Step 1. Listen to the mini-lecture (or read the transcript) and then answer the questions.
Listening + Questions — 8-12 minutes on average
Attention! You will not see the questions in advance, so, take down as many facts and details as possible!
You will have about 8 minutes to answers the questions. You will see them one by one.
For most of the twentieth century, astronomers believed that radio waves were the most promising way to detect intelligent life beyond Earth. This idea was based on the assumption that technologically advanced societies would eventually discover radio communication, just as humans did. However, modern researchers now focus on a broader category known as technosignatures — observable indicators of technology that could exist independently of radio transmissions.
One important technosignature is planetary atmospheric composition. When scientists analyse the light passing through an exoplanet’s atmosphere, they can identify which gases are present. Certain chemical patterns may indicate industrial activity. For instance, the presence of chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, in high concentrations would strongly suggest artificial production, because such compounds do not occur naturally in large amounts.
Another technosignature involves waste heat. Highly advanced civilizations might build massive energy-harvesting structures, sometimes referred to as Dyson spheres. According to basic thermodynamics, these structures would emit heat that telescopes could detect as an unusual infrared glow surrounding a star. A few candidate stars have been found, but all were later explained by natural phenomena, such as dust clouds or variable stars.
A third possibility is the detection of directed energy beams, like lasers. On Earth, lasers are used for communication, for military targeting, and even for launching spacecraft with light-propelled sails. If extraterrestrial civilizations employ similar technologies, their tightly focused beams could accidentally reach our telescopes. While extremely rare, such laser flashes would be unmistakable because of their very precise wavelength and rapid fluctuations.
Despite decades of research, scientists have not yet found conclusive evidence of technosignatures. Still, advances in spectroscopy and infrared astronomy have expanded the search well beyond simple radio signals. The key idea is that intelligent life might express itself in ways we do not currently anticipate, so the search must remain flexible. Rather than looking for one universal sign, astronomers now aim to catalogue a whole spectrum of technological fingerprints.
The professor says high concentrations of CFCs do not occur naturally and would strongly suggest artificial, industrial production, which matches option C.
3. According to the professor, what would a Dyson sphere most likely look like to our telescopes?
The lecture mentions that directed laser beams might accidentally reach our telescopes and would be very distinctive, which corresponds to option D.
Total Questions: 7
Correct Answers: 0
Incorrect Answers: 0
II. Letter Filling and Reading
Fill in the missing letters in the paragraph
Reading section. Module 1.
(Questions 1–20)
Fill in the missing letters in the paragraph.
Reading section. Module 1.
(Questions 1–10)
Fill in the missing letters in the paragraph.
If alien starships were to maneu in Earth’s atmosphere, they would need to manage airflow, heating, and stability at once. A craft moving at extreme speed would face intense frictional he , so it might rely on a protective plasma sheath or a field that diverts air molecules before they collide with the hull.
Instead of using wings, such a ship could generate lift through controlled pressure gradients, perhaps by shaping a magnetic envelope around the vehicle. By adjusting that envelope, the craft could “bite” into surrounding air and pivot without conventional control surfaces, allowing sudden turn while maintaining an apparently smooth trajectory. To observers, the motion might seem impossible because the forces are distributed across the field rather than concentrated at a tail or rudder.
For low-speed hovering, propulsion might involve directing ionized air downward, creating a silent cushion without visible exhaust. However, any rapid change in direction would still require careful damping; otherwise the ship could induce violent turbulence and shock waves. A sophisticated guidance system could continuously sense local wind shear and instantly r ce its thrust vectors to keep the craft steady.
Taken together, these ideas suggest that atmospheric flight for an advanced starship would depend less on brute force and more on fine control of the air itself. If the surrounding medium can be manipulated—electrically, magnetically, or through an unknown interaction—then even abrupt accelerations could become phys plausible within the rules of fluid dynamics.
Total Questions: 0
Incorrect Answers: 0
Reading in Daily Life
Read a social media post.
Olivia Parker
Thinking of spending more time on the water this summer? Harborview Yacht Club is now welcoming new members and visitors. Located just outside the city center, the club offers easy access to the bay and modern marina facilities.
Members can enjoy sailing lessons for all skill levels, from beginners to experienced sailors, as well as regular weekend regattas and social events. The club is especially popular for its friendly instructors and well-maintained fleet of boats.
If you’re not ready to commit to full membership, day passes are available, giving access to the clubhouse, showers, and waterfront café. Spaces for lessons and boat rentals are limited, so early booking is strongly recommended.
comment like
16. What is the main purpose of the post?
17. Why is Harborview Yacht Club popular among members?
18. Why are readers advised to book lessons or rentals early?
Total Questions: 0
Incorrect Answers: 0
TOEFL Repeating Tasks Practice
Play the audio file below and repeat each phrase withing each sentence during the pause after it
1. Step 1. Read the text below
Reading + Test Time — 18 minutes
You've got: 18:00
Read the passage.
