Understanding the Purpose of the Professor's Guidance
Listen to the following conversation between a professor and a graduate student discussing thesis ideas:
Professor: It's great to see you, Sarah. I wanted to talk about your thesis proposal. Have you thought more about the topic we discussed last week?
Sarah: Yes, I have! I've been considering focusing on the impact of social media on mental health, especially among teenagers. I think there’s a lot of data available, and I feel passionate about this topic.
Professor: That sounds promising! However, you should also consider the ethical implications of using such data and how you will address them in your thesis. It may not be straightforward.
Sarah: You're right. I hadn't thought deeply about that aspect. I suppose I need to explore the guidelines for ethical research involving minors.
Professor: Exactly! And you might also want to look into existing studies on that topic to see what gaps you can fill. Let’s meet again next week to discuss your findings.
Note: This question has been adapted from its original format to accommodate a reading-based version. In the official TOEFL exam, speaking and listening sections require verbal responses and audio prompts, which are not represented here. Please note that this adaptation may not fully reflect the nature or difficulty of the official exam. The audio feature for these sections will be available soon.