TOEFL integrated writing: Chevalier de Seingalt

The reading states that Chevalier' s writing about his life is probably overwhelm,and gives several reasons to support. However.the speaker doesn't agree and cast doubt the points that the reading provides.

First,the reading states that Chevalier was not rich as he claimed because when he lived in Switzerland he borrowed money from a Swiss merchant. However,the speaker argues that borrowing money doesn't mean he was not wealthy. The reason was that at that time he was enjoyed and addicted parties and gambling. So,he need to sell his properties and he had to wait few days to convert the property into the cash. That's why he loan the money from the Swiss merchant.

Second, the reading mentions that his writing was not accurate because it's impossible to remember exact words from the conversations with the famous writer, Voltaire, since he wrote the memoir years after they met. On the other hand, the speaker opposes that actually it's accurate because Chevalier recorded his conversations with Voltaire every night. Also,many witnesses confirmed that he noted his conversations as regularly.

Finally, the reading says that Chevalier escaped from Italy's prison by bribing,not by using a piece of metal to make a hole on the roof and escaped as he claimed. In contrast, the speaker clarifies that at that time there were many prisoners that had more power than Chevalier that could not escape by bribing. Also,there was a government document that showed an evident of repairing the prison roof because of the damage that Chevalier made.