In the middle of the 20th century, physicist Enrico Fermi famously asked a disarmingly simple question during a discussion about extraterrestrial life: if the universe is so old and so vast, and if technological civilizations are even moderately likely to emerge, where is everybody? The tension between the apparent statistical plausibility of intelligent life and the stubborn absence of clear evidence is now known as the Fermi paradox.
Several lines of reasoning sharpen this puzzle. Our galaxy contains an enormous number of stars, many of which host planets, including worlds that may resemble Earth in temperature and composition. Over billions of years, a single civilization with the capability to travel between stars—or even to spread indirectly through long-lived probes—could, in principle, influence large regions of the Milky Way. Yet, despite decades of searching, we observe no unambiguous signals, artifacts, or astronomical engineering that would decisively indicate an advanced technological presence.
Proposed resolutions range from the mundane to the unsettling. Some suggest that our methods are poorly matched to how other civilizations communicate, or that advanced societies quickly transition to technologies that are difficult to detect. Others propose that intelligent life is rare because one or more evolutionary steps are exceptionally improbable. A related idea, the “Great Filter,” holds that there may be a severe barrier somewhere along the path from simple life to long-lived, spacefaring intelligence—leaving us uncertain whether that barrier lies behind us or still ahead.
16. What is the main idea of the passage?
17. Why is Fermi’s question “Where is everybody?” mentioned?
18. What does the passage suggest about the lack of evidence for extraterrestrial civilizations?
19. The word “unambiguous” in the passage is closest in meaning to:
20. Why does the author mention the “Great Filter”?
16.Correct answer: B
The passage defines the Fermi paradox as a mismatch between what we might expect (given the universe’s scale and age) and what we actually observe (no decisive evidence of advanced civilizations).
17.Correct answer: B
Fermi’s quote functions as the launching point for the topic: it frames the core puzzle in plain language and motivates the discussion that follows.
18.Correct answer: C
The author lists multiple families of explanations: detection/communication mismatch, rarity of key evolutionary steps, and the possibility of a severe barrier (the Great Filter) affecting survival or detectability.
19.Correct answer: B unambiguous means “not open to more than one interpretation,” i.e., clear and definite.
20.Correct answer: C
The “Great Filter” is introduced as a structured hypothesis: a major bottleneck somewhere between simple life and enduring, spacefaring intelligence could explain why we do not see obvious technological signatures.
Key vocabulary (from the passage)
tension — a conflict between two ideas or facts
in principle — theoretically (even if difficult in practice)
artifacts — objects made by intelligent beings
astronomical engineering — large-scale construction that could alter observable space phenomena
barrier / bottleneck — a limiting obstacle that blocks progress
detectable — able to be noticed or discovered with our instruments
The modern search for extraterrestrial life began not with visions of advanced civilizations, but with the simpler question of whether microbes exist beyond Earth. Early in the twentieth century, astronomers even debated whether the “canals” they thought they saw on Mars were evidence of vegetation. These features were later shown to be optical illusions, but the discussion encouraged more systematic exploration of nearby planets.
By the mid-1900s, attention shifted from surface structures to chemical signatures. Scientists recognised that certain molecules, such as methane, could indicate biological activity under the right conditions. NASA’s Viking missions in the 1970s were the first to conduct direct experiments on Martian soil. Although their results were inconclusive, they produced intriguing signals and sparked decades of scientific debate over whether the data reflected life or merely complex chemical reactions.
In recent years, exploration has expanded to include icy moons such as Europa and Enceladus. These bodies possess subsurface oceans warmed by tidal heating, creating environments that might be suitable for microbial ecosystems. The discovery of hydrothermal vents on Earth’s ocean floor — where life thrives without sunlight — strengthened the idea that similar ecosystems could exist in the dark oceans of distant moons.
Another major development involves planets orbiting distant stars, known as exoplanets. Improvements in telescope technology now allow scientists to examine some of their atmospheres. When certain gases appear together, such as oxygen and methane, they may represent a biosignature — a detectable sign of biological activity that would be difficult to explain by non-biological processes alone.
Several exoplanets show promising atmospheric profiles, but none has yet provided definitive proof of life. The data are often incomplete or noisy, and researchers must carefully rule out alternative explanations, including unusual chemistry or volcanic activity. As instruments become more sensitive, however, the number of potentially interesting worlds is likely to increase.
Despite the absence of confirmed discoveries, interest in microbial life is growing. Many researchers argue that simple organisms are far more common in the universe than technologically advanced species, making microbes the most likely form of extraterrestrial life. Moreover, finding even a single example of independent biology would demonstrate that life emerges readily given the right conditions, and it would firmly establish the search for microbes as a central frontier in modern astrobiology.
Questions:
1. What is the main purpose of the passage?
2. According to the passage, what was one outcome of the Viking missions?
3. Why are Europa and Enceladus considered promising places to search for life?
4. What role did hydrothermal vents on Earth play in shaping scientists’ views?
5. What is implied about detecting oxygen and methane together in an exoplanet’s atmosphere?
6. Why do many researchers concentrate on microbial rather than intelligent life?
7. The word “biosignature” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to
8. Which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?
9.Look at the four squares [A], [B], [C], and [D] . Where would the sentence best fit?
