VOA慢速英語: 開始準備托福（雙語）

Getting Started with TOEFL

開始準備托福

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.

倘若你對去美國上大學感興趣，那你也許聽說過檢定非英語為母語者的英語能力考試，這種考試就是托福。這是申請去美國大學最廣泛的語言測試考試。

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 totop schools. The most competitive universities generally expect an Internet-based test score of 90 or above. Others accept lower scores, and some donot require a TOEFL score at all. Most universities do not publicize an actual cutoff score, but a high score will always help.

許多外國學生都害怕托 ?？荚嚕驗榭荚囷L險大。優(yōu)秀的托福測試結(jié)果能打開多扇美國大學的大門。但是托福分數(shù)低的話就會限制你申請獎學金，以及限制你進入頂尖的大學。最具競爭力 的大學通常要求托福網(wǎng)考分數(shù)在90分或者更高。其他大學則可以接受托福分數(shù)稍低的學生，甚至有些大學根本不要求托福分數(shù)。大多數(shù)大學不會公布錄取的分數(shù) 線，但是取得高分確實會有很大幫助。

There are two major versions of the TOEFL test. The first is the iBT, orInternet-based Test. It is offered in most of the world and accepted by nearly every university and scholarship program in the United States.

托?？荚囉袃纱箢愋汀５谝环N是托福網(wǎng)考，世界大多數(shù)地區(qū)都提供這種考試，美國幾乎所有大學和獎學金項目都認可這種形式的考試。

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.

而另一種考試形式是 紙考。一些發(fā)展中國家仍使用這種方式。獎學金項目為學生提供資金，幫助他/她繼續(xù)接受教育。許多學校獎學金項目會根據(jù)紙考結(jié)果，錄取首先申請該校獎學金的 學生。但是，正式錄取前，他們也許會要求學生參加托福網(wǎng)考。托福紙考成本更低，不需要使用因特網(wǎng)，一些企業(yè)和政府機關(guān)運用紙考來測試他們雇員的英語語言能 力。

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.

托福網(wǎng)考和紙考的體系不一樣。主要區(qū)別是網(wǎng)考完全是在線考試，包括檢測學生說英語的能力的一些問題。網(wǎng)考還有綜合的考試項目，比如：聽、說和讀都混合在一起。紙考測試并沒有把這些部分混合在一起。紙考有一部分是檢測語法——組詞造句的規(guī)則，而網(wǎng)考則沒有這一項。

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.

如果有機會，參加托福網(wǎng)考，考試費用并不昂貴。紙考正逐漸淘汰，最終會消失。

Here are some tips for getting started with TOEFL:

這里給一些建議給開始準備托福的人：

1. Plan ahead – It takes a long time to improve your TOEFL score. Manystudents 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 alot of time and energy.

1.提前計劃——要提高托福分數(shù)需要很長時間，很多學生只是考試前學習。提升分數(shù)需要花費數(shù)月的深入的練習。別指望經(jīng)過兩周的學習就能有個好的考試結(jié)果。沒有什么簡捷的辦法迅速提高分數(shù)。你需要花費大量的時間和精力。

2. Master the basics first – Many students study for the TOEFL before theyare ready. You should have at least an upper-intermediate English level beforeyou 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.

2.首先掌握一些基本要點——許多學生還沒有準備好就開始學習托福。參加考試至少得接近這個英語水平。如果你的分數(shù)紙考低于500分或者網(wǎng)考分數(shù)70分，你需要再學幾個月基礎(chǔ)知識，然后再來考托福。

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.

3.制定一份學習指導——托福網(wǎng)考的學習指導很容易找到，皮 爾森（Pearson）、巴倫（Barron’s）、美國教育考試服務中心（ETS）還有卡普蘭（Kaplan）都提供高品質(zhì)的學習材料。一個月做一兩次 練習測驗。每次測驗的結(jié)果就是最好的學習指導。紙考的指導較難找到，因為這種測試正逐漸淘汰。

4. Use outside resources – Using TOEFL practice materials all the time willmake 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 Englishspeakers, watching movies and reading newspapers. Some others are reading English textbooks, sending and reading text messages in English, and writing online comments in English.

4.運用外部資源——總用托福的材料 練習會讓你抓狂的，記住一點：你是在學習一門語言，不是學習一門考試。通過讓英語成為日常生活中的一部分，可以提高托福分數(shù)。一些簡單的方式是聽播客、與 講英語的人進行交談、看電影還有讀報紙。還有一些人會閱讀英語教科書，發(fā)送英語信息、閱讀英語信息，還有人上網(wǎng)用英語寫評論。

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.

最重要的一點是，要想托福取得好成績，必須很好地了解英語。不要 依靠那些建議和竅門；不要試圖蒙騙測試機構(gòu)。把讀、聽、寫和語法看成是交流中的彼此相關(guān)的概念。測試的真正目的是檢測學生在英語課堂上到底能多流暢的交 流。自己每天一步一個腳印的學習英語，肯定會不斷的取得進步。

I’m Adam Brock

我是亞當·布洛克