TOEFL iBT independent writing, A question you would ask a famous person -partly rewritten-

Writing Topic

If you could ask a famous person one question, what would you ask? Why? Use specific reasons and details to support your answer.

 

 

☆Let’s think

The same types of questions as today’s topic are as follows:

♦If you could meet a famous entertainer or athlete, who would that be, and why?

♦If you could travel back in time to meet a famous person from history, what person would you like to meet?

♦If you could go back to some time and place in the past, when and where would you go?

 

Whoever or wherever you might choose, it is safe to choose a person or a place you have many things to write about, the person or place you often think or hear about. If you write about a person the rater of your essay might not know even though the person is famous among a number of people, make sure that you explain why he or she is famous.

 

 

☆Sample short response:

If I could ask a famous person one question, I would ask Bradley Manning if he ever regrets what he has done because I think what he has done is worth more than respect and I do not know if I would do the same as he did if I were in his position.

 

He is famous as a wikileaker. He is said to have leaked to WikiLeaks, a leaking site for public good and transparent society, confidential documents and video of the American military and government. Because of his deed, it became open that there are more civilian casualties in Afghanistan and Iraq than were officially reported, there is at least one war crime committed in Iraq, and what the US officials say to the world is different from what they are saying between themselves. Of course he angered the government and he was caught. He has gone through more-than-a-year solitary confinement and suffered harsh treatment, which many people call a torture and which have dulled his mind according to a report.

 

If I asked the question, he might say he has no regret, because I hear he is a person of a highly moral character. He believes that he has done a good thing for people, especially for the weak. He had been sympathetic to the oppressed under dictatorships when he found the documents that contain facts that those people should know. He might also say that he would do the same but would do it more carefully. He was arrested because he hinted what he had done to a person who he thought was his friend. Bradley Manning was only 23 years old then, and had had a traumatic life. I think it cannot be helped that he told his secret to a chatting mate who shared many of his interests. If there is one thing he might regret, it would be that he tried to believe that a friend would never tell on him.

 

 

Your short response:

If I could ask a famous person one question, I would ask …

 

because …

 

 

He / She is /was famous for /as …

 

 

If I asked the question, he / she might say …

 

 

He / She might also say …

 

 

 

☆Essay for Ideas and Expressions

If I could ask a famous person one question, I would ask Neil Armstrong what it felt like to walk on the moon. Sometimes I think it would be scary; sometimes I think it would be fun. On the other hand, maybe Neil Armstrong was too busy to feel scared or have fun while he was walking on the moon.

 

I think it could be very scary to go to walk on the moon. Neil Armstrong was the first person to do it. He was well prepared for the event, but he still couldn’t be sure what he would find. Also, maybe he worried that something might happen. What if he had a problem with his oxygen or couldn’t get back to the spaceship on time? I wonder if he thought about these things, or if he just did his job.

 

On the other hand, maybe Neil Armstrong had fun walking on the moon. The gravity is different so just taking steps would feel different. I think that would be fun. If I went to the moon, I would want to run and jump and shout, “Hurray! I am on the moon!” I wonder if Armstrong felt that way.

 

Maybe Armstrong didn’t have time to feel scared or happy or anything else. He had a very important job to do. The whole world was watching him. He had to be serious and focus on his work. His time was short. He probably didn’t have time for anything except to get his job done. 

 

It can be a scary thing or a fun adventure to do something for the first time. Being the first person to walk on the moon is one of the most incredible adventures of all time. I would like to meet Neil Armstrong if I could ask him how it felt. (Barron’s, Writing for the TOEFL iBT, p.297)