11. ETS E2 (Answers)

The following are ChatGPT-generated answers for the ETS E2 test on My Speaking Score.

Question 1: Some universities require first-year students to live in dormitories on campus. Others allow students to live off campus. Which policy do you think is better for first-year students and why? Include details and examples in your explanation.

Sample Response: It is better for first-year students to live in dormitories on campus. Living in a dormitory allows students to fully participate in the college experience and make the most of their time on campus. They can join clubs, attend events, and access resources such as tutoring and study groups. This can be especially beneficial for those who are away from home for the first time, as it helps them to feel more connected to their university. Also, living in a dormitory is more convenient because it includes amenities like meal plans and laundry facilities. This can be especially helpful for those who are new to managing their own daily needs. Overall, the benefits of living in a dormitory make it the better option for first-year students. (126 words)

Question 2: The man expresses his opinion about the proposal described in the letter. Briefly summarize the proposal, then state his opinion about the proposal and explain the reasons he gives for holding that opinion.

Sample Response: The proposal in the letter is for the university to run a free bus service for students during winter and spring breaks to and from the airport, which is a half-hour drive from campus. There is currently no public transportation available between campus and the airport. The man thinks this proposal is a great idea because it would make things much less expensive for students. Currently, the only option for getting to the airport is to take a taxi, which can cost around 30 or 40 dollars, which is a lot for students. The man believes the proposal would work because there is less need for buses on campus during school breaks to take students between buildings. Classes are not in session and there are fewer students on campus who need to get around. The man thinks this proposal would not cause problems for those who still need to go to the library or gym. (155 words)

Question 3: Explain what choice-supportive bias is and how the professor's example illustrates the concept.

Sample Response: Choice-supportive bias is a tendency for people to favor the option they have selected and focus on and remember only the advantages of that option, while overlooking or eventually forgetting its disadvantages. The professor's example illustrates this concept by discussing a situation in which his friend was deciding on a house to buy. The friend had narrowed it down to one house that had an excellent location, but was smaller than what he had hoped to buy. Despite the size being a disadvantage, the friend eventually chose the house and a few years later, when discussing the decision, he had forgotten about the size being an issue and only remembered the advantage of its excellent location. This demonstrates how the choice-supportive bias caused the friend to focus on and remember only the advantages of the house he selected, while overlooking or forgetting its disadvantages. (144 words)

Question 4: Using the examples of the starthistle and the kitfox, describe two ways roads can affect the environment.

Sample Response: According to the lecture, roads can affect the environment by contributing to the movement of plant species from one area to another, which can cause problems for existing plants. This is demonstrated in the example of the yellow starthistle in California, where the seeds were stuck to car tires and distributed to new areas, causing the starthistle to compete with the native plant life for resources such as water. Roads can also affect the environment by acting as barriers that divide up an animal's habitat into smaller areas, which can be a serious problem for animals that need access to large expanses of land to look for food. This is demonstrated in the example of the kitfoxes in the southwestern United States, whose population has declined significantly due to roads acting as barriers that prevent them from accessing the small animals they hunt, which are spread out over large areas of open grasslands. Overall, these examples show how roads can have harmful effects on the environment, both for plant life and animal life. (173 words)

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