In the PTE Academic test, Summarize Written Text is a crucial task that assesses a candidate’s ability to convey the main idea of a passage into a single sentence. One popular topic in this task is Climate change’s impact on human health. This article focuses on this area, providing a detailed sample task along with model answers to help students prepare effectively for the PTE Writing section.
Sample Summarize Written Text Question on Climate Change’s Impact on Human Health
Question Prompt:
Read the passage below and summarize it in one sentence. You have 10 minutes to finish this task. Your response will be judged on the quality of your writing and how well your response presents the key points in the passage.
Passage:
Climate change has serious consequences for human health, affecting populations worldwide. Rising temperatures exacerbate the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, hurricanes, and floods, which can lead to a rise in fatalities and displacement of communities. Furthermore, changing environmental conditions can increase the spread of vector-borne diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever, as warmer climates allow these organisms to thrive in previously unsuitable regions. Air quality degradation caused by increased pollution and rising levels of allergens like pollen also pose respiratory risks. Moreover, agricultural disruptions resulting from extreme weather patterns may threaten food supplies, contributing to malnutrition and hunger in vulnerable populations. These interconnected challenges highlight the urgent need for global actions to mitigate climate change and protect public health.
Sample Answer 1 (Band Score: 90–80):
Climate change poses severe risks to human health through increased extreme weather events, the spread of vector-borne diseases, respiratory issues from pollution, and food shortages caused by disruptions in agriculture, all of which call for global mitigation efforts.
Analysis:
- Content: This answer correctly captures all the main ideas of the passage.
- Form: Adheres to the single-sentence form requirement.
- Grammar: Flawless, with excellent use of conjunctions and transitional phrases.
- Vocabulary: Sophisticated vocabulary such as “severe risks”, “vector-borne diseases”, and “mitigation efforts” enhances the response.
- Spelling: Error-free.
Sample Answer 2 (Band Score: 79–70):
Climate change negatively affects human health by increasing the frequency of extreme weather, spreading diseases, causing respiratory issues and food shortages, and requires urgent global solutions.
Analysis:
- Content: Covers most of the main points but slightly lacks depth regarding the details.
- Form: The structure complies with the single-sentence requirement.
- Grammar: The overall grammar is solid though simpler language is used.
- Vocabulary: Adequate vocabulary with terms like “negatively affects” and “requires urgent global solutions”. However, it lacks some of the complexity found in higher band scores.
- Spelling: Correct spelling throughout the answer.
Sample Answer 3 (Band Score: 69–60):
Climate change causes diseases, weather problems, air pollution, and issues with food that impact health globally.
Analysis:
- Content: Only mentions the key ideas briefly and doesn’t fully explain the significance of each.
- Form: Sentence is clear and follows the required structure.
- Grammar: Grammatical structure is basic, without errors but could be improved in complexity.
- Vocabulary: Relatively simple words such as “weather problems” and “issues with food” are used instead of more specific terms like “extreme weather events” and “agricultural disruptions”.
- Spelling: The spelling is accurate.
Vocabulary and Grammar
Here are 10 advanced words from the passage that may be challenging during the Summarize Written Text task:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exacerbate | /ɪɡˈzæsərˌbeɪt/ | To worsen or intensify a problem or situation | Rising temperatures exacerbate health risks across societies. |
| Displacement | /dɪsˈpleɪsmənt/ | The forced movement of people from their homes | The displacement of communities results from frequent flooding. |
| Vector-borne | /ˈvɛktər-bɔrn/ | Referring to diseases transmitted by vectors like insects or animals | The increase in vector-borne diseases is due to climate change. |
| Thrive | /θraɪv/ | To flourish or grow vigorously | Many disease vectors thrive in warmer climates. |
| Degradation | /ˌdɛɡrəˈdeɪʃən/ | The process of something becoming worse or deteriorating | Air quality degradation is a significant concern in modern cities. |
| Respiratory | /ˈrɛspəˌrɛˌtɔri/ | Related to breathing or the respiratory system | Respiratory issues are increasing due to pollution. |
| Agricultural | /ˌæɡrɪˈkʌltʃərəl/ | Pertaining to farming and food production | Agricultural disruptions can lead to food shortages in poor regions. |
| Mitigation | /ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃən/ | Efforts to lessen the severity or seriousness of something | Climate change mitigation strategies are urgently required. |
| Malnutrition | /ˌmælˌnʌˈtrɪʃən/ | A condition resulting from inadequate or unbalanced nutrition | Malnutrition may increase as a result of decreased food supplies. |
| Vulnerable | /ˈvʌlnərəbəl/ | Susceptible to harm or attack, especially due to a lack of protection | Vulnerable populations are most affected by climate-related events. |
Conclusion
Climate change’s impact on human health is a frequent theme in PTE Summarize Written Text tasks, and mastering this type of prompt is vital for performing well in the exam. Through the sample question and model answers provided, candidates can see various ways to accurately summarize the content based on the PTE scoring criteria. Regular practice on such topics will improve both sentence structure and ensure a higher score in the writing section.
