Some marketers believe influencers can effectively increase sales because their followers trust their personal recommendations and view them as friends rather than advertisers. Others argue that hiring influencers is expensive and unpredictable since their popularity can decline suddenly. Which view about using social media personalities for marketing do you agree with?
入选理由：我之所以说这题是2星难度，是因为它真的是一个常考话题——要不要利用网上的咨询来做购买决定——这话题我到目前为止已经写过好几篇范文了。但正因为它高频，且如果题目问法不同不能随便直接套用内容，我还是将它选入了此次的串讲范围。
Some argue that technology used in surveillance, such as cameras and data collection software, is essential for maintaining safety and preventing fraud. Others believe it infringes on personal freedoms, as it may involve monitoring individuals without their consent. What do you think?
入选理由：这个题目其实是一道很老的托福独立写作的魔改，涉及到的话题是一个连经常讨论此话题的人都未必能得出结论的争议——安全和隐私，到底谁更应该被优先考虑？我们与自己所处的集体是有契约关系的，自己让渡一部分权力与隐私，换取集体所提供的保护和服务，但此话题平时我们很少讨论，因为有一套固定的叙事，只不过这套叙事在考试里未必会被当成high-quality reasoning，所以值得讲一讲。
Some anthropologists argue that cultural globalization leads to the loss of unique and diverse cultural identities, while others believe it promotes cultural exchange and understanding. What is your perspective on the impact of cultural globalization on local traditions?
入选理由：全球化是促进文化交流还是导致文化趋同？这也是一个需要深度思考才能有效立论并证明的主题。大家现在常考常写的都是“你的一个外国友人对中国文化很感兴趣”，和这种主题的视角是不太一样的，且the loss of unique and diverse cultural identities也显得比较抽象，不那么容易举例，所以我觉得有必要讲一讲。
Some educators believe that students retain information more effectively when they actively engage through discussion, problem-solving activities, and hands-on practice rather than simply listening to lectures. Others argue that well-structured lectures allow teachers to present information efficiently and systematically helping students build foundational knowledge before attempting practical applications. Do you think educators should prioritize active student participation or structured lecture-based instruction?
入选理由：这个话题也属于常考话题——学生到底要不要进行互动性学习（如class discussion等方式），这样的常考话题入选，当然是因为不光写作会考，口语里的面试题也可能涉及，属于是考托必会话题。
Some researchers believe conformity keeps society peaceful and organized. Others argue that it limits personal expression and original thinking. Think about your own experiences, what you've seen in school, media, or daily life. Do you believe conformity is mostly helpful or mostly harmful to individuals and society?
入选理由：这个话题的难度和第二题类似，都是探讨“与集体建立契约或者保持一致的代价收益问题”，不属于我们日常思考和讨论的话题，所以当然要讲，还应该给范文！
Some historians argue that individuals such as political leaders or influential thinkers have a greater impact on the course of history than broader social and economic forces. Others contend that social and economic events are the main drivers of historical change. What do you believe has a greater influence on shaping history: individual actions or broader social and economic forces? Why?
入选理由：“千古一帝的雄才大略”是人人都爱看的drama，导致很多人甚至在写文章举例时也情不自禁地夸赞、凸显心目中的英雄人物，与其说是在举例，不如说是在把自己代入，希望有一天自己也能成为那样的人物。历史的走向真的是因为这些关键人物才发生改变的吗？还是时势造英雄？这种问题，你就不要在考场上临时想了吧！来听课吧！
We've been discussing the importance of customer feedback in product development. Gathering feedback can help companies understand customer needs and improve their products. However, some argue that relying too heavily on customer feedback can stifle innovation and lead to mediocre products. What is your opinion on this?
入选理由：我们在真实的商业世界里，能看到两种极端的反例——有些公司坚持自我，终成经典，引领时代；有些公司听取建议，顺势而为，兴盛一时。所以，这种题目也不好写，在短短一百多单词内说清楚，不提前准备可能真的考3分啊！讲真，我觉得很多所谓“高手得三分”就是因为来不及，动作变形。托福考试会狠狠惩罚不好好备考的人。
This week we are exploring the concept of social norms and their influence on behavior. Social norms are unwritten rules that dictate how individuals should act. For example, norms can include dressing appropriately for different occasions or greeting others politely. Some sociologists argue that social norms help maintain order and predictability, while others believe they can restrict personal freedom and creativity. Are the effects of social norms mostly positive, or are they mostly negative? Explain your views.
入选理由：跟第2题、第5题类似，都是大家平时不太考虑的问题，考场上突然这么一问，很可能直接懵掉。现代社会有一种思潮——我往自己的小世界里一躲，谁也别来干扰我。咱们事实上这么做，能得一时清净，但考试时这么写，恐怕很难有说服力，但如果要反驳这种价值观，该怎么用英文表述呢？来听课，我给大家看范文，捋思路。
We’ve been discussing different approaches to student assessment. Traditional exams and standardized tests are commonly used to objectively measure student performance. Some educators, however, advocate for alternative measurements of aptitude other than tests, such as project-based activities and class participation, because tests are limited in their ability to assess learning. What do you think is the most effective way to assess student learning? Why?
入选理由：这属于一道正常难度的题目，入选的理由也是因为涉及到了常考话题——到底是透过标准化考试还是projects来评估学生的学习。这个题大家可以自己上手写一写，记个时，再用grammarly看看语法、拼写错误有多少，评分没到75的话，就知道可能还需努力了，另外，就算是评分到了100，也不一定就没问题，毕竟软件啊AI啊都不完善，大家心里要有数，做事不能“大概齐”哈！
While some argue that the ability to juggle multiple tasks at once is essential in today's fast-paced work environments, others believe that multitasking actually reduces efficiency and increases the likelihood of errors. Do you believe that managers should promote multitasking in the workplace? Why or why not?
入选理由：要不要multitasking其实也是常考话题，原来的老托独立口语就常问“你喜欢一次做一件事还是多件事一起推进”，不过，这种话题要举例子不容易，很多人虽然是多任务同时开展，却觉得似乎“一次一件”比较好说。到底该怎么写才能既make sense，又easy to express in English呢？来听课，I’ll show you step by step.
