XII-1. Ecosystems and Food Chains
Warm-Up & Vocabulary
Key Vocabulary
- Attitude (n.): A feeling, opinion, or tone held by a speaker toward a topic or event.
- Apex Predator (n.): A predator at the top of a food chain upon which no other creatures prey.
- Keystone Species (n.): A species on which other species in an ecosystem largely depend.
- Trophic Cascade (n.): An ecological process starting at the top of the food chain and tumbling down to the bottom.
- Skeptical (adj.): Not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations.
Vocabulary Quiz: Matching
Identifying a Speaker’s Attitude in TOEFL iBT Listening
On the TOEFL iBT, “Attitude Questions” ask you to determine how a speaker feels about a specific topic, event, or person. Rather than stating their feelings directly (e.g., “I am worried”), speakers convey their attitude through tone of voice, intonation, and word choice (diction).
Common Attitude Types and Clues
| Attitude Type | Tone & Intonation | Word Choice / Indicator Phrases |
| Concerned / Anxious | Hesitant, downward pitch, sighing, stressed vocal emphasis. | “alarmingly”, “worrisome”, “troubling trend”, “what worries me is…” |
| Skeptical / Doubtful | Rising pitch on key words, pausing, flat delivery. | “really?”, “supposedly”, “hardly convincing”, “I press X to doubt…” |
| Enthusiastic / Optimistic | High pitch, energetic delivery, fast tempo. | “fascinating”, “groundbreaking”, “promising result”, “remarkably” |
| Critical / Disapproving | Sharp emphasis, heavy pauses, sarcastic inflection. | “shortsighted”, “flawed logic”, “overlooked”, “careless” |
Attitude Identification Strategy
- Listen to Vocal Cues: Notice shifts in pitch, stress, and pauses.
- Spot Emotional Adjectives: Note descriptive words that show evaluation rather than raw facts (“troubling” vs. “numerical”).
- Context Matters: Determine if the speaker’s tone changes when introducing a specific species or scientific model.
Skill Practice
Practice Quiz 1: Fill in the Blank
Practice Quiz 2: True or False
Listen to the audio and answer True or False.
Practice Quiz 3: Multiple Choice