Listen to part of a lecture in an environmental science class. Professor: Today, we're discussing the concept of 'carbon footprint' and its implications. A carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gas emissions caused directly or indirectly by an individual, organization, event, or product. It's usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide. Now, many people focus on reducing their personal carbon footprint by, say, driving less or eating less meat. But there's a growing debate about the effectiveness of individual actions versus systemic changes. For instance, a study found that even if the top 10% of emitters globally reduced their emissions to the level of the average European, total emissions would drop by only 20%. That's significant, but not enough to meet climate targets. So, some argue that policy changes, like carbon taxes or regulations on industry, are more effective. However, individual actions can create cultural shifts that influence policy. So, it's not either-or; it's both. But time is short, so we need to prioritize the most impactful measures. What are your thoughts?
❓ Câu hỏi What is the professor's main point about reducing carbon footprints?
A. Individual actions are more effective than systemic changes.
B. Systemic changes are the only way to reduce emissions significantly.
C. Both individual actions and systemic changes are needed, but systemic changes may be more impactful.
D. Top emitters should reduce their emissions to the level of an average European.
✅ Đáp án đúng
Both individual actions and systemic changes are needed, but systemic changes may be more impactful.
TOEFL Listening Tips
Skim the questions first to predict the content
Watch for signal words in lectures and conversations (however, actually, in fact)
For main idea questions, focus on the beginning; for detail questions, focus on examples and data
For attitude questions, pay attention to the speaker's tone and word choice
Take notes on keywords; don't try to write down every word