In psychology, the concept of 'functional fixedness' refers to a cognitive bias that limits a person to using an object only in the way it is traditionally used. This mental block prevents individuals from imagining alternative uses for familiar objects, thereby hindering creative problem-solving. Functional fixedness often arises because past experiences and established schemas strongly associate an object with its conventional function, making it difficult to perceive novel applications. Overcoming this bias requires deliberately restructuring one's perception of the object's potential.
🎧 Listening Lecture
Professor: Let me illustrate functional fixedness with a classic experiment. Participants were given a box of thumbtacks, a candle, and a book of matches. Their task was to attach the candle to a wall so that it could burn without dripping wax on the floor. Many struggled. They tried to tack the candle directly to the wall, but it broke, or to melt wax to stick it, but it fell. The solution was to empty the thumbtack box, tack it to the wall as a shelf, and place the candle inside. Those who failed saw the box only as a container for thumbtacks, not as a potential shelf. This is functional fixedness—they couldn't see beyond the box's typical role.
❓ Question Question: Using the example from the lecture, explain the concept of functional fixedness.
📊 TOEFL Speaking Task 3 Rubric
Delivery: Fluency, pronunciation, intonation
Language Use: Grammar, vocabulary, sentence variety
Topic Development: Accurately explain the reading concept and restate the lecture examples
Scored 0-30 based on holistic scoring (original 0-4, scaled to 30). 30s preparation, 60s response.
💡 Answering Tips
Note the core concept definition from the reading (usually 1-2 sentences)
Record 1-2 specific examples the professor uses in the lecture
Start with the concept definition, then explain with lecture examples
Use template phrases: "The reading defines... The professor illustrates this by..."
Keep within 60s; ensure clarity and fluency
🎤 免费 AI 口语评分
基于 2800+ 托福真题评分库 · 无限次免费使用
⚠️ AI 自动评分基于托福官方口语三大维度（Delivery / Language Use / Topic Development）标准开发，结果仅供练习参考。
