[TOEFL] Task 6_Practice 2_1

LECTURE READING

I will read aloud the lecture below. Please listen and take notes.

READ

Are you aware of the autonomic nervous system? It is the part of the nervous system that works autonomously and controls certain body processes like blood pressure, pulse rate, and breathing. In this lesson, we will discuss the two main divisions of the autonomic nervous system which are the sympathetic and parasympathetic division.
Let’s start with the sympathetic division. This division prepares the body for stress and emergency situations. It automatically controls the body’s response to any noticed threats. This division is associated with the fight or flight response. The fight or flight response represents the options that people have when they are in danger. The options are dealing with the threat (fight) or running away to safety (flight). When someone is frightened, the heartbeat accelerates and the breathing becomes faster. This is to provide enough energy and oxygen to the body as it responses to danger.
Next, the parasympathetic division. This division keeps the body at rest. This division is responsible for storing and conserving the body’s energy not for immediate but for future use. It slows down the pulse rate and starts the digestion. This division is associated with the rest and digest function. The rest and digest represents the time when the blood pressure decreases, the pulse rate slows down and the digestion starts as the body is at rest. It controls the body processes during ordinary situations. For example, wanting to relax on a weekend while watching your favorite television show on a comfortable chair calls for the rest and digest function.

READING PRACTICE

Now, please read aloud the lecture above.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Please answer the questions using the information and examples from the lecture.
1. What is the professor talking about in the lecture?
2. What is the main idea of the lecture?
3. What are the two supporting ideas introduced in the lecture?
4. Please explain the first supporting idea using the example given.
5. Please explain the second supporting idea using the example given.
6. Please explain what you learned through this lecture.

ANSWER

1. The professor is talking about
2. According to the professor,
3. The professor presents
4. First, the professor
5. Second, the professor
6. Through this short lecture, I learned

CHECK YOUR ANSWERS

We will check the sample answers. Please repeat after me.

SAMPLE ANSWERS

1. What is the professor talking about in the lecture?
The professor is talking about the autonomic nervous system and what it does.
2. What is the main idea of the lecture?
According to the professor, the autonomic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that works autonomously and controls certain body processes.
3. What are the two supporting ideas introduced in the lecture?
The professor presents the two main divisions of the autonomic nervous system which are the sympathetic and parasympathetic division.
4. Please explain the first supporting idea using the example given.
First, the professor provides the example of a person feeling frightened to explain how the sympathetic division works and what it really does. He explains that the sympathetic division is associated with the fight or flight response which gives people two options when facing threats.
5. Please explain the second supporting idea using the example given.
Second, the professor provides the examples of a person relaxing on a weekend while watching his/her favorite television show on a comfortable chair. He explains that the parasympathetic division is associated with the rest and digest function.
6.
Please explain what you learned through this lecture.
Through this short lecture, I learned that the sympathetic division is responsible for the body’s response to noticed threats or danger. It provides immediate usage of energy. I also learned that the parasympathetic division is responsible for the state of the body being at rest when not detecting any threats at present. It stores energy not for immediate but for future use.