Practice Summarize Written Text Question: Ocean Plastic Pollution Solutions
In the following sections, we’ll explore sample Summarize Written Text questions based on the theme of “ocean plastic pollution solutions.” Each will be accompanied by model answers for different band scores and a detailed analysis focusing on essential evaluation criteria.
Sample Question 1: Ocean Plastic Pollution
Plastic pollution in oceans has become a serious environmental concern, contributing to the destruction of marine ecosystems and endangering various species. Millions of tons of plastic waste are dumped into the oceans annually, breaking down into toxic microplastics, which are then ingested by marine animals. This not only harms sea creatures but eventually affects humans who consume seafood. Several strategies, such as reducing plastic production, implementing better waste management systems, and adopting biodegradable alternatives, have been proposed to mitigate this growing issue. Enhanced international cooperation and public awareness campaigns are also vital in addressing the problem at a global scale.
Task: Summarize the text in one sentence. Your response must be between 5 and 75 words.
Model Answer for Band 90
Ocean plastic pollution threatens marine life and humans by releasing toxic microplastics, but potential solutions like reducing plastic production, waste management, adopting biodegradable materials, and international cooperation can mitigate the problem.
Content: Strong; the entire passage has been highly condensed, covering all key points effectively.
Form: 29 words; satisfies the word limit requirement (5-75 words).
Grammar: Excellent; a well-structured complex sentence.
Vocabulary: Advanced usage of terms such as “toxic microplastics,” “biodegradable materials,” and “mitigate.”
Spelling: No errors.
Model Answer for Band 79
Plastic pollution in oceans harms marine life and humans through microplastics, but solutions include reducing plastic use, better waste management, and international cooperation.
Content: Good; covers most key points but omits some specifics, such as biodegradable alternatives.
Form: 26 words; well within the acceptable word limit.
Grammar: Correct; clear sentence structure.
Vocabulary: Adequate but less diverse compared to band 90 answer.
Spelling: No errors.
Model Answer for Band 65
Plastic in oceans affects animals and humans, and solutions include reducing plastic and improving waste management.
Content: Satisfactory; only covers the core elements without mentioning specifics like “microplastics” or “biodegradable alternatives.”
Form: 16 words; satisfies the length requirement, though somewhat lacking in detail.
Grammar: Basic but correct.
Vocabulary: Basic; lacks advanced terms or variety.
Spelling: No errors.
Sample Question 2: Global Solutions to Ocean Plastic
Apart from affecting marine life, plastic pollution in oceans disrupts tourism and fishing industries, further aggravating economic challenges for coastal communities. Although, numerous initiatives like The Ocean Cleanup, which aims to remove over 90% of floating ocean plastics, and banning single-use plastics globally show great promise, critical gaps remain in worldwide enforcement and infrastructure. The future of ocean plastic pollution mitigation relies on a combination of innovative technologies and global governmental commitments, alongside consumer behavior changes to reduce plastic waste.
Task: Summarize the text in one sentence. Your response must be between 5 and 75 words.
Model Answer for Band 90
While initiatives such as The Ocean Cleanup and banning single-use plastics provide hope for reducing ocean plastic, gaps in enforcement and infrastructure necessitate global cooperation, innovative technology, and consumer behavior change.
Content: Excellent; concisely incorporates all essential points mentioned in the text.
Form: 34 words; perfectly within the word limit.
Grammar: Strong; coherent and correctly structured.
Vocabulary: Effective use of terms like “enforcement,” “infrastructure,” and “consumer behavior.”
Spelling: No errors.
Model Answer for Band 79
Though initiatives like The Ocean Cleanup and plastic bans help reduce plastic pollution, global cooperation and better enforcement are needed alongside technological and consumer changes.
Content: Good; includes most of the crucial points, but lacks explicit mention of “economic challenges for coastal communities.”
Form: 27 words; well within the word requirement.
Grammar: Correct; well-structured sentence with proper flow.
Vocabulary: Adequate; suitable for this band level.
Spelling: No errors.
Model Answer for Band 65
Ocean plastic pollution can be reduced by initiatives and consumer behavior changes, but more global cooperation is required.
Content: Satisfactory; clear but lacks key details, such as specific examples or the role of enforcement and infrastructure.
Form: 18 words; meets the minimum requirement though rather brief.
Grammar: Simple but correct, lacking complexity.
Vocabulary: Basic; lacks some diversity and precision.
Spelling: Correct.
Vocabulary and Grammar Insights
Here are some important words and their definitions taken from the passages to help build your lexical resource:
-
Mitigate /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/: (v) to make something less harmful or severe.
Example: Policies to mitigate climate change are gaining traction globally. -
Microplastics /ˈmaɪkrəʊˌplæstɪks/: (n) tiny pieces of plastic less than five millimeters in length.
Example: Microplastics are pervasive in marine ecosystems, causing harm to wildlife. -
Biodegradable /ˌbaɪoʊdɪˈɡreɪdəbl/: (adj) capable of being broken down by biological organisms.
Example: Biodegradable packaging is often seen as a better alternative to plastic. -
Enforcement /ɪnˈfɔːsmənt/: (n) the process of ensuring compliance with a rule or law.
Example: Effective enforcement of environmental laws is critical for pollution control. -
Infrastructure /ˈɪn.frəˌstrʌk.tʃər/: (n) basic systems and services that are necessary for a country or organization to run smoothly.
Example: Strong waste management infrastructure is essential for preventing plastic pollution. -
Innovation /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃn/: (n) the introduction of new ideas, methods, or inventions.
Example: Innovation in technology drives solutions for ocean plastic cleanup projects. -
Toxic /ˈtɒksɪk/: (adj) poisonous and harmful to life.
Example: Toxic chemicals from plastics in the sea pose health risks to marine organisms. -
Consumer Behavior /kənˈsjuːmər bɪˈheɪvjər/: (n) the habits or practices of consumers regarding purchasing and using products.
Example: Changing consumer behavior is crucial for reducing plastic waste. -
Ecosystem /ˈiːkəʊˌsɪstəm/: (n) a biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Example: Plastic waste severely impacts the balance of marine ecosystems. -
Commitment /kəˈmɪtmənt/: (n) a pledge or dedication to a certain cause or policy.
Example: Global governments must show stronger commitment to reducing plastic pollution.
Conclusion
Through the examples and detailed explanation provided above regarding ocean plastic pollution solutions, you can see how vital it is to summarize effectively in the Summarize Written Text task of the PTE exam. Given the importance of environment-related topics in this test, we highly encourage practicing regularly and refining your summarization skills to ensure success. Do you have any other sentence samples to contribute? Feel free to share them in the comments!
