As the Summarize Written Text task is a crucial part of the PTE Speaking and Writing section, one of the most common topics encountered focuses on the environmental impact of various industrial activities. In this article, we will create PTE Summarize Written Text samples based on the topic: “Environmental Impact Of Mining Operations”. These samples are designed to help you practice realistic PTE exam tasks and improve your summarizing skills.
Summarize Written Text Sample 1: Environmental Degradation Due to Mining
Mining operations, especially large-scale mineral extraction, have significant impacts on the environment. Mining activities often cause deforestation to accommodate mining spaces, destroy natural habitats, and can even lead to soil erosion. Another issue is the contamination of water sources. Toxic materials, including heavy metals and harmful chemicals used in the mining process, frequently end up leaking into nearby water systems, leading to severe long-term damage to aquatic ecosystems and drinking water supplies. While regulations exist in many countries to minimize such damage, enforcement is inconsistent, and illegal mining continues at alarming rates. Climate change is another major concern. Mining activities contribute to greenhouse gas emissions through fuel consumption at mining sites and the destruction of carbon sequestering vegetation.
Prompt: Summarize the text in one sentence.
Answer Samples:
Band Score 90+
Mining not only leads to environmental degradation, including deforestation and water contamination, but also exacerbates climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions, with inconsistent enforcement of pollution regulations.
Band Score 70-80
Mining causes environmental degradation such as deforestation, water contamination, and contributes to climate change due to greenhouse gas emissions.
Band Score 50-60
Mining harms the environment by causing deforestation, polluting water sources, and worsening climate change.
Analysis:
- Content: The sample for Band 90+ covers all the major points mentioned in the text: deforestation, water pollution, emissions, and regulatory inconsistency.
- Form: All responses are properly formed in one sentence under the word limit.
- Grammar: High band responses connect ideas smoothly using appropriate complex sentence structures.
- Vocabulary: The higher band levels employ a range of subject-specific vocabulary like “deforestation,” “contamination,” and “greenhouse gas”.
- Spelling: No spelling issues in any of the samples.
The impact of mining operations on contaminating local water supplies
Summarize Written Text Sample 2: Human Health and Mining
Mining operations have far-reaching effects that extend beyond environmental destruction. The chemicals used in the extraction process often pose risks to human health, particularly for people living near mining areas. Exposure to contaminants such as mercury, arsenic, and lead can lead to severe health problems, including respiratory issues, neurological disorders, and even reproductive harm. The particulate matter generated during excavation contributes significantly to air pollution, further exacerbating health concerns. Governments and industries have attempted various mitigation measures over the years, but many regions, especially in developing countries, continue to suffer from inadequate safeguards.
Prompt: Summarize the text in one sentence.
Answer Samples:
Band Score 90+
Mining operations pose considerable risks to human health, including respiratory and neurological issues, primarily due to exposure to hazardous chemicals and particulate matter, despite various mitigation attempts worldwide.
Band Score 70-80
Mining causes health risks like respiratory and neurological problems because of toxic chemicals and air pollution, though mitigation efforts have been made.
Band Score 50-60
Mining endangers human health by exposing people to harmful chemicals and air pollution.
Analysis:
- Content: Band 90+ covers health risks (respiratory, neurological, reproductive), chemicals (mercury, arsenic, etc.), and the issue of mitigation.
- Form: All sentences are one sentence and within the word limit.
- Grammar: Band 90+ uses complex connectors such as “despite” and structures like “including.”
- Vocabulary: Higher responses show command of advanced vocabulary like “neurological disorders,” “hazardous chemicals,” and “particulate matter.”
- Spelling: No spelling errors detected in any of the bands.
