Summarize Written Text in PTE Exam: Urban Farming for Food Sustainability

Urban farming is a powerful concept, commonly featured in modern discussions on food sustainability. As such, it is highly relevant for PTE candidates preparing for the Summarize Written Text task in the Speaking & Writing section. Urban farming plays a critical role in reducing food insecurity while addressing broader environmental challenges. The task here is to delve into the concept and offer PTE sample questions related to urban farming for food sustainability.

Understanding the Summarize Written Text Task

In the PTE Summarize Written Text task, test-takers are presented with a passage and required to summarize it in a single sentence. You’ll need to accurately capture the main idea of the paragraph(s) succinctly. Each response must be confined to one sentence that doesn’t exceed 75 words.

Below, you will find sample Summarize Written Text prompts on urban farming.

Summarize Written Text Sample Question: Urban Farming and Sustainability

Task: Read the following passage and summarize it in one sentence. Your response must be between 5 and 75 words.

Urban farming is transforming the way food is produced and consumed in cities. Beyond providing fresh and local food, it also helps reduce the carbon footprint associated with transporting food over long distances. The integration of urban agriculture into city planning and policies supports sustainability through waste reduction, limiting greenhouse gas emissions, and creating green spaces. Moreover, urban farming strengthens community ties by encouraging local participation and creating jobs in metropolitan areas.

Sample Answer 1 (High Band Score – 79+):

Urban farming promotes sustainability by providing local food, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and fostering community engagement, while also transforming urban landscapes into green spaces.

Evaluation:

• Content: Accurately captures the key points regarding food production, environmental benefits, and community roles.
• Form: Correct, with clear subject-verb agreement.
• Grammar: Proper usage of parallel structure and nouns.
• Vocabulary: Appropriate balance of academic and topic-specific terms.
• Spelling: No errors.

Sample Answer 2 (Mid Band Score – 65+):

Urban farming helps cities become more sustainable by providing local food, reducing emissions, and enhancing community participation.

Evaluation:

• Content: Covers most key points but lacks mention of green spaces and broader waste reduction.
• Form: Correct.
• Grammar: Clear and error-free; however, some simplification of content.
• Vocabulary: Adequate but slightly basic.
• Spelling: No issues.

Sample Answer 3 (Lower Band Score – 50+):

Urban farming is good for cities because it gives them fresh food and is better for the environment and people.

Evaluation:

• Content: Lacks specificity and misses several critical points, e.g., role in city policies.
• Form: Acceptable but too informal.
• Grammar: Decent, though somewhat simplistic.
• Vocabulary: Non-academic and improper word choice.
• Spelling: Accurate.

Summarize Written Text Sample Question: Food Security in Urban Areas

Task: Read the following passage and summarize it in one sentence. Your response must be between 5 and 75 words.

Urban farming has the potential to significantly enhance food security in densely populated urban areas. Traditional farming methods often struggle to keep up with the high demand for fresh produce in cities, leaving urban residents dependent on food imports from rural areas. However, cultivating food directly within urban spaces can improve access to nutritious fruits and vegetables, lower dependency on external food sources, and promote local economies.

Sample Answer 1 (High Band Score – 79+):

Urban farming improves food security in cities by increasing access to local produce, reducing reliance on rural imports, and supporting local economies.

Evaluation:

• Content: Excellent coverage of key points – access to food, reduced reliance, and local economic support.
• Form: Perfect form, including clarity and length.
• Grammar: Flawless.
• Vocabulary: Well-rounded use of academic terms.
• Spelling: Correct.

Sample Answer 2 (Mid Band Score – 65+):

Urban farming helps cities get fresh food by growing it locally, reducing the need for imports and supporting the economy.

Evaluation:

• Content: Adequately summarized, though oversimplified.
• Form: Correct without issues.
• Grammar: Correct but could be more complex.
• Vocabulary: Functional, though slightly basic.
• Spelling: Accurate.

Sample Answer 3 (Lower Band Score – 50+):

Urban farming gives cities food that they need and reduces how much cities rely on rural areas.

Evaluation:

• Content: Too vague and fails to cover full scope of the benefits.
• Form: Acceptable, but very basic.
• Grammar: Some minor errors in simplification.
• Vocabulary: Lacks complexity and depth.
• Spelling: Correct.

Vocabulary and Grammar:

Here are some key terms from the passages that could enhance your writing and speaking for better scores:

1. Carbon footprint /ˈkɑːrbən ˌfʊt.prɪnt/ (n) – The total amount of greenhouse gases produced by human activities.
   Reducing our carbon footprint is crucial for sustainable living.

2. Sustainability /səˌsteɪnəˈbɪləti/ (n) – The ability to maintain ecological balance over time.
   Urban farming contributes to the sustainability of food systems.

3. Greenhouse gas emissions /ɡriːn.haʊs ɡæs ɪˈmɪʃ.ənz/ (n) – Gases like CO2 that contribute to global warming.
   Urban farms can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by sourcing food locally.

4. Metropolitan /ˌmet.rəˈpɑː.lɪ.tən/ (adj) – Relating to large cities or urban areas.
   Metropolitan regions benefit greatly from urban farming efforts.

5. Food security /ˈfuːd sɪˌkjʊə.rɪti/ (n) – Reliable access to a sufficient amount of nutritious food.
   Ensuring food security is one of the top priorities of urban farming projects.

6. Dependency /dɪˈpen.dən.si/ (n) – The state of relying on something else for support or existence.
   Urban farming reduces the dependency on imported food from rural regions.

7. Nutritious /njuˈtrɪʃ.əs/ (adj) – Providing essential nutrients for a healthy diet and growth.
   Urban farming offers residents a steady supply of nutritious produce.

8. Economic benefits /ɛkəˈnɑːmɪk ˈbenɪfɪts/ (n) – The financial advantage gained by individuals or societies.
   The local economic benefits of urban agriculture are significant.

9. Community engagement /kəˈmjuːnɪ.ti ɪnˈɡeɪdʒ.mənt/ (n) – The participation of local individuals in community activities.
   Urban farming encourages community engagement by involving residents in farming tasks.

10. Urban landscape /ˈɜːrbən ˈlænd.skeɪp/ (n) – The environment, structures, and space within urban settings.
    Urban farming has the potential to reshape the urban landscape.

Conclusion:

Urban farming is an essential topic in the realm of food sustainability, and it is increasingly appearing in PTE Summarize Written Text tasks. By practicing with such passages, candidates can significantly improve their summarization skills and manage to grasp nuanced ideas effectively. Given that urban farming addresses crucial challenges like food security in urban areas and sustainable agriculture, it is a must for candidates to familiarize themselves with this topic.

Feel free to practice with the sample questions above and share your responses in the comments for further feedback!