托福寫作模擬試題：伊特魯里亞人起源于土耳其

　　托福綜合寫作范文Sample answer:

　　The writer and the speaker have a debate on the origin of Etruscans. The writer points out that Etruscans originated from Turkey, which is opposed by the following lecture.

　　First, the writer claims that the writing of an ancient historian Herodotus confirmed that Etruscans came from Turkey. While the speaker views this issue from an opposite angle, according to him/her, his writing was not always reliable. For example, Herodotus recorded in his books that there was a kind of huge insects in a distant country which could eat people. This unbelievable story indicates that Herodotus’ writing was not necessarily true.

　　Secondly, the passage states that Tyrrhenian inscriptions found on an island near Turkey shows the origin of Etruscans. However, the speaker casts doubt on this opinion by saying that Since Etruscans were good seafarers, they could probably sail for the island and left the inscriptions there. Therefore, it is likely that the language on the island came from Etruscans, not the other way around.

　　Last, the writer argues that the genetic similarity of cows demonstrates Etruscans’ Turkish origin. By contrast, in accordance with the speaker, this claim does not hold water. The cows cannot represent their owners. Because Etruscans were good traders, they could easily import some cows from Italy and then start breeding them.