Sentence: As a result, each new mission refines the tools scientists use to distinguish possible biology from purely chemical processes.
Paragraph: (A) NASA’s Viking missions in the 1970s were the first to conduct direct experiments on Martian soil. (B) The results were inconclusive and sparked decades of debate. (C) Subsequent orbiters and rovers have continued to investigate Mars with more advanced instruments. (D) Some scientists claim that one Viking experiment detected signs of microbial metabolism, while others argue that the data can be fully explained by non-biological chemistry.
The sentence refers to “each new mission” and to refining tools, so it logically follows the mention of later missions with more advanced instruments in C.
10. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Select the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas. This question is worth 2 points.
Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that best express the most important ideas of the passage.
Many researchers argue that microbial life beyond Earth is not only possible but likely, given several recent discoveries in planetary science. Three major lines of evidence support this optimistic view.
First, methane repeatedly detected in the Martian atmosphere may indicate the presence of living microorganisms. On Earth, a significant portion of methane is produced biologically, especially by microbes that thrive in oxygen-poor environments. Since the methane on Mars appears and disappears in seasonal patterns, many scientists interpret it as a strong hint that the gas is being generated by active microbial communities beneath the planet’s surface.
Second, two icy moons—Europa of Jupiter and Enceladus of Saturn—are now considered among the most promising habitats for extraterrestrial biology. Both bodies possess vast subsurface oceans of liquid water, warmed by tidal heating and shielded from space by thick ice. Observations of hydrothermal-like activity on Enceladus suggest that these oceans could closely resemble Earth’s deep-sea vent systems, which are known to support rich microbial ecosystems independent of sunlight. If similar chemical and thermal conditions exist there, microbial colonies could easily persist.
Third, scientists studying distant exoplanets have identified atmospheric combinations—such as the simultaneous presence of oxygen and methane—that may serve as biosignatures. These gases generally coexist only when continuously replenished by living organisms. Because modern telescopes are capable of detecting such atmospheric patterns from many light-years away, the probability of identifying a biologically active planet has grown substantially.
Taken together, these discoveries provide compelling support for the hypothesis that microbial life may be widespread in the universe. Although direct proof remains elusive, the existing evidence strongly suggests that Earth is unlikely to be the only world where life has emerged.
Step 2. Listen to part of a lecture below and take notes.
Although many scientists believe that simple life forms might exist elsewhere in our solar system, several lines of evidence suggest that this optimism is misplaced. In fact, recent research seriously challenges the idea that microbial life is likely to be found beyond Earth.
First, supporters of extraterrestrial microbes often point to chemical signatures such as methane detected on Mars. However, new geochemical models show that the methane can be produced entirely through non-biological processes, including reactions between minerals and ultraviolet radiation. These models can reproduce the methane patterns almost exactly, leaving no compelling reason to interpret the gas as biological.
Second, the subsurface oceans of Europa and Enceladus are often described as promising environments, yet recent measurements indicate that these oceans may be extremely low in usable chemical energy. Without constant sources of energy, microbial communities cannot sustain themselves. Unlike Earth’s hydrothermal vents, where chemical energy is abundant, the ocean floors of these moons may be too chemically inert to support life.
Finally, even atmospheric “biosignatures” expected on distant exoplanets are far from reliable. Laboratory simulations have demonstrated that oxygen–methane combinations, thought to indicate biology, can arise from purely volcanic activity when specific temperature and pressure conditions are present. These false positives make it very difficult to distinguish true biological signals from natural planetary chemistry.
Taken together, these findings suggest that claims about extraterrestrial microbes rely on overly optimistic interpretations of ambiguous data. While the search should continue, the current scientific evidence offers little support for the idea that life is common beyond Earth.
• Contradict = Oppose
• Contest = Criticize = Call into question
• Counter (instead of refute)
• Reject (instead of refutes)
• Undermine (instead of challenge)
• Contend (instead of argue)
• Highlight = Clarify
• Rebuke (instead of refute)
• Observe (instead of note)
• Propose = Present
• Illuminate = Emphasize = Illustrate
[Overview] The lecture contradicts the theories presented in the reading passage regarding [Topic].
[Body] Firstly, it contests the hypothesis that [Hypothesis from Reading], contending that [Contradictory Point from Lecture].
Secondly, it undermines the idea of [Second Idea from Reading] by clarifying that [Contradictory Point from Lecture].
Finally, it calls into question the theory of [Third Theory from Reading], observing that [Contradictory Point from Lecture], proposing [Alternative Explanation from Lecture] as a factor.
While I appreciate the points raised by Arman and Naya, I argue that … Moreover, … Although some worry about overdiagnosis, I contend …
This policy involves trade-offs: costs and clinic capacity vs. equity and early detection. In my view, … For example, …