Summarize Written Text: Nuclear Waste Disposal and Environmental Safety in PTE Exam

The Summarize Written Text task in the PTE Speaking & Writing section evaluates various aspects of a candidate’s English skills, including comprehension, summarization, grammar, and vocabulary. One of the frequently observed topics in the exam is related to environmental safety, and today we will focus specifically on nuclear waste disposal and its environmental impact. This topic requires a deep understanding of how nuclear waste management affects the environment, posing both challenges and potential solutions for secure disposal.

Summarize Written Text Task: Nuclear Waste Disposal and Environmental Safety

Task 1: Sample Prompt

Radioactive waste disposal is one of the most significant concerns for governments and environmental agencies due to its long-lasting impact on both people and nature. Nuclear energy is often touted as a clean and efficient solution for the world’s growing energy needs, but the matter of nuclear waste management continues to pose risks to environmental safety. High-level radioactive waste can remain hazardous for thousands of years, requiring specialized containment and technical solutions to prevent contamination of air, water, and soil. Moreover, locating proper disposal sites remains an ongoing debate, balancing factors such as geographic stability, local community safety, and environmental sustainability.

Write one sentence that summarizes the text above.

Sample Responses

Band 90:

While nuclear energy is considered clean, safe disposal of long-lasting radioactive waste remains a critical environmental issue due to risks to air, water, and soil contamination, as well as challenges related to finding sustainable geographic sites.

• Content: Fully captures the core topic of nuclear waste disposal and related risks to environmental safety.
• Form (5-75 words): 38 words.
• Grammar: No errors.
• Vocabulary: Appropriate and precise use of vocabulary (“radioactive”, “sustainable”).
• Spelling: No errors.

Safe and adequate storage sites for nuclear waste

Band 79:

Although nuclear energy is seen as a clean power source, the safe disposal of radioactive waste presents long-term environmental challenges such as contamination and finding appropriate disposal sites.

• Content: Covers most of the critical points related to nuclear waste disposal and environmental risks.
• Form: 31 words.
• Grammar: No errors.
• Vocabulary: Adequate use of topic-specific terms.
• Spelling: No errors.

Band 65:

Nuclear waste disposal remains a critical issue despite nuclear energy’s clean reputation, with challenges like finding disposal sites and avoiding contamination of the air and water.

• Content: Communicates the main idea but somewhat lacks coverage of “sustainability” in disposal.
• Form: 26 words.
• Grammar: Some simplification in sentence structure, but acceptable.
• Vocabulary: Suitable choice of words.
• Spelling: No errors.

For a more detailed look into nuclear energy’s impact on clean power production, you can explore Nuclear energy’s role in clean energy.

Task 2: Sample Prompt

As countries continue to explore renewable energy sources, the issue of nuclear waste disposal becomes a crucial point of contention. Despite the low emissions of nuclear power, critics argue that the inability to safely and permanently dispose of radioactive waste offsets its benefits. Long-term storage solutions like deep geological repositories have been suggested, but questions about environmental safety, geological stability, and risks of human exposure remain unanswered. The consensus among many is that more research and innovation in waste disposal technology are needed.

Write one sentence that summarizes the text above.

Sample Responses:

Band 90:

While nuclear energy emits low emissions, its widespread use is hindered by concerns over the safe and permanent disposal of radioactive waste, which requires further research into secure long-term solutions.

• Content: Successfully captures key ideas such as emission reductions, waste disposal challenges, and the need for research into long-term solutions.
• Form: 37 words.
• Grammar: Perfect.
• Vocabulary: Complex, accurate.
• Spelling: Correct.

Nuclear energy challenges with waste disposal and emissions

Band 79:

Although nuclear power provides low emissions, critics argue that unresolved issues regarding the safe storage of radioactive waste pose environmental risks, and more research is required to develop safer disposal methods.

• Content: Covers the essential information.
• Form: 32 words.
• Grammar: Correct and coherent.
• Vocabulary: Suitable but somewhat less sophisticated.
• Spelling: Correct.

Band 65:

Nuclear power has low emissions, but the disposal of nuclear waste is still unsafe, and more research is being done to find a solution.

• Content: Entirely relevant but lacks depth and detail in comparison.
• Form: 24 words.
• Grammar: Simple structures, no errors.
• Vocabulary: Adequate but simplified.
• Spelling: Correct.

For a more comprehensive review of nuclear waste and its comparison with renewable sources, you can read Nuclear energy versus renewable sources.

Vocabulary

Below are some key vocabulary terms from the reading passages, along with their meanings and examples:

1. Containment /kənˈteɪnmənt/ (n): The action of keeping something harmful under control or within limits.
   Example: The containment of nuclear waste is critical for environmental safety.

2. Hazardous /ˈhæzərdəs/ (adj): Risky, dangerous.
   Example: Radioactive waste can remain hazardous for thousands of years.

3. Geological /ˌdʒiːəˈlɑːdʒɪkl/ (adj): Relating to the geological features of an area.
   Example: The geological stability of disposal sites is crucial.

4. Radioactive /ˌreɪdiəʊˈæktɪv/ (adj): Emitting or relating to the emission of ionizing radiation or particles.
   Example: Radioactive waste requires careful handling to prevent contamination.

5. Sustainable /səˈsteɪnəbl/ (adj): Able to be maintained at a certain rate or level without causing harm.
   Example: Sustainable disposal options for nuclear waste are necessary to reduce environmental risks.

6. Repository /rɪˈpɑːzətɔːri/ (n): A place or space where things can be stored, often securely.
   Example: Deep geological repositories are suggested for long-term nuclear waste storage.

7. Emissions /ɪˈmɪʃənz/ (n): The production and discharge of something, especially gas or radiation.
   Example: Nuclear energy is valued for its low emissions.

8. Contamination /kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃən/ (n): The action or state of making or being made impure by something harmful or unsuitable.
   Example: Air and water contamination are major concerns in nuclear waste disposal.

Hazardous contamination from nuclear waste

9. Innovation /ˌɪnəˈveɪʃən/ (n): The process of innovating or coming up with new methods.
   Example: Innovation in nuclear waste disposal is essential for future sustainability.

10. Consensus /kənˈsɛnsəs/ (n): General agreement.
    Example: The consensus among scientists is that better solutions are needed for nuclear waste containment.

Conclusion

In the Summarize Written Text section, topics like Nuclear Waste Disposal And Environmental Safety are common as they challenge candidates to accurately capture complex ideas in a concise manner. By practicing with similar prompts, you will develop better summarization skills and improve your overall score in the PTE Speaking & Writing section.