需求层次理论(Maslow's hierarchy of needs)由美国心理学家亚伯拉罕·马斯洛(Abraham Harold Maslow ) 1943年提出， 全面的回答了人为什么活着这个命题。此需求理论金字塔从最低级到最高级分别是生理需求、安全需求、社会社交需求、尊重的需求和自我实现的需求。接下来我们就结合托福试题逐个分析马斯洛需求层次理论是如何应用于托福口语的。

　　· 生理需求Physiological Needs

　　人最基本的、也是最急迫的需求就是生理需求如衣食住行food, clothes and shelter. 请看这道题：

　　When choosing a university, which of the following factors do you care about most: cost, size location? Why this characteristic is the most important to you?

　　当你选择大学的时候你是看重成本、大小还是地方并给出具体的原因，看似此题跟基本生理需求没有任何关系，如果我们选择location的话不难发现一个大城市可以更好的满足人最基本的生理需求。吃货可以去fancy restaurants，没衣服穿了可以去shopping mall购物, 无聊了还可以去bar或者coffee shop消遣，而针对这些需求大城市相对于小地方更容易满足人最基本的生理需求。

　　参考段子：

　　I would say location is the most important factor I care about, cuz if I chose to study in a big city like New York, Boston and Los Angeles, I would get a better chance not to get bored. I am the kind of person who likes the hustle bustle of big cities, I can explore the culinary delights in the fancy restaurants, going to the shopping mall to choose my outfits, and whenever I feel really fed up with my study I can always go to the bars and coffee shops to hang out with my friend.

　　解析：以上的段子里面有细节如城市名称纽约、波士顿和洛杉矶，当然也有好多店铺的细节：餐厅、商场、咖啡馆和酒吧，这些细节巧妙的结合了马斯洛需求层次理论中最基本的生理需求。

　　· 安全需求 Safety and Security Needs

　　在满足生理需求之后，人还渴望得到安全稳定如选择一个安全的社区居住，寻求工作上的安全，生病了有医疗保险或是足够的钱看病等等。请看以下题目：

　　If you had some extra money, would spend it right away or save it? Which choice do you prefer and why? Include details in your explanation.

　　参考段子：

　　Personally, I would say I am a conservative person and like to save some money for future use. When we have enough food and proper shelter to live, we also have to think about our safety, like what if you had a bad accident and are in urgent need some of money and have no money to spend. Saving the money for future emergency sounds like a better option for me.

　　解析：

　　结合马斯洛需求层次理论，上面的段子在说明满足基本需求之外，人还需要安全感进而引到自己的观点上来，如果哪一天出现意外没有钱咋办，通过这个例子说明要未雨绸缪防患于未然。

　　再如这个题目：

　　Describe your most favorite place for vocation.

　　这道题我们可以结合前两个需求即生理需求和安全需求来回答，关于生理需求(吃喝玩乐)我们就不赘述请参考地点语料库。针对安全需求可以说：

　　XXXX is also a very safe place. A place where a women can walk on the streets alone in the middle of the night without fear is pretty hard to find, and during my stay in XXX, sometime I find it hard to fall asleep and I often take late night walks along the beach and never had any problems, it is such a safe place.

　· 社会社交需求

　　作为social beings，人类在满足以上基本需求之外都渴求家庭幸福、爱情美满、并寻求社会的归属感。请看题目：

　　Describe an activity you tried and enjoyed recently.

　　参考段子：

　　The activity that I have done recently a volunteering work I did, actually it is a program focusing on the education quality of underprivileged(弱势群体的) kids, I went to the poverty-stricken region of my country together with other members and taught there for a week. I have been taught by my parents to be loving person from day one, and I think this was a really meaningful experience, cuz I feel like the unlucky kids deserve a sense of belonging to the community and love from others.

　　解析： 这个段子提高自己去偏远地区支教，并指出一个人要怀有怜悯之心，而能帮助贫困地区的儿童学点知识有助于培养他们对社会的归属感。

　　再如：Describe a big decision you have made recently.

　　参考段子：

　　Well, I would say a major decision that I made recently is to study in America. Actually, it takes a long time to decide, you know there are lots of challenges if I study there, like language barriers, cultural shock and stuff.

　　But I finally made the decision, cuz I think I should focus on the bright side of going there, like I would experience the things that I never got a chance to, I can interact with my counterparts and exchange refreshing ideas, by socializing with local students, it is possible for me to learn their culture, customs, way of living and thus I can broaden my horizon and enrich my experience.

　　解析：

　　第一段是个lead in, 提出去美国学习挑战并举例如语言障碍、文化差异，但很快就进入主题，出国之后可以了解异域文化、生活习惯风土人情，在跟他们的社交和交流中更是可以拓宽视野、丰富人生经历。

　　· 尊重的需求Need of Respect

　　这是更高的需求如成就、名声、地位、晋升机会公开奖励和表扬等。尊重需求既包括对成就或自我价值的个人感觉，也包括他人对自己的认可与尊重。

　　Do you agree or disagree: Students should wear uniform in school? Please include specific details and examples in your opinion.

　　参考段子：

　　I definitely agree that students to wear uniforms in school. Requiring students to wear uniforms cultivates students' strong sense of belonging to their school, and also students might feel very proud and receive the gory and recognition whenever they are wearing their school uniforms.

　　解析：建议学生穿校服，可以增加他们的归属和荣誉感-尊重的需求。

　　· 自我实现的需求 the Need of Self-actualization

　　人活在世上绝非吃喝玩乐，在满足以上需求后要做点让自己没有白白来到这个世界的事情,也就是实现自己的价值。

　　请看题目：

　　If you get a chance to choose a job, what will you do? What’s your reason for choosing this job? Please give your statement and include specific examples and details in your opinion.

　　参考段子：

　　I would say my dream job is to be a lawyer, actually my dream to an attorney can be dated back to my childhood. It takes lots of work to be lawyer, you need to go to law school and pass the bar. However, I think since I am so determined and motivated, that won't be a big problem.

　　解析：第一句话回答问题说明想做律师，虽然是个挑战相信自己的坚持一定会实现。

　　Lawyer is a noble profession with big monetary reward, but I think there is more than that, I can leverage the law to help the underprivileged and unlucky ones in the society, like those who got ripped off by employers, got taken advantaged by unfair institutions, and I think it is a noble cause, indeed, being a lawyer, one can realize their value to society by helping these people out.

　　解析：阐述做律师不仅赚钱，更重要的是可以帮助更多的弱势群体，实现自己的社会价值。