PTE Summarize Written Text Practice: Impacts of Renewable Energy Subsidies

Overview of Summarize Written Text in PTE

In the PTE Speaking & Writing section, Summarize Written Text assesses your ability to comprehend, condense, and communicate key information from a passage. You’ll have to read a text between 150-400 words, and then summarize it in one sentence, between 5 to 75 words. One prominent topic tested is “Impacts of renewable energy subsidies,” a relevant issue worldwide as countries strive to adopt sustainable energy sources.

For global candidates preparing for PTE, understanding subsidy impacts on renewable energy and practicing how to summarize these issues is crucial. Let’s dive into some Summarize Written Text practice questions based on the theme of renewable energy subsidies and analyze potential responses for different band scores.

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Practice Question #1: Impacts of Renewable Energy Subsidies

Prompt:

Renewable energy subsidies, provided in various forms such as tax incentives and direct grants, significantly influence the adoption of green energy technologies. Government support can reduce the financial burden on companies and individuals aiming to invest in solar, wind, or other renewable sources. Over time, subsidies have contributed to a reduction in the cost of renewable energy, making these options more accessible and competitive compared to traditional fossil fuels. However, critics argue that long-term dependency on subsidies could distort free markets and may limit innovation. While short-term benefits encourage the shift to cleaner energy, there must be caution to avoid creating an unsustainable financial burden on taxpayers, especially in developing nations where economic resources are limited.

Summarize the text in one sentence using correct grammar and structure.

Sample Answers and Analysis

Band 90+:

Government subsidies for renewable energy are essential in lowering costs and promoting green energy adoption, but they pose potential long-term market distortions and financial strain, particularly in developing countries.

• Content: Covers all main ideas from the text, including both pros and cons of subsidies.
• Form: Within the word limit (22 words).
• Grammar: Grammatically sound.
• Vocabulary: Advanced (“market distortions”, “financial strain”).
• Spelling: No errors.

Band 80-89:

Subsidies for renewable energy help reduce costs and promote adoption but might cause market distortions and financial problems in the long run.

• Content: Covers most of the passage but lacks specifics such as “developing nations.”
• Form: Word count is within the required limit (20 words).
• Grammar: Mostly correct.
• Vocabulary: Adequate but could be improved (“promote” and “adoption” could be combined with more advanced synonyms).
• Spelling: No errors.

Summary of renewable energy subsidies' impact on markets and costs

Band 70-79:

Subsidies encourage the growth of renewable energy but raise concerns about long-term efficiency and costs.

• Content: Emphasizes both benefits and downfalls but oversimplifies the arguments tied to “developing nations.”
• Form: Concise and within the word count limit (15 words).
• Grammar: Grammatically correct but could use more variety.
• Vocabulary: Basic (“efficiency,” “costs”) and lacks terms like “market distortions.”
• Spelling: No errors.

Band 60-69:

Subsidies for renewable energy make it cheaper, but they might create problems later.

• Content: Misses key details such as “market distortion” and the impact on developing countries.
• Form: Word count is too short (11 words).
• Grammar: Simple sentence structure.
• Vocabulary: Very basic (“cheaper”, “problems”).
• Spelling: Correct, but lacks complexity.

Practice Question #2: Comprehensive Renewable Energy Expansion

Prompt:

Renewable energy subsidies, through government funding and tax incentives, not only enhance national energy security but also contribute to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. The transition to sustainable energy, backed by subsidies, ensures that new technologies like wind and solar become more affordable. Investments in renewable sources can also stimulate economic growth by creating new jobs in green sectors. Nevertheless, the reliance on subsidies raises ethical concerns about equitable resource allocation and the potential for dependency, especially in countries lacking financial stability.

Summarize the text in one sentence using correct grammar and structure.

Sample Answers and Analysis

Band 90+:

While renewable energy subsidies have multiple benefits, including environmental and economic growth, they may create challenges regarding equity, financial dependency, and ethical concerns, specifically in financially unstable nations.

• Content: Captures all major points.
• Form: Within word count (27 words).
• Grammar: Flawless.
• Vocabulary: Excellent use of academic terms (“financial dependency”, “equity”).
• Spelling: No errors.

Band 80-89:

Renewable energy subsidies help promote jobs and lower emissions, but there are concerns over equity and financial dependence in less stable nations.

• Content: Most key ideas are present.
• Form: Word count is appropriate (19 words).
• Grammar: Correct but lacks variation.
• Vocabulary: Moderate, but with some missed opportunities for complexity.
• Spelling: Correct.

Summary of renewable energy expansion including benefits and challenges

Vocabulary and Grammar Focus

Here’s a list of higher-level vocabulary, phonetic transcription, and definitions to help build your proficiency in discussing renewable energy topics.

1. Subsidy /ˈsʌbsɪdi/ – A grant or financial aid provided by the government to assist a particular sector.
   Example: Renewable energy companies benefit from significant government subsidies.

2. Dependency /dɪˈpɛndənsi/ – A state of relying on or being controlled by something else.
   Example: Economists warn that dependency on subsidies can hinder market growth.

3. Greenhouse gas emissions /ˈgriːnˌhaʊs ɡæs/ – Harmful gases released into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
   Example: Renewable subsidies aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

4. Equity /ˈɛkwɪti/ – Fairness or justice in the way people are treated.
   Example: The distribution of subsidies raises concerns about equity.

5. Financial burden /faɪˈnænʃəl ˈbɜrdn/ – A heavy responsibility to bear financially.
   Example: Subsidies can create a long-term financial burden for taxpayers.

6. Innovation /ˌɪn.əˈveɪ.ʃən/ – A new idea or approach, often through technological advances.
   Example: Subsidy reliance can stifle the need for innovation in energy solutions.

7. Resource allocation /rɪˈsɔrs ˌæləˈkeɪʃən/ – The assigning of resources effectively between different sectors.
   Example: Governments must be careful with resource allocation when providing subsidies.

8. Economic growth /iːˈkɒnəmɪk ɡroʊθ/ – The increase in the amount of goods and services produced in a country over time.
   Example: Renewable subsidies can stimulate economic growth by creating jobs.

9. Stability /stəˈbɪləti/ – The state of being stable and not prone to significant change.
   Example: Many developing nations struggle with financial stability, impacting their renewable energy policies.

10. Tax incentive /tæks ɪnˈsɛntɪv/ – A benefit provided in the tax system to promote a specific economic activity.
    Example: Governments provide tax incentives to encourage renewable energy investments.

Conclusion

Summarizing the effects of renewable energy subsidies requires a strong grasp of content, precise grammar, and the ability to condense complex information. These are key skills tested in the PTE Summarize Written Text task, as shown in the practice examples above. The issues surrounding subsidies are highly relevant to current global trends, such as the growth of the renewable energy sector. Preparing well with such practice questions increases your chances of performing better in PTE.

For further insights into renewable energy trends affecting developing nations, check out our page on Renewable energy adoption in developing countries and explore how shifts in subsidy dynamics have transformed markets in our article on Renewable energy market dynamics.

Keep practicing, and feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or need assistance with your study journey!