(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
If you are interested in studying at an American university, you have probably heard about the Test of English as a Foreign Language. The test is widely known as the TOEFL. It is the most widely used language assessment exam for American universities.
Many foreign students are frightened of the TOEFL because it is risky. Good test results on the TOEFL will open many doors. But a low TOEFL score will limit your choices for financial aid and admission to top schools. The most competitive universities generally expect an Internet-based test score of 90 or above. Others accept lower scores, and some do not require a TOEFL score at all. Most universities do not publicize an actual cutoff score, but a high score will always help.
There are two major versions of the TOEFL test. The first is the iBT, or Internet-based Test. It is offered in most of the world and accepted by nearly every university and scholarship program in the United States.
A TOEFL prep class in Boston
The other version of the test is called the Paper-based Test or PBT. It is still used in some developing countries. Scholarship programs provide money for a student to continue his or her education. Many scholarship programs will accept the PBT results when a student first asks for financial aid. However, they may require students to take the iBT before official admission. The PBT is less costly to take and does not require use of the Internet. Some businesses and government offices use the PBT to test the English language skills of their employees.
The iBT and PBT have very different structures. The main difference is that the iBT is completely online and includes questions to measure the person's ability to speak in English. The iBT also has integrated tasks. For example, listening, reading, and speaking are mixed together. The Paper-based Test does not mix the different sections. The PBT has an area to test grammar, the rules governing the use of words and phrases. The Internet-based Test does not.
If you have a choice, take the iBT if it is not too pricey. The Paper-based test is being phased out. It will eventually disappear.
Here are some tips for getting started with TOEFL:
1. Plan ahead – It takes a long time to improve your TOEFL score. Many students study just before the test. Raising your score will takes months of intensive work. Do not expect a big lift in your test results after two weeks. There is no easy way to improve your score quickly. You will have to spend a lot of time and energy.
2. Master the basics first – Many students study for the TOEFL before they are ready. You should have at least an upper-intermediate English level before you attempt the test. If you score below 500 on the PBT or 70 on the iBT, study the fundamentals for a few months and come back to the TOEFL later.
3. Get a study guide – It is easy to find study guides for the iBT. Pearson, Barron's, ETS, and Kaplan all produce quality materials. Take a practice test once or twice a month. The best study guides will have explanations in the answer key. PBT study guides are difficult to find because the test is being phased out.
4. Use outside resources – Using TOEFL practice materials all the time will make you crazy. Remember, you are learning a language, not a test. You can improve your TOEFL score by making English part of your daily life. Some simple ways are listening to podcasts, informal conversation with English speakers, watching movies and reading newspapers. Some others are reading English textbooks, sending and reading text messages in English, and writing online comments in English.
The bottom line is, the best way to do well on the TOEFL is to know English well. Do not depend on informal advice or tricks. Do not try to outwit the test maker. Think of reading, listening, speaking, writing, and grammar as a single connected concept–communication. The real goal of the test is to measure how well a student can communicate in English-speaking classroom. Immerse yourself in English on a daily basis and improvement is sure to follow.
I'm Adam Brock.
文本来自51voa，译文属可可原创，仅供学习交流使用，未经许可请勿转载。
词汇解释
1.cutoff score 录用分数线；信用评分底线
She passed the cutoff score of that college.
她过了那个大学的录取分数线。
2.fundamentals n. 基本面；基本原理（fundamental的复数）
I am prepared to make some concession on minor details, but I cannot compromise on fundamentals.
在一些细节上我可以作些让步，但在基本原则上我是不会妥协的。
3.immerse vt. 沉浸；使陷入
He immersed himself in study during the vacation.
他在假期里埋头学习。
内容解析
1.The Paper-based test is being phased out. It will eventually disappear.
phase out 使逐步淘汰；逐渐停止
They said the present system of military conscription should be phased out.
他们说现行的征兵体系应该逐步淘汰。
The agreement called for the phasing out of troops in the area.
协议要求那个地区逐步撤出军队。
参考译文
如果你想去美国大学读书，你可能听说过“检定非英语为母语者的英语能力考试”。人们一般称之为托福考试，这是美国大学使用最普遍的语言评估考试。
许多外国学生害怕托福，是因为这种考试有风险。不错的托福考试成绩能为他们打开很多大门，但托福分数低就会限制你在奖学金和进入名校的选择。最具竞争力的大学一般会要求托福网考分数在90分数或以上，其他的学校要求分数低些，有的根本不要求托福分数。大多数大学不会公布实际录取分数，但高分数总是有好处的。
托福考试主要有两个版本，一个是iBT，也就是网考托福，全世界大多数地区都能进行网考，且这种考试形式被美国各个大学和奖学金项目所接受。
这种考试的另一个版本是托福纸考，也叫PBT，目前一些发展中国家仍然使用这种考试形式。奖学金项目为学生提供继续进行学业的资金，当学生申请奖学金时总会接受纸考成绩。不过，这些学校可能会要求学生在官方录取之前进行网考。纸考的费用要低些，不需要使用互联网。有的公司和政府办公室使用纸考来衡量员工的英语水平。
网考和纸考有着非常不同的结构，主要的不同是网考完全是在线完成的，包含用来衡量考生讲英语能力的问题。网考也有综合性题目，比如听力、阅读和口语混合在一起。纸考不会将不同的结构混合在一起，纸考有考察语法的部分，也就是词汇和短语用法规则，而网考没有这个内容。
如果有条件且不觉得网考太贵，就选择网考吧。纸考将会逐步被淘汰，最终会消失的。
下面是考托福的一些建议：
1.提前计划。提高托福成绩是需要花费时间的，很多学生会考试之前才开始学习。提高分数需要进行几个月努力的学习，不要指望两周就能大大提高成绩。没有提高成绩的简单办法，必须花费大量的时间和精力。
2.先掌握基本的知识。很多学生在打好基础之前就开始准备托福，在准备考试之前就至少应该达到中高级英语水平。如果你纸考成绩在500以下，或机考在70分以下，那么就需要学几个月的基本知识，然后再回到托福准备中。
3.获得学习资料。很容易获得网考的学习资料，培生、巴伦、美国教育考试中心和卡普兰都出版合格的学习材料。每月参加一两次模拟考试，最好的学习资料会给答案解释。纸考的学习资料很难找到，因为这种考试形式在逐渐被淘汰。
4.利用外部资源。一直使用托福资料练习会让你发疯，记住，你在学习一本语言，而不是学习考试。你可以通过让英语成为日常生活的一部分来提高托福成绩，一些简单的办法包括听播客，与英语人士进行非正式对话，观看电影并阅读杂志。其他的方法包括阅读英文教材，发送并阅读英语短信，在线写英语评论。
关键是，考好托福最好的办法是学好英语，不要依赖于非正式的建议或技巧。不要以为自己比考试机构聪明，将阅读、听力、口语、写作以及语法当作一个简单的相关概念--沟通。托福考试的真正目标是衡量学生在英语教室里沟通的能力，将自己每天都沉浸在英语中自然就会有所提高。
我是亚当·布洛克。
