TOEFL Outlines ( 1 – 50 ) TOEFL question #11: What are some important qualities of a good supervisor (boss)? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. I. Important qualities of a good boss include someone who trusts you to do a good job, someone who gives you encouragement and someone who lets you give your opinions about the work. II. Someone who trusts you to do a good job a. A good boss should be able to give you a task and trust you can do the job b. A good boss will not keep “looking over your shoulder” when they have given you a job to do c. A good boss will know that s/he has hired a person who is capable of doing the job III. Someone who gives you encouragement a. Everyone needs to hear that they are doing a good job b. When an employee does something wrong, s/he should be told in a positive way not in a negative way. c. Employees should be encouraged to do things they think they might not be capable of doing. They will know the boss has faith in them. IV. Someone who lets you give your opinion a. The boss should not be the only person to give ideas/opinions about the company b. If employees can give opinions, they feel more a part of the work environment c. Giving your opinion means you are valued by the company V. In short, a boss should be one who trusts his/her employees, one who gives encouragement and one who lets others voice their opinions. With this type of boss, the company will be successful. TOEFL question #12: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Sometimes it is better not to tell the truth. Use specific reasons and details to support your answer. I. Being truthful is important, but I feel that sometimes it is better not to tell the truth. There are several reasons I feel this way. II. You could hurt someone’s feelings a. For example: you don’t like someone’s new shirt or new haircut but if you tell that person, s/he will feel bad. It is not necessary to tell the truth. b. For example: if you don’t want to go to the movie with someone because you always have to pay, it may be better not to tell the whole truth. III. You could get into trouble a. For example, if you tell your boss that you don’t like him/her, you could lose your job b. For example, if you offend someone by telling the truth, they may try to hurt you IV. Not telling the truth could be the best answer a. For example, if you are giving a surprise party for your friend, you don’t want to tell him/her about it. b. Telling the truth could cause pain (for example: an old person is told that his/her child died) V. To conclude, it is sometimes better not to tell the truth. Everyone must decide under which circumstances the truth should or should not be told and have good reasons for making that decision. TOEFL question #13: Groups or organizations are an important part of some people’s lives. Why are groups or organizations important to people? Use specific reasons and examples to explain your answer. I. Organizations are important to people for a number of reasons. Some people like the structure of an organization. Others like the friendly atmosphere and still others enjoy the activities they do with the organization or group. II. Some people like the structure a. Most organizations have a specific structure (you do certain things at certain times) b. For example: boy scouts learn about everyday life skills c. For example: book clubs get together to read and talk about books III. Some people like the friendly atmosphere a. People who belong to groups often want to meet others b. People in a particular group have the same interests (eg: flower arranging, hiking groups, etc.) c. People can develop long-term friendships that last beyond the group IV. Some enjoy the activities a. Some people join groups because they enjoy group activities b. For example: you need many people to play soccer (it can’t be played alone) c. For example: you need many people to help with a carnival (it can’t be done alone) V. In conclusion, people enjoy groups and organizations for many different reasons. Most people enjoy the structure, the other people in the group and the activities that are offered through the organization. TOEFL question #14: Many students choose to attend schools or universities outside their home countries. Why do some students study abroad? Use specific reasons and details to explain your answer. I. Often students want to study at university outside their home countries. There are many reasons students choose to do this. Some of the reasons include: prestige, scholarship, and necessity. II. Prestige a. To get a college degree from a university outside their home country may be prestigious for students. b. Students may get a better education outside their home country. c. Students may get more money in their job if they have a degree from outside the country. III. Scholarship a. Some students may get scholarships to study abroad b. Some students may pay less to study abroad c. Some students may feel the programs are better abroad IV. Necessity a. Some students may not be accepted to a home country university b. Some students may have no other choice but to study abroad c. Some students may feel it is necessary to get the best education V. In short, students study abroad for a number of reasons. Most students get a good education wherever they go if they are determined to succeed in their studies. TOEFL question #15: People do many different things to stay healthy. What do you do for good health? Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer. I. Staying healthy is important. I stay healthy by eating well, doing lots of exercise and getting plenty of sleep. II. Eating well a. Eat from all the food groups (meat, fruits & vegetables, dairy, breads) b. Don’t eat junk food like McDonalds c. Eat correct amounts of food (not too much – gain weight; not too little – underweight) III. Doing lots of exercise a. Ride my bicycle to work everyday (5 kilometers) b. Swim every weekend (20 laps) c. Walk for 30 minutes three times a week IV. Getting plenty of sleep a. Try to sleep about 8 hours each night b. Have a regular schedule for sleep (go to bed, wake up at the same time) c. Don’t take unnecessary naps during the day (disrupts nighttime sleep) V. In short, I am very healthy because I eat well, exercise everyday and sleep well. People need to have good habits in order to stay healthy. . TOEFL Outlines ( 1 – 50 ) TOEFL question #11 : What are some important qualities of a good supervisor (boss)? Use specific reasons. little – underweight) III. Doing lots of exercise a. Ride my bicycle to work everyday (5 kilometers) b. Swim every weekend (2 0 laps) c. Walk for 30 minutes