Summarize Written Text: Impacts of Climate Change on Health in PTE Exam

The Summarize Written Text task is a critical part of the Speaking & Writing section in the PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic. It requires test-takers to read a passage and summarize it in a single sentence, keeping the word count between 5 and 75 words. One of the most commonly encountered topics in recent PTE exams is the Impacts Of Climate Change On Health. In this article, we provide multiple sample Summarize Written Text tasks related to climate change to help candidates prepare effectively.

Summarizing complex topics like climate change, especially its numerous health impacts, demands a good understanding of the subject along with excellent language skills. Practicing these tasks will not only improve your chances of excelling in the exam but also enhance your awareness on this important global issue. The following tasks emulate real PTE exam questions on this topic.

Sample Summarize Written Text Tasks on “Impacts of Climate Change on Health”

Task 1: Sample Passage – Health Impact from Extreme Weather Events

Climate change has led to increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events such as heatwaves, floods, and hurricanes, which have a direct impact on human health. These events can cause fatalities, injuries, and illnesses, as well as exacerbate existing health issues like cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Vulnerable populations, including the elderly and children, are particularly at risk. Moreover, flooding and extreme heat can disrupt essential health services, further complicating the management of medical emergencies and chronic diseases during such crises.

Summarize the text in one sentence:

Sample Answers

Band 90:
Climate change is causing more frequent and severe extreme weather events, which pose significant health risks, especially for vulnerable populations, by exacerbating existing conditions and disrupting healthcare services.

• Content: Accurately captures the main ideas including climate change, extreme weather events, health risks, vulnerable populations, and disruption of services.
• Form: The response fits within the required word count (36 words) and presents as a grammatically complete sentence.
• Grammar: No grammatical errors.
• Vocabulary: Uses vocabulary effectively, e.g., “exacerbating,” “disrupting.”
• Spelling: All words spelled correctly.

Band 65:
Climate change increases extreme weather events, which cause health problems and make it hard for vulnerable people to get medical help.

• Content: The main ideas of the passage are mostly covered, but lacks mentions of specific weather events and medical conditions.
• Form: The response fits within the word count (23 words) and is complete.
• Grammar: No significant grammatical errors.
• Vocabulary: Suitable but simpler wording.
• Spelling: Spelled correctly.

Band 50:
Climate change affects health because of more heatwaves and floods.

• Content: The answer is too brief and misses many crucial points mentioned in the passage, such as impacts on healthcare, vulnerable groups, or details about health risks.
• Form: Very short at only 11 words, limiting the information conveyed.
• Grammar: No errors, but the sentence feels underdeveloped.
• Vocabulary: Simple and lacks range.
• Spelling: Correct spelling.

Task 2: Sample Passage – Spread of Infectious Diseases

The increase in global temperatures due to climate change is creating more favorable environments for the spread of infectious diseases. Warmer climates, especially in tropical and subtropical regions, allow disease vectors, such as mosquitoes, to thrive. This has led to an increase in the prevalence of diseases like malaria and dengue fever. Furthermore, changes in rainfall patterns also contribute to the spread of waterborne diseases, putting millions of people at risk, particularly those in developing countries with limited access to healthcare.

Summarize the text in one sentence:

Sample Answers

Band 90:
Climate change is expanding the range of disease-carrying vectors and altering rainfall patterns, increasing the spread of infectious diseases like malaria and dengue, especially in developing countries with limited healthcare access.

• Content: Includes the main points about disease vectors, waterborne diseases, and the effect on developing countries.
• Form: One well-formed sentence with 33 words.
• Grammar: Accurate and complex grammatical structure.
• Vocabulary: Advanced, with terms like “expanding the range,” “altering rainfall patterns.”
• Spelling: No mistakes.

Band 65:
Climate change helps spread diseases like malaria and dengue due to warmer temperatures and changing rain patterns, especially in poor countries.

• Content: Captures the main ideas but misses the detailed explanation about healthcare access and disease vectors.
• Form: 22 words, but complete.
• Grammar: Mostly correct, though slightly shorter and less detailed.
• Vocabulary: Simplified but suitable.
• Spelling: No spelling errors.

Band 50:
Climate change is spreading diseases.

• Content: The answer is generic and fails to mention key details such as the causes, types of diseases, and impact on specific countries.
• Form: Too brief with only 5 words.
• Grammar: No issues, but overly simplistic.
• Vocabulary: Very basic.
• Spelling: Correct.

Vocabulary and Grammar

Here are 10 vocabulary words from the passages, with their definitions and example sentences:

1. Exacerbate (/ɪɡˈzæs.əˌbeɪt/): To make a situation worse.
   Example: Heatwaves exacerbate conditions like asthma and heart disease.

2. Vector (/ˈvɛk.tər/): An organism (e.g., mosquito) that transmits disease.
   Example: Mosquitoes are vectors for transmitting malaria.

3. Heatwave (/ˈhiːt.weɪv/): A prolonged period of excessively hot weather.
   Example: The heatwave caused numerous health-related incidents.

4. Prevalence (/ˈprɛv.ə.ləns/): The commonness or widespread occurrence of a disease.
   Example: The prevalence of malaria has increased due to warmer temperatures.

5. Disrupt (/dɪsˈrʌpt/): Interrupt or cause disorder.
   Example: Flooding can disrupt essential health services.

6. Waterborne (/ˈwɔː.tər.bɔːrn/): Diseases transmitted through water.
   Example: Waterborne diseases like cholera often spread in areas with unsafe drinking water.

7. Fatality (/fəˈtæl.ɪ.ti/): A death caused by an accident, war, or disease.
   Example: The heatwave resulted in several fatalities across the country.

8. Resilience (/rɪˈzɪl.jəns/): The ability to recover quickly from difficult conditions.
   Example: Building healthcare resilience is essential in managing climate-related health risks.

9. Cardiovascular (/ˌkɑː.di.əʊˈvæs.kjʊ.lər/): Related to the heart and blood vessels.
   Example: Cardiovascular diseases are worsened by extreme heat.

10. Subtropical (/ˌsʌb.trəʊˈpɪk.əl/): Relating to regions bordering the tropics.
    Example: Subtropical areas are facing increased mosquito populations due to climate change.

Conclusion

Summarizing texts about the impacts of climate change on health is a vital skill for succeeding in the Summarize Written Text task in the PTE exam. The ability to condense wide-ranging information from topics like extreme weather, disease spread, and more, into concise yet comprehensive summaries needs practice. Remember to keep perfecting your content, grammar, and form when tackling such topics, and use every opportunity to familiarize yourself with related global challenges like Environmental sustainability in urban design.

Keep practicing Summarize Written Text tasks, and don’t hesitate to share your own answers or questions for feedback in the comments!