably under the ice in large quantities. So, the implication is that as raw materials are exploited in areas that are relatively easy to reach, nations will think about taking advantage of their claims. For the time being, the location and climate have discouraged exploitation, and so have the treaties that protect the environment and encourage scientists to collaborate. It’s also worth mentioning that Antarctica is vitally important to the balance that’s maintained in the environment worldwide. So, in addition to all the difficulties that would have to be overcome to take advantage of the resources in their claims, individual nations also recognize the danger to the global environment and, at least for now, they’re not pursuing their national interests.
   Checklist 4
   The talk relates an example to a concept.
   Inaccuracies in the content are minor.
   The talk is direct and well-organized.
   The sentences are logically connected.
   Details and examples support the opinion.
   The speaker expresses complete thoughts.
   The meaning is easy to comprehend.
   A wide range of vocabulary is used.
   The speaker paraphrases in his/her own words.
   The speaker credits the lecturer with wording.
   Errors in grammar are minor.
   The talk is within a range of 125-150 words.
   EXAMPLE ANSWER FOR INTEGRATED SPEAKING QUESTION 5 "EXTRA MONEY"
   The woman needs additional income to meet her expenses so her friend suggests that she get a job at the cafeteria. Even though the salary isn’t very high, the free meals are helpful. He isn’t sure whether there’s a job available but he agrees to find out. He also recommends that she rent the second bedroom in her apartment for a minimum of $250 a montl~, which would subsidize the rent and utilities. The problem she points out is that roommates can be disruptive, and sometimes they aren’t financially responsible. But, she would have more time to study if she didn’t have to work and her friend reminds her that she could require an agreement in writing, along with a deposit. Okay, in my opinion, she should try to get a job either in the cafeteria or someplace else on campus because if she lives alone, she can maintain a quiet environment for study, and she won’t have to worry about a contract that could be difficult to enforce.
   Checklist 5
   The talk summarizes the problem and recommendations.
   The speaker’s point of view or position is clear.
   The talk is direct and well-organized.
   The sentences are logically connected.
   Details and examples support the opinion.
   The speaker expresses complete thoughts.
   The meaning is easy to comprehend.
   A wide range of vocabulary is used.
   Errors in grammar are minor.
   The talk is within a range of 125-150 words.
   EXAMPLE ANSWER FOR INTEGRATED SPEAKING QUESTION 6 "RESEARCH REFERENCES"
   According to the lecturer, there are two major criteria for using an older research reference. First, she mentions, and I’m quoting here, the "potential for change." For example, research on diet may be too old after thirty years because many changes have occurred in dietary practices during that time, but research on language development may be okay because fewer changes have taken place in language acquisition in the same number of years. The other criteria requires that you first identify the research as a conclusion or an opinion. Because, uh, in general, a conclusion may be outdated when a newer study is published, but an opinion credited to a person with the date of the opinion in the citation, um, that’s correct over time. In other words, there’s no exact number of years to decide whether a reference is acceptable so the date isn’t as significant as the criteria. So, an older study can be used if changes in the research haven’t taken place or if the results are worded as opinions with the dates cited.
   Checklist 6
   The talk summarizes a short lecture.
   Inaccuracies in the content are minor.
   The talk is direct and well-organized.
   The sentences are logically connected.
   Details and examples support the opinion.
   The speaker expresses complete thoughts.
   The meaning is easy to comprehend.
   A wide range of vocabulary is used.
   The speaker paraphrases in his/her own words.
   The speaker credits the lecturer with wording.
   Errors in grammar are minor.
   The talk is within a range of 125-150 words.
   EXAMPLE RESPONSE FOR INTEGRATED ESSAY "THE TURING TEST"
   Some writers begin with an outline and others begin with a map of their ideas. Only the essay will be scored.
   Outline
   Turing Test—1950
   ?People interact w/something
   In another room
   Questions microphone or computer
   Response voice synthesizer or text
   ?Evaluate
   Person or computer
   Wrong or can’t decide→
   Machine passed Turing Test
   Lecturer
   Premised on behavior, not thought
   Chinese Room—John Searle
   Questions in Chinese
   Reference
   Correct behavior
   Symbols w/o comprehension
   Map
   Checklist for Integrated Essay
   The essay answers the topic question.
   Inaccuracies in the content are minor.
   The essay is direct and well-organized.
   The sentences are logically connected.
   Details and examples support the main idea.
   The writer expresses complete thoughts.
   The meaning is easy to comprehend.
   A wide range of vocabulary is used.
   The writer paraphrases in his/her own words.
   The writer credits the author with wording.
   Errors in grammar and idioms are minor.
   The essay is within a range of 150-225 words.
   EXAMPLE RESPONSE FOR INDEPENDENT ESSAY "FAMILY PETS"
   Outline
   Outline
   Agree that pets should be treated like family members
   Children—learn how to care for brother, sister
   Couple—substitute for babies
   Disabled, elderly—help, caring like family members
   Every stage in life
   Map