今天跟大家來談一談托福口語task 1的思路問題。很多同學準備托福口語考試的時候容易忽視這個題型，覺得答題好壞全靠考場上的感覺和狀態。可真正到了考場上，卻經常苦于沒有思路，無法開口，有時候甚至用中文都不知怎樣回答。
　　先來看一個task 1的考題，Describe the famous person you admire most. Explain why you admire this person. Include details and examples to support your response. (TOFEL ibt 08.06.22) 這是一個people類的考題，我們拿到一個題目后，腦海中應該立刻浮現出最基本的答題框架： topic sentence + supporting ideas. Topic sentence是比較容易想的，甚至是可以虛構的，所以問題就落在supporting ideas的思路上。描述一個人，最容易的角度便是這個人內在的qualities. 如：humorous, open-minded, easy-going, warm-hearted, community-minded, high driven, visionary, knowledgeable… 有了這些點之后，我們要想辦法把點變成線，也就是把一個觀點擴充成一到兩個句子。我們可以用描述的方法去講這個觀點同意轉換，如‘he’s a very open-minded person and he’s always flexible to changes. 同時我們還可以用舉例的方法來進行擴展，如 ‘He’s a high-driven guy and he worked so hard on his Toefl test, study almost 24/7.’
　　再來看一類task 1 的考題：Choose an object you like and explain why it is of special value to you. Please include specific examples and details in your explanation. (TOFEL ibt 08.02.24)，這道題屬于物品題，物品的題目也是一個常考點，但是準備的面比較廣，可能會出成：a type of pet (Longman p.52)，a kind of game (Longman p.72)，your important gift (Longman p.64)，咱們可以從兩個角度去答題：對物品本身的簡單描述 + 物品的來源或是重要意義，如描述寵物可以說: ‘ coz he keeps me company, when I was sad, he was always by my side.’ 又如描述禮物可以說: ‘ The psp was a gift from my Grandpa, it was a credit to my hard work on the SAT test.’
　　再來看一類task1 的考題，If you could live abroad, where would you go? Explain why you would go there. (Longman p.42)。 地方題目也是常考題型，變換方式相對較少，比如有：the city you live (Longman p.31)，a city you have always wanted to go (TOFEL ibt 08.02.02)，your favorite place when you were a child (TOFEL ibt 08.03.08)等等。地點題的答題思路為：景色，飲食，高雅休閑場所，教育，就業機會。如果說美國，景色可以描述national park, the beauty of nature well preserved, 飲食可以說dessert, I’ve got a sweet tooth, 如說高雅休閑場所，可以說Broadway, or NBA games，教育可以談美國的大學，就業機會可以談美國的500 fortunes. 再比如如果講蘇州，景色可以說gardens，well preserved ancient building, 就業機會可以講講蘇州工業園，SIP，provides a lot of job and internship opportunities for graduates…
　　第四類常考的題目是event類，來看一個例題：What is the most memorable event you experienced in your life? Explain why it is memorable. (Longman p.50)，類似的事件題的關鍵形容詞可以換為：embarrassing (Longman p.70)， challenging (TOFEL ibt 07.03.03)，disappointing (TOFEL ibt 08.03.30)，hard (TOFEL ibt 08.06.17)等等。較難的題可以出成：Describe a time when you needed help from others, how he or she helped you and what was the result? Please include details and examples to support your answer. (TOFEL ibt 07.04.29)，這類題目跟個人親身經歷有關，考場上容易一時沒有思路，也很難去杜撰，所以應在考前多去回憶童年往事，同時嘗試著用英文表達出來，假如實在無法勾起美好的回憶，那就去杜撰吧, 注意是考前練習時杜撰，千萬別到了考場上再去杜撰。
　　以上四類是托福口語task 1考察頻率最高的四大類，當然還有其他類別的一些考題，如工作職業類（這類主要是關于人生的目標，職業的選擇，工作的興趣等等），學校教育類，new skill you would like to learn (TOFEL ibt 08.01.19)，文化娛樂類，這類題目涉及到文化、藝術、娛樂等生活中常見的題材。比如：a book that you want to read again (Longman p.58)，an important composition, example: essay, poem, letter (TOFEL ibt 08.05.17)，a TV program that you really like to watch (Longman p.54)，a type of music you like most (Longman p.56)等等，需要考生在考前花大量的時間去整理思路，只有做到有備無患，在能在考場上胸有成竹，口若懸河。