The “Summarize Written Text” task in the PTE exam requires candidates to read a passage and summarize it in one sentence. This task assesses your ability to understand complex reading material and produce concise, coherent responses. One of the popular topics that often comes up in the PTE exam is “Sustainable Tourism And Cultural Preservation.”
Sustainable tourism and the preservation of cultural heritage are vital concerns for many nations, and the PTE exam often features topics that touch upon these global issues. By familiarizing yourself with such themes, you’ll improve your performance in the Speaking & Writing sections of the PTE.
Below, you’ll find a sample “Summarize Written Text” task related to “Sustainable Tourism and Cultural Preservation” along with sample responses at different band levels.
Sample Summarize Written Text Task
Read the following passage and summarize it in one sentence. The summary should include the main ideas of the passage in a clear and concise manner. You have 10 minutes to complete this task.
Many regions around the world have realized the importance of balancing tourism growth with the preservation of local cultures and traditions. Sustainable tourism seeks to minimize the negative environmental and socio-cultural impacts caused by tourism activities while enhancing the overall experience for tourists. By promoting eco-friendly practices, engaging local communities in tourism planning, and preserving historical landmarks, many nations can sustainably grow their tourism industry. However, challenges such as inadequate funding for cultural preservation and the rising demand for mass tourism often undermine these efforts. Global initiatives are being launched to ensure that tourism growth does not come at the cost of cultural heritage.
Task: Summarize the text in one sentence.
Sample Responses by Band Score
Band 90 Response
Sustainable tourism aims to balance economic growth and cultural preservation by fostering eco-friendly tourism practices and involving local communities, though challenges like insufficient funding and mass tourism still threaten these efforts globally.
Analysis:
- Content: All crucial ideas from the passage are effectively captured, including sustainable tourism practices, challenges, and global efforts.
- Form: The sentence is within the word limit and appropriately condensed.
- Grammar: Perfect use of complex sentence structures.
- Vocabulary: Strong vocabulary with precise word choice, such as “eco-friendly,” “insufficient funding,” and “cultural preservation.”
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 75 Response
Sustainable tourism focuses on protecting the environment by promoting eco-friendly practices and preserving cultural heritage, but funding and mass tourism remain major challenges.
Analysis:
- Content: The response contains the essential ideas about sustainable tourism and challenges.
- Form: The sentence is concise and within the word limit.
- Grammar: Correct, though simpler than the Band 90 answer.
- Vocabulary: Adequate, though could benefit from higher-level vocabulary such as “socio-cultural impacts” and “global initiatives.”
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 60 Response
Sustainable tourism is good for the environment and culture but faces challenges like a lack of funding and mass tourism.
Analysis:
- Content: The main ideas are mentioned but lack the details provided in higher-scoring responses.
- Form: The sentence is shorter but still within the word limit.
- Grammar: Simple sentence structure; lacks complexity.
- Vocabulary: Basic vocabulary, missing important terms like “eco-friendly practices” and “local communities.”
- Spelling: No errors.
Vocabulary & Grammar Resources
Here are some difficult words taken from the passage to help enhance your understanding:
1. Inadequate /ɪnˈædɪkwɪt/ (adj.)
Meaning: Lacking the quality or quantity needed; insufficient.
Example: The current funding is inadequate to preserve the ancient ruins.
2. Sustainable /səˈsteɪnəbl/ (adj.)
Meaning: Able to be maintained over time without causing harm to the environment or society.
Example: Sustainable tourism seeks to balance growth with environmental and cultural protection.
3. Heritage /ˈhɛrɪtɪdʒ/ (noun)
Meaning: Valued objects, traditions, and practices passed down through generations.
Example: Tourists come to experience the rich heritage of the indigenous community.
4. Preservation /ˌprɛzəˈveɪʃən/ (noun)
Meaning: The action of maintaining something in its original or existing state.
Example: Funding for cultural preservation is critical in keeping traditional festivals alive.
5. Initiatives /ɪˈnɪʃɪətɪvz/ (noun)
Meaning: New plans or actions aimed at addressing a specific issue.
Example: International initiatives are helping to protect endangered cultural sites.
6. Mass tourism /mæs ˈtʊəˌrɪzəm/ (noun)
Meaning: Large-scale tourism often characterized by crowds and standardization.
Example: Mass tourism can sometimes harm local traditions and cultural sites.
7. Eco-friendly /ˈiːkəʊ ˈfrɛndli/ (adj.)
Meaning: Environmentally beneficial or not harmful to the ecosystem.
Example: Eco-friendly hotels use renewable energy to minimize their environmental impact.
8. Landmarks /ˈlændˌmɑːrks/ (noun)
Meaning: Objects or structures that are significant for their historical or cultural value.
Example: The city’s ancient landmarks are protected under international preservation laws.
9. Socio-cultural impacts /ˌsəʊsiəʊˌkʌltʃərəl ˈɪmpækts/ (noun)
Meaning: Effects that tourism can have on the social and cultural aspects of a region.
Example: Unchecked tourism can lead to negative socio-cultural impacts, including the commercialization of local traditions.
10. Engaging /ɪnˈgeɪʤɪŋ/ (verb)
Meaning: Involving someone or something in a process or system.
Example: Engaging local communities in tourism planning can help protect their traditions.
tourist-respect-residents|Tourists learning to respect local residents in a sustainable tourism program.|This image shows a group of tourists participating in a sustainable tourism initiative where they learn to respect local cultures and interact with residents in an authentic way to preserve cultural integrity.
Conclusion
Summarizing text effectively in the PTE exam’s “Summarize Written Text” task is a valuable skill. Topics like sustainable tourism and cultural preservation are increasingly common, reflecting global concerns that are relevant both in and outside the exam room. With consistent practice and a focus on understanding complex material, mastering this section becomes more straightforward. For further insights, explore related themes on Sustainable tourism in cultural preservation or discover the challenges of eco-tourism in Eco-tourism and its challenges.
By practicing this essential skill, you’ll be well-prepared for this part of the PTE Speaking & Writing test. Please leave a comment below if you have any questions or would like more practice materials.
