One of the most intriguing yet complex topics in the PTE Summarize Written Text section is space exploration and its ethical implications, specifically space mining. This subject poses both scientific challenges and moral dilemmas, making it a popular theme in academic assessments like the PTE test.
Summarize Written Text Example: The Ethics of Space Mining
Below is a practice Summarize Written Text question on the topic of space mining ethics. Remember, your task is to summarize the passage into one concise sentence in 5 to 75 words. Ensure your sentence is grammatically sound and captures all key points of the passage.
Question:
The discovery of valuable minerals on celestial bodies like the Moon and asteroids has intensified the debate over the ethics of space mining. Proponents argue that mining in space could relieve the pressures on Earth’s resources, while critics point out that it may lead to the exploitation of outer space, much like the treatment of our own planet. In addition, there are concerns about who possesses the legal right to extract these resources, as international treaties remain ambiguous. While some claim that space mining can benefit humanity by making high-demand materials more accessible, others worry that it could deepen inequality, with wealthy nations and corporations gaining exclusive access to these resources. Finally, another unresolved ethical question revolves around the protection of celestial bodies, as mining activities could irreparably damage their natural environments.
Summarize the text in one sentence.
Sample Responses and Analysis
Band 90 Response:
The ