TOEFL Integrated Writing Practice Test 051Cane Toad

The cane toad, a large amphibian species weighing around 1.8 kg, is originally from Central and South America. It was purposefully introduced to Australia in 1935 with the aim of helping farmers by consuming insects that damage crops. However, the toads reproduced quickly, and their population now poses a threat to smaller native animals that are not considered pests. Several strategies have been suggested to curb the spread of cane toads in Australia.

One approach to stop the spread would be to construct a national fence. A barrier preventing the movement of the toads would stop them from invading parts of Australia they haven’t yet reached. This method has been used in the past: a national fence was built in the early 20th century to stop the spread of rabbits, another species introduced to Australia that had a detrimental effect on native ecosystems.

Another proposal is to capture and eliminate the toads with the help of volunteers. Cane toads can be easily trapped using simple devices or even caught by hand. Younger toads and their eggs are even easier to collect and destroy since they are confined to water. If the Australian government were to launch a campaign encouraging citizens to work together to remove the toads, the combined effort could halt their spread.

Finally, scientists are working on developing a virus to control the cane toad population. This virus would be specifically engineered to infect various amphibians and reptiles but only harm cane toads. By preventing them from reaching maturity and reproducing, the virus would effectively manage the population of cane toads.