In the following prompts, you’ll be presented with a detailed passage related to artificial womb technology. After reading the passage, you are required to write a one-sentence summary that conveys the main idea of the text. Your response must be between 5-75 words.
Sample PTE Summarize Written Text Prompts
Prompt 1: Ethics of Artificial Womb Technology (A)
Artificial womb technology, though still in its infancy, raises profound ethical questions. It presents the possibility of allowing premature babies to develop outside the mother’s womb, which could save lives. Yet, critics argue that such technology challenges the very essence of human reproduction and the maternal role. They fear that this advancement could erode the bond between mother and child and blur the lines between natural and artificial means of reproduction. As the technology develops, bioethicists, scientists, and lawmakers are increasingly debating its moral implications, particularly concerning consent, parental rights, and the potential for misuse in commercial surrogacy.
Task: Write a one-sentence summary of the passage provided.
Model Answers:
10-20 Band Response:
The passage discusses both the potential benefits and ethical concerns surrounding artificial womb technology, particularly its impact on human reproduction.
Content: Covers the key points but lacks specific details.
Form: The sentence is well-formed and within the word limit.
Grammar: Grammatically correct, no major issues.
Vocabulary: Basic vocabulary is used properly.
Spelling: No incorrect spellings.
30-40 Band Response:
Artificial womb technology may offer life-saving potential for premature babies but also raises significant ethical concerns about the future of natural reproduction and parental roles.
Content: Provides more depth by highlighting both the lifesaving potential and ethical concerns.
Form: Fits within the word limit and flows well.
Grammar: There are no grammatical errors; it uses more complex sentence structures.
Vocabulary: A variety of academic vocabulary has been implemented appropriately.
Spelling: Completely accurate spelling.
40-50 Band Response:
While artificial womb technology shows promise for saving premature infants, it generates ethical dilemmas regarding parental bonds, reproductive roles, consent, and potential commercial exploitation in surrogacy.
Content: Excellent coverage of content, mentioning various ethical issues about parental bonds, consent, and commercial surrogacy.
Form: Fits perfectly within the allowed word count; concisely constructed.
Grammar: Impressive sentence structure, free from any errors.
Vocabulary: Uses varied, high-level academic vocabulary in context.
Spelling: All words are spelled accurately.
Prompt 2: The Future Challenges of Artificial Womb Technology (B)
Artificial womb technology could revolutionize the medical world, especially for women unable to carry pregnancies. Besides its potential benefits for infertility treatment, the technology faces profound ethical scrutiny. Critics cite concerns over long-term impacts on human development, potential societal divides between natural and artificial births, and the commodification of children. Some question whether the natural experience of pregnancy and childbirth could be replaced without social, psychological, or emotional consequences for both the child and the mother, making careful policy deliberations essential.
Task: Write a one-sentence summary of the passage provided.
Model Answers:
10-20 Band Response:
The passage discusses the potential challenges and ethical issues of artificial womb technology, including societal divides and impacts on human development.
Content: Mentions key ethical concerns but lacks depth and detail.
Form: The sentence is within the required word limit and reads clearly.
Grammar: Correct overall, but relatively simple language.
Vocabulary: Limited vocabulary is used appropriately.
Spelling: No spelling mistakes.
30-40 Band Response:
Although artificial womb technology may help infertility treatments, it introduces major ethical challenges related to societal division, child development, and the natural childbirth experience.
Content: Provides more depth by specifying both the technological benefits and ethical challenges.
Form: Well-formed, within the word limit, and logically structured.
Grammar: No noticeable grammar mistakes; uses more varied sentence structures.
Vocabulary: A broader range of vocabulary related to childbirth and ethics.
Spelling: No spelling errors.
40-50 Band Response:
Artificial womb technology poses ethical concerns, particularly regarding societal divides, commodification of birth, and potential emotional and psychological impacts on both mother and child, necessitating careful regulatory oversight.
Content: Fully addresses multiple ethical aspects, presenting a comprehensive answer.
Form: Demonstrates precise, clear, and coherent structure within the word limit.
Grammar: Advanced grammatical structures are used correctly.
Vocabulary: Strong academic vocabulary and subject-specific terms like “commodification” and “regulatory oversight.”
Spelling: Completely accurate spelling without errors.
Vocabulary and Grammar
Here are 10 challenging words from the passage along with their phonetic transcriptions, meanings, and example sentences to aid your understanding:
- Profound /prəˈfaʊnd/ – Deep or intense. Example: The article discusses profound ethical dilemmas.
- Erode /ɪˈroʊd/ – To slowly wear away or weaken. Example: Concerns about the technology eroding traditional parental roles have arisen.
- Surrogacy /ˈsʌrəɡəsi/ – The practice of carrying a pregnancy for another person. Example: Artificial wombs could change the entire surrogacy industry.
- Consent /kənˈsɛnt/ – Permission for something to happen. Example: The issue of parental consent remains a point of contention.
- Misuse /ˌmɪsˈjus/ – Incorrect or unethical use of something. Example: Ethical concerns often highlight potential misuse in commercial surrogacy industries.
- Revolutionize /ˌrɛvəˈluʃəˌnaɪz/ – To cause a fundamental change. Example: This technology could revolutionize fertility treatments.
- Commodification /kəˌmɒdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/ – Turning something into a commodity to be bought and sold. Example: The commodification of childbirth raises ethical concerns.
- Scrutiny /ˈskruːtə.ni/ – Close and critical examination. Example: The technology is under intense ethical scrutiny.
- Parental /pəˈrɛnt(ə)l/ – Relating to parents. Example: Parental roles may shift due to artificial womb technology.
- Long-term /ˌlɒŋˈtɜːm/ – Continuing for a long period of time. Example: The long-term effects of this technology remain unknown.
Conclusion
Artificial womb technology, a recurring topic in PTE exams, raises critical ethical concerns about natural reproduction, societal impacts, and emotional consequences. With complex debates surrounding its future, this topic offers both a rich source of content for practicing the Summarize Written Text task and a real-world issue that tests your ability to analyze and succinctly convey ideas. Keep practicing, and leave your thoughts or questions in the comments!
