Summarize Written Text in PTE: Smart Cities and Sustainable Development Practice

The Summarize Written Text

Practice Summarize Written Text Questions on Smart Cities and Sustainable Development

Below, you’ll find sample Summarize Written Text questions built around the theme of smart cities and sustainable development. Each passage is followed by sample answers for different band scores, as well as an in-depth analysis of scoring criteria like content, grammar, and form.

Practice Question 1

“Smart cities are the result of increasing urbanization and the need to create sustainable and livable environments for growing populations. A smart city typically incorporates advanced information and communication technology (ICT) to optimize services and resources, such as energy, transportation, and waste management. These cities aim to reduce environmental impact while enhancing economic development and improving the quality of life for residents.”

Your task: Summarize the passage in one sentence in no more than 75 words.

Sample Answer for Band 90:

Smart cities use advanced technology to manage resources efficiently and sustainably in order to minimize environmental impact while improving the living conditions and promoting economic development, especially in rapidly urbanizing regions.

Analysis:

• Content: Fully covers the main points of the passage by summarizing the use of ICT in optimizing resources and emphasizing sustainability, environmental impact, and urban growth.
• Form: Clear, complete sentence with proper punctuation, staying within the 75-word limit.
• Grammar: Complex sentence structure and correct use of commas.
• Vocabulary: Employs varied and precise vocabulary (e.g., “urbanizing regions,” “optimize resources”).
• Spelling: Spelling is accurate.

Sample Answer for Band 75:

Smart cities use technology to improve resources like transportation and services while reducing environmental impact and promoting both sustainability and economic growth in urban areas.

Analysis:

• Content: Sufficiently covers most key points, lacks a bit of depth in explaining the role of ICT.
• Form: Correct form and sentence length.
• Grammar: Basic sentence structure is adequate, but less sophisticated compared to the Band 90 response.
• Vocabulary: Basic but correctly used (e.g., “urban areas,” “resources”).
• Spelling: Spelling is correct.

Sample Answer for Band 65:

Smart cities help reduce environmental issues by using technology for better management of resources.

Analysis:

• Content: Misses out on the economic development aspect and the depth of ICT usage.
• Form: A short sentence that is complete but lacks full coverage of the topic.
• Grammar: Simple sentence structure which is grammatically correct.
• Vocabulary: Limited, repetitive use of simpler terms without variety (e.g., “better management”).
• Spelling: Spelling is correct.

Practice Question 2

“Sustainable development within cities is critical to combat climate change and manage the increasing demands of urban populations. By embedding renewable energy initiatives and enhancing public infrastructure, municipalities can reduce their carbon footprints while ensuring long-term economic stability. Furthermore, integrating smart technology in areas such as traffic management and energy consumption can enhance efficiency, making cities more resilient to the challenges posed by rapid urbanization and global warming.”

Your task: Summarize the passage in one sentence in no more than 75 words.

Sample Answer for Band 90:

To ensure economic stability and reduce their environmental impact, cities must focus on using renewable energy and smart technologies in infrastructure, traffic management, and energy consumption, helping them to become more resilient to the increasing challenges posed by climate change and urbanization.

Analysis:

• Content: Accurately summarizes the main points about sustainability, technology, and infrastructure.
• Form: Proper sentence structure with the correct use of connectors.
• Grammar: Excellent use of complex construction.
• Vocabulary: Diverse and precise, ranging from “resilient” to “environmental impact.”
• Spelling: Perfect spelling.

Sample Answer for Band 75:

Cities can reduce their carbon emissions and prepare for climate change by using renewable energy and incorporating smart infrastructure technologies for traffic and energy management.

Analysis:

• Content: Good but omits some nuances related to economic stability.
• Form: Appropriate sentence structure; fits within the word limit.
• Grammar: Fine overall but a slightly simpler construction.
• Vocabulary: Some variety but not as rich as Band 90.
• Spelling: No errors.

Sample Answer for Band 65:

Cities can help reduce climate change problems by using renewable energy and smart technology.

Analysis:

• Content: Lacks depth and focus on specific areas such as traffic management and infrastructure.
• Form: Too short and misses key points.
• Grammar: Simple but correct.
• Vocabulary: Little variety.
• Spelling: No mistakes.

Vocabulary and Grammar

Below is a list of 10 challenging words from the sample questions, along with their meaning and usage examples:

1. Urbanization /ˌɜːbənaɪˈzeɪʃən/ (n.): The process of cities expanding and populations increasing in urban areas.

   • Example: “Urbanization is fueling the demand for smart city innovations.”

2. Optimize /ˈɒptɪmaɪz/ (v.): To make the best or most effective use of something.

   • Example: “Governments aim to optimize transportation services with technology.”

3. Infrastructure /ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃər/ (n.): The basic facilities and services that societal functions rely on, such as transport.

   • Example: “The city’s infrastructure struggles with the growing population.”

4. Resilient /rɪˈzɪliənt/ (adj.): Able to recover quickly from difficult conditions.

   • Example: “Smart cities must be resilient to climate change challenges.”

5. Renewable /rɪˈnjuːəbəl/ (adj.): Energy that is not depleted when used, such as wind or solar power.

   • Example: “Renewable energy is key to sustainable city development.”

6. Footprint /ˈfʊtprɪnt/ (n.): The amount of impact or effect something leaves behind.

   • Example: “Cities aim to reduce their carbon footprint.”

7. Municipality /mjuːˌnɪsɪˈpælɪti/ (n.): A city or town with its local government.

   • Example: “The municipality introduced new traffic management systems.”

8. Sustainability /səˌsteɪnəˈbɪlɪti/ (n.): The ability to continue a practice without causing long-term harm.

   • Example: “Sustainability is a core aim for many smart city projects.”

9. Carbon Emission /ˈkɑːbən ɪˈmɪʃən/ (n.): The release of carbon into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.

   • Example: “Reducing carbon emissions is essential for combating global warming.”

10. Enhance /ɪnˈhɑːns/ (v.): To improve the quality or effectiveness of something.

    • Example: “Smart technologies enhance energy efficiency in cities.”

Conclusion

The theme of Smart Cities and Sustainable Development frequently appears in the PTE Summarize Written Text section. Practicing with these kinds of questions will help you hone your summarization skills and increase your chances of success in the exam. Don’t forget to focus on content, proper sentence structure, and accurate grammar usage when preparing. Lastly, exploring resources like Renewable energy policies in urban planning will further strengthen your understanding of critical topics in this area.