5 .History
W: When we study history, without knowing it, we’re reading somebody’s [………………………………]of what happened and why it happened. The way history is written is [………………………………]a very important thing, [………………………………]as it relates to how people form their own [………………………………]of history. With that in mind, today I want to talk about the “[………………………………].” which, as we all know, was [………………………………]by the American historian [………………………………]Turner. Let’s see … who can give the class a brief summary of what the frontier thesis is?.
M: I’ll give it a try … it’s, um, it’s Turner’s idea that the single most important factor in the shaping of American society was its [………………………………]frontier history. According to Turner, people in the United States gained many traits based on Irving on the frontier, and the society [………………………………]as the [………………………………]became more [………………………………].
W: OK, you mentioned that Americans gained some particular traits as a result of the frontier life. What are some of those traits?
M: Oh, individualism and [………………………………]mostly.
Listening TOEFL
W: Uh-huh, that’s right. What are some other traits?
M: inventiveness, and also, um, [………………………………].
W: Good. OK, when Turner first published “The Significance of the Frontier on American History’ in 1893, it caused a huge storm in the [………………………………]. What do you think the controversy was about?
M: Well, I think that it was because it sort of reversed what all the other historians were saying about American [………………………………]and history.
W: Which was what?
M: That the institutions of the United States were [………………………………]influenced by the English and the Germans.
W: Good. So Turner turned those ideas on their back. He also [………………………………]that it was the Europeans that were affected by American [………………………………]rather than vice versa. Given what we know about how history was being written at the time, why else would such a claim be [………………………………]?
M: Wasn’t Turner one of the first historians trained in the United States?
W: Yes, that’s right. Before him, most historians went to Europe to study.
M: So, I guess there could have also been an element of [………………………………]with the way Europeans were [………………………………]. I mean, to suggest that Europe was influenced by America at the time must have been [………………………………]for other historians who might have [………………………………]that the European influence was much stronger.
W: Well, it’s true that most historians were [………………………………]in Europe, but it wasn’t only in Europe that there were strong [………………………………]. The impact of the oaoer wasn’t based on the [………………………………]of which country was more powerful. It really had more to do with the complete originality of the things Turner said. And remember. Turner’s “frontier thesis” did become the [………………………………]that people used in learning about the [………………………………]in the United States for at least fifty years after it was written. But Turner didn’t necessarily stop with his frontier thesis; in fact, throughout his life he continued to form [………………………………]about American history. From your readings, what were some of the ways that Turner “changed his tune,” so to speak, from his original [………………………………]?
M: Well, one that [………………………………]to me was how at first he totally [………………………………]people moving out west because it [………………………………]spoke to the self-reliance and [………………………………]of the American people, but later he wrote another paper where he pretty much [………………………………]on the issue and accused those people of ruining the environment and onty caring about [………………………………].
W: That was a pretty interesting switch, wasn’t it? And what solutions did Turner [………………………………]for those problems? … I mean, Americans becoming distanced from each other and the [………………………………]of the environment.
Listening TOEFL
M: For one thing, he thought that Americans needed to [………………………………]community life. He also proposed environmental [………………………………], such as taking care of the forests instead of cutting down the trees [………………………………]. Oh, and didn’t he also stress the importance of the education system?
W: Yes. he did. Essentially, he thought that people didn’t realty need to explore geographic frontiers. Instead, he supposed that the developing country needed to promote the [………………………………]of educational frontiers.
6. Office Hours
M: Uh, Professor Smith?
W: Yes, David? What can I help you with?
M: You handed back our papers last Friday with comments and [………………………………], and the truth is, I’m not sure I understand your [………………………………]completely. I mean, I received a D minus on my first [………………………………], and well, I don’t think that it’s. um. fair.
W: Do you have the paper with you?
M: Sure. Here you go.
W: Great, thanks. Hmm, let’s see. Ah. yes, I recall this one.
M: And?
W: Well, David, I believe you said some very [………………………………]things here. You did a great job at applying complicated [………………………………]theories to everyday situations.
M: I really tried to include some meaningful connections.
W: Right, that part you did well.
M: So, on which part did I do poorly?
W: Let me explain something to you. Sure, it’s [………………………………]for the content of a paper, such as the ideas that you include, to be unique. But you must remember that it’s the [………………………………]that is a bit, well, [………………………………]and strained. You seem to jump from point to point without realty supporting your thesis. You have to be able to choose one solid idea, and really be able to back it up.
M: Well, isn’t it better to have many ideas to give it more depth?
W: Not necessarily. In an [………………………………]paper you have to work within the [………………………………]of the rules of academic writing. So therefore, you must pick one idea that you could [………………………………]support with [………………………………]you’ve learned in class, or other [………………………………]information. This way, you can convince the reader that you know what you’re talking about.
Listening TOEFL
M: OK, I think I’m understanding a bit more. So what should I do with my paper [………………………………]?
W: Hmm, let’s see. Well, you don’t have to do much actually. Just choose one of your ideas to be your main idea, and since the other ones are [………………………………], you can use them to [………………………………]the primary one. Then, well, let’s see … I see that you switch back and forth between your ideas within your [………………………………], so my advice to you would be to stay put within your paragraphs. For example, in one of your paragraphs, you mention the [………………………………]of social [………………………………]of mental [………………………………]. However, within the same paragraph, you introduce social [………………………………]. It just all seems like it’s [………………………………]in there.
M: OK, I understand.
W: I graded these first drafts [………………………………]. because I wanted to [………………………………]the students to do well, and I wanted them to come in, as you did, and ask me about my comments. You’ve done the right thing. Plus, the grades for the first draft of the paper really don’t factor into the [………………………………]. I just give them to guide you.
M: Well, that’s a [………………………………]!
W: Well, just consider my advice when you’re doing your [………………………………], and you should do just fine.
M: Thank you for your time.
W: Of course. OK, David. I’ll see you in class tomorrow.