PTE Summarize Written Text Practice: Urban Farming and Food Sustainability

Introduction to Summarize Written Text in PTE

The Summarize Written Text task in the PTE Speaking & Writing section tests the candidate’s ability to quickly understand a written passage and condense it into one concise sentence. The task measures reading comprehension as well as writing skills, particularly focusing on clarity and coherence in summarizing complex texts. One increasingly common theme in PTE exams is urban farming and food sustainability, reflecting the growing relevance of these topics in today’s world.

Urban farming and food sustainability are significant topics in the context of questions regarding sustainable development, the environment, and agriculture. These topics often appear in PTE exams due to their global relevance and complexity in terms of economic, environmental, and social impacts.

Sample Summarize Written Text Questions on Urban Farming and Food Sustainability

Task: Read the passage below and summarize it in one sentence. Your summary should be between 5 and 75 words.

Urban farming is an agricultural practice that has been gaining increasing attention globally due to concerns over food security, environmental conservation, and sustainable city development. With urbanization on the rise, the pressure on rural farmlands continues to grow. Urban farming offers a solution by integrating small-scale agriculture within city limits, ensuring the local production of fresh produce and reducing the transportation distances of goods, thereby lowering carbon footprints. This practice also plays a role in educating city dwellers about food production and its environmental impacts, fostering healthier eating habits within urban populations. Moreover, urban farming contributes to community cohesion by creating green spaces that serve not only as sources of food but also as communal gathering points, helping develop a sense of community and well-being in an urbanized world.

Summarize the passage in one sentence.

Model Answers for Different PTE Score Bands

Band 90 (Perfect Score)

Urban farming promotes food security, sustainable development, and community well-being by efficiently integrating small-scale agriculture into city spaces, while reducing environmental impacts and fostering healthier eating habits.

Content: Accurately captures all the key points, including food security, environmental benefits, and community impact.
Form: Meets the word count requirement (28 words), written as one complete sentence.
Grammar: No grammatical mistakes.
Vocabulary: Uses advanced vocabulary such as “integrating,” “reducing environmental impacts,” and “food security.”
Spelling: No spelling errors.

Band 75-85 (Very High Score)

Urban farming calls for growing food within city boundaries to increase food security, minimize transportation emissions, and create green communal spaces that enhance well-being.

Content: Captures most key points but omits educational aspects and healthier eating habits.
Form: Meets the word count requirement (26 words), written as one complete sentence.
Grammar: No grammatical errors observed.
Vocabulary: Adequate use of relevant vocabulary like “food security” and “minimize emissions.”
Spelling: No spelling errors.

Band 60-70 (Medium Score)

Urban farming allows growing crops in cities to reduce food transportation and help the environment.

Content: Misses several key points such as food security, community cohesion, and integration within city limits, making the summary less comprehensive.
Form: Correct word count (16 words), one sentence.
Grammar: Simple grammar but correct.
Vocabulary: Limited vocabulary, lacking variety and precision, e.g., “helps the environment” is vague.
Spelling: No spelling errors.

Band 50-60 (Low Score)

Urban farming is good because it helps cities with food and reduces carbon footprint.

Content: Minimal points are captured; important details about sustainable development, community spaces, and education missing.
Form: Word count is acceptable (15 words), but the sentence is too simplistic and lacking depth.
Grammar: Basic, with no mistakes, but overly simplistic sentence structure.
Vocabulary: Very basic; “good” instead of “beneficial,” “reduces carbon footprint” is fine but could be nuanced.
Spelling: No issues with spelling.

Vocabulary and Grammar Used in the Passage

The passage contains several intermediate to advanced terms related to urban farming and sustainability. Below are ten key words, their definitions, and example sentences to improve your understanding:

1. Urbanization /ˌɝː.bən.əˈzeɪ.ʃən/ – The process by which towns and cities expand as more people move from rural areas.

   • The rapid urbanization of the world’s population is increasing the demand for urban farming.

2. Sustainability /səˌsteɪ.nəˈbɪl.ə.ti/ – The ability to maintain processes over the long term without harming the environment.

   • Urban farming contributes to sustainability by reducing food waste and lowering transportation emissions.

3. Food security /ˈfuːd sɪˌkjʊr.ə.ti/ – The state where everyone has reliable access to sufficient, affordable, and nutritious food.

   • Urban farming helps improve food security in densely populated cities.

4. Carbon footprint /ˈkɑːr.bən ˌfʊt.prɪnt/ – The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities.

   • Growing food locally through urban farming reduces the carbon footprint attributed to transportation.

5. Conservation /ˌkɑːn.sɚˈveɪ.ʃən/ – The act of protecting something, especially the environment, from harm or destruction.

   • Promoting urban farming is one solution to balancing urbanization and environmental conservation.

6. Cohesion /koʊˈhiːʒ.ən/ – The action or fact of forming a united whole.

   • Urban farming projects promote social cohesion by encouraging community involvement.

7. Integration /ˌɪn.tɪˈɡreɪ.ʃən/ – The process of combining or coordinating parts or elements into a unified whole.

   • Integration of green spaces in urban environments can promote community and environmental benefits.

8. Emission /ɪˈmɪʃ.ən/ – The release of gases, particularly those that contribute to air pollution and global warming.

   • Urban farming helps lower emissions by reducing the need to transport agricultural goods over long distances.

9. Agriculture /ˈæɡ.rə.kʌl.tʃɚ/ – The science or practice of farming.

   • Urban agriculture allows the city to grow food locally, minimizing dependence on rural farming.

10. Community well-being /kəˈmjuː.nɪ.ti wɛlˈbiː.ɪŋ/ – The overall health and happiness of people in a society or group.

    • Urban farms act as communal spaces, enhancing community well-being by providing access to fresh produce and green environments.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Summarize Written Text task in the PTE Speaking & Writing section is an essential skill to master. The sample tasks provided here on the popular topic of urban farming and food sustainability reflect real-world issues that are increasingly prominent in PTE exams. The ability to critically summarize these texts is crucial for a high score. Keep practicing with more passages, building on vocabulary and improving sentence structure for better results. Feel free to leave any comments if you have questions or need further exercises to improve your skills!