Summarize Written Text Sample 3: Socio-Economic Consequences of Mining
The socioeconomic impacts of mining are often overlooked, as the focus remains on its environmental and health repercussions. However, mining can produce both positive and negative socio-economic effects. On the one hand, mining creates jobs and generates revenue, especially in developing countries where alternative industries may not exist. However, the benefits are often unevenly distributed, with local communities sometimes seeing little to no economic improvement. Moreover, mining can lead to the displacement of communities, loss of livelihoods (particularly agricultural), and even violent conflict over resource ownership. Therefore, socio-economic planning, in tandem with environmental strategies, is essential for sustainable mining operations.
Prompt: Summarize the text in one sentence.
Answer Samples:
Band Score 90+
While mining generates economic output and employment, it can also result in uneven development, displacement of communities, loss of livelihoods, and conflict, necessitating proper socio-economic and environmental planning for sustainability.
Band Score 70-80
Mining creates jobs and economic revenue but can also displace communities and cause conflicts, so socio-economic planning is important.
Band Score 50-60
Mining brings economic gains but can lead to displacement and losses for communities.
Analysis:
- Content: The best response (Band 90+) includes economic benefits, uneven distribution, displacement, and conflict. Lower bands only touch on these points briefly.
- Form: All responses are clear and adhered to the one-sentence rule.
- Grammar: Band 90+ demonstrates proficient use of concessive clauses (“while,” “however”).
- Vocabulary: High-scoring answers incorporate sophisticated phrases such as “displacement,” “resource ownership,” and “socio-economic planning.”
- Spelling: No spelling mistakes found.
The socio-economic displacement due to industrial mining activities
Vocabulary and Grammar Focus
Here are 10 advanced vocabulary words found across the samples, along with their pronunciation, meaning, and example sentences:
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Deforestation /ˌdiːfəˈreɪsteɪʃn/ (n.): the action of clearing a wide area of trees.
- Example: “Deforestation is rampant in mining-heavy regions.”
-
Contamination /kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃn/ (n.): the presence of harmful substances in the environment.
- Example: “Water contamination due to mining has been a longstanding issue.”
-
Particulate matter /pɑːrˈtɪkjʊlɪt ˈmætər/ (n.): microscopic particles suspended in air that can cause pollution.
- Example: “Particulate matter from mining activities contributes significantly to regional air pollution.”
-
Greenhouse gas /ˈɡriːnhaʊs ɡæs/ (n.): gases that trap heat in the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
- Example: “Mining exacerbates greenhouse gas emissions through deforestation.”
-
Neurological disorder /njʊəˈrɒlədʒɪkəl dɪsˈɔːdər/ (n.): a disease affecting the brain or nervous system.
- Example: “Prolonged mercury exposure can lead to severe neurological disorders.”
-
Erosion /ɪˈrəʊʒn/ (n.): the process by which natural forces wear away soil, rock, or land.
- Example: “Soil erosion is a major by-product of intense mining activity.”
-
Sustainability /səˌsteɪnəˈbɪlɪti/ (n.): the ability to maintain or preserve resources for future generations.
- Example: “Sustainability in mining practices is crucial for long-term environmental health.”
-
Displacement /dɪsˈpleɪsmənt/ (n.): the forced movement of people from their homes or land.
- Example: “Mining often leads to the displacement of local communities.”
-
Mitigation /ˌmɪtɪˈɡeɪʃn/ (n.): the reduction of the severity of something.
- Example: “Efforts towards pollution mitigation in the mining industry are often insufficient.”
-
Exacerbate /ɪɡˈzæsəbeɪt/ (v.): to make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse.
- Example: “Mining activities exacerbate the effects of climate change.”
Conclusion
Summarizing complex texts like those related to the environmental impact of mining operations can be challenging, but with practice, your skills in dealing with such tasks can improve significantly. The examples provided here replicate realistic questions you might encounter in the PTE exam. Continue practicing with various environmental topics to enhance your comprehension and summarization abilities. Remember to also explore related topics like Energy consumption in cryptocurrency mining and Renewable energy resources for industries to broaden your understanding of industrial environmental impacts.
