托福寫作模擬試題：八哥是否是對人類有害的物種

　　托福綜合寫作Topic 議題：the effect of starling

　　Reading Listening

　　Thesis 總論點 Starlings are harmful species. Starlings are not harmful species.

　　Sub-point 1 They will cause some agricultural damage because they eat crops. Although starlings eat crops, they also eat insects that harm the crops. So farmers don’t have to use pesticides, which not only helps save money, but also helps protect the environment since pesticides will pollute the environment. What’s more, the reduction of pesticide is beneficial to the health of human being.

　　Sub-point2 The natural tendency of starling to flock together will pose danger to the airport. People can build a cage as trap, with some starlings and food in it. When other starlings see those starlings being feed in the cage, natural instinct will force them to form a flock and fly into the cage. So they will be captured and thus can be moved to other locations.

　　Sub-point 3 They will compete with endangered species for they often occupy the nesting boxes constructed by human to protect endangered species. The nesting boxes can be built with smaller entrance so that starlings cannot access easily because they are larger than endangered animals.

　　托福綜合寫作范文Sample answer:

　　In the lecture, the professor refutes against the view raised in the reading that starlings are harmful species, and he suggests they can bring benefits to human.

　　Firstly, the reading holds that they will cause some agricultural damage because they eat crops. However, the professor refutes that although starlings eat crops, they also eat insects that harm the crops. So farmers don’t have to use pesticides, which not only helps save money, but also helps protect the environment since pesticides will pollute the environment. What’s more, the reduction of pesticide is beneficial to the health of human being.

　　Secondly, the reading claims that the natural tendency of starling to flock together will pose danger to the airport. But the professor disagrees with this by suggesting that people could build a cage as trap, with some starlings and food in it. When other starlings see those starlings being feed in the cage, natural instinct will force them to form a flock and fly into the cage. So they will be captured and thus can be moved to other locations.

　　Finally, in the reading passage, they will compete with endangered species for they often occupy the nesting boxes constructed by human to protect endangered species. In contrast, the professor holds that the nesting boxes can be built with smaller entrance so that starlings cannot access easily because they are larger than endangered animals.