In this article, we provide PTE candidates with a high-quality “Summarize Written Text” practice task, focusing on the topic The Future of Organic Farming. By engaging with this practice, you will gain valuable insights into the PTE exam expectations and improve your performance on this challenging section.
Summarize Written Text Practice on “The Future of Organic Farming”
Instructions for “Summarize Written Text”
You will be presented with a passage on The Future of Organic Farming. In your response, summarize the passage in one sentence. Your sentence should be between 5 and 75 words long. You will have 10 minutes to finish this task.
Passage: The Future of Organic Farming
Over the past decades, the world has seen growing concerns around environmental sustainability, with organic farming emerging as a viable solution. As more consumers prioritize health and environmental impact over mass production, organic farming is expected to play a larger role in the future of agriculture. One reason for this shift is its focus on avoiding synthetic chemicals, using natural fertilizers, and fostering soil health. However, organic farming faces challenges in scalability and productivity compared to conventional methods. Some argue that while organic farming reduces environmental harm, it may not be enough to meet the increasing demand for food. Nevertheless, sustainable practices such as crop rotation, composting, and biological pest control present in organic farming can be integrated with innovative technologies like renewable energy to create more resilient agricultural systems in a changing climate.
Task: Summarize the main idea of the passage in one single sentence.
Sample Answers and Analysis
Below are several sample answers for the passage provided, analyzed for content, form, grammar, vocabulary, and spelling accuracy according to the PTE standards.
Band score 90 (near-perfect):
Organic farming, while environmentally friendly with sustainable practices, still faces challenges related to scalability but has the potential to integrate with renewable energy technologies to meet future agricultural demands.
- Content: This answer captures all essential points: environmental benefits, challenges of scalability, and the integration with renewable technology.
- Form: Within the word limit and is a single sentence.
- Grammar: Advanced structures used correctly, no mistakes observed.
- Vocabulary: Relevant keywords such as “environmentally friendly,” “scalability,” and “renewable energy” are naturally embedded.
- Spelling: No spelling errors.
Band score 80 (very good):
Although organic farming promotes sustainability and avoids using synthetic chemicals, its scalability is limited compared to conventional farming methods.
- Content: Adequately summarizes the key points but misses the mention of renewable energy and climate change.
- Form: Appropriate length and structure.
- Grammar: Well-constructed sentence with no grammatical issues.
- Vocabulary: Good use of terms such as “sustainability” and “scalability.”
- Spelling: No errors.
Band score 70 (above-average):
Organic farming is gaining popularity for its environmental benefits, but it faces issues with productivity and needs new technologies to improve further.
- Content: Captures the main challenge of productivity but omits details about sustainable farming practices and renewable energy potential.
- Form: Meets length requirements.
- Grammar: Minor issues with article usage and sentence flow.
- Vocabulary: Limited variety, but key terms like “productivity” are included.
- Spelling: Correct.
Band score 60 (average):
Organic farming is good for the environment, but it cannot meet the needs of growing populations.
- Content: Misses several crucial details, including sustainability techniques and the integration of technology into organic farming.
- Form: Although concise, the detachment of the environmental aspect from scalability in terms of productivity weakens the response.
- Grammar: Basic sentence structure, no significant errors.
- Vocabulary: Simplistic word choice with no use of advanced vocabulary like “scalability” or “innovative technologies.”
- Spelling: Correct.
Vocabulary and Grammar Insights
Studying the following key terms from the passage can help build your vocabulary and understanding of PTE’s Summarize Written Text section.
-
Sustainability (/səˌsteɪ.nəˈbɪl.ə.ti/): The avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain ecological balance.
Example: Sustainable farming promotes environmental conservation. -
Scalability (/ˈskeɪ.ləˌbɪl.ə.ti/): The capacity for something to expand and manage growth effectively.
Example: One challenge with organic farming is its scalability. -
Synthetic (/sɪnˈθet.ɪk/): Something produced artificially, typically referring to chemicals.
Example: Organic farming avoids synthetic fertilizers. -
Composting (/ˈkɒm.pɒst.ɪŋ/): The natural process of recycling organic matter into fertilizer.
Example: Farmers enrich their soil by composting. -
Renewable energy (/rɪˈnjuː.ə.bəl ˈen.ər.dʒi/): Energy sourced from natural processes that are continuously replenished.
Example: The future of agriculture includes integrating renewable energy. -
Crop rotation (/ˌkrɒp rəʊˈteɪ.ʃən/): The practice of growing different types of crops in the same area in sequential seasons.
Example: Crop rotation is a common method in organic farming. -
Biological pest control (/ˌbaɪəˈlɒdʒɪkəl pest kənˈtrəʊl/): The use of natural predators to reduce pests.
Example: Biological pest control reduces the need for harmful chemicals. -
Resilient (/rɪˈzɪl.i.ənt/): Able to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions.
Example: Organic farming aims to build resilient agricultural systems. -
Environmental impact (/ɪnˌvaɪ.rənˈmen.təl ˈɪm.pækt/): The effect human activity has on the environment.
Example: Organic agriculture seeks to minimize environmental impact. -
Productivity (/prəˌdʌkˈtɪv.ə.ti/): The effectiveness of productive effort.
Example: Productivity in organic farming is often lower than in conventional methods.
Conclusion
The Future Of Organic Farming plays a critical role in creating a sustainable agricultural system, despite challenges in scalability and productivity. By practicing with real PTE-style questions, including those focused on sustainable farming practices for climate resilience and the future of renewable energy in agriculture, test-takers can develop the necessary skills for success. Engage with these materials and comment below to share your responses and challenges during practice!
