TOEFL Essay Structure: Self Test 1

How well do you know the TOEFL essay structure? Can you answer these questions about a sample essay?

Answer the following questions about the TOEFL essay structure. Each question is based on the sample essay below. You don't have to read the entire essay to answer correctly.

1. How many paragraphs are there in the essay?
2. How many paragraphs are there in the essay body?
3. What is the thesis statement of the essay?
4. What transitional phrase is used at the beginning of the conclusion?
5. What are the two topic sentences in the essay's body?
6. How many transitional phrases are used in the second paragraph?
7. What supporting ideas (sentences) are found in the second paragraph?

How did you do? Ready to check your answers?

Sample TOEFL Essay 1

Use this sample essay to answer the questions above. You do not have to read the entire essay.

The debate over whether or not animals should be kept in zoos is a hot topic, one that generates passionate arguments both for and against. On the one hand, it is sometimes argued that animals should be free to live in the wild and not held in captivity. On the other hand, it is also argued that zoos are important places that not only provide people with a unique learning experience, but also play an important role in protecting animals and preserving their environment. Indeed, zoos offer benefits to people as well as animals, which is why animals should be kept there.

First of all, there are the educational aspects associated with zoos. Zoos provide an opportunity for people to encounter a wide variety of animals, including some strange and exotic ones. Children especially benefit from visits to the zoo, and in doing so they are given an opportunity to learn something about nature, the environment, and the animal kingdom. Moreover, zoos help children develop an appreciation for these things.

In addition to offering unique educational opportunities for people, many zoos attempt to improve the plight of rare species by protecting them. In fact, animals are likely better in a zoo than in the wild. Imagine an antelope faced with the danger of being eaten by a lion, a wolf faced with the prospect of starvation, or a tortoise faced with a long and arduous fight to the sea. Are these animals better off than those held in captivity? Probably not. Moreover, many zoos attempt to reproduce the animals' natural habitats. In such zoos, animals are not kept in cages but rather allowed to roam freely in large, open areas.

In conclusion, it is clear that the educational opportunities, protection of animals, and preservation of habitats offer sound evidence of the value that zoos bring to both people and animals. While a case can be made to eliminate zoos, the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages.

On the next page you'll find answers to each of the questions about this essay.