[TOEFL/Writing] Question 1 : Volcanic building metarials

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TOEFL Integrated Writing Practice – Volcanic Building Materials, Test Resources

 

 The writer and the lecturer mentioned the use of volcanic rock. The writer mentioned the advantages of volcanic rock in the construction and the lecturer argued the opposite.

 First, the writer mentioned volcanic rock has long durability and high resistance. Because of theseproperites, volcanic rock can resist harsh condition, extreme heat, rain and so on. Moreover, volcanic rock is robust to erosion, decay, and weathering. The lecturer disagreed with these advantages. Some constructions using volcanic rock could have significant damage when the earthquake occurs. On the other hand, concrete is more sustainable than volcanic rock. 

 Second, the writer said structures using volcanic rock can maintain a stable inside temperature and this can help use energy efficiently. Moreover, this advantage could be efficient in special regions. The lecturer asserted the energy efficiency of volcanic rock is overstated and modern engineering like windows and frames are better to maintain temperature and deal with energy use. Modern facilities are easier to manage.

 Lastly, the writer mentioned that people can find volcanic rock locally, and when people move this material, people do not have to move a long-distance. This could reduce the carbon emissions. However, the lecturer said large amounts of volcanic rock are hard to find near the habitat. For this reason, it is hard to reduce the carbon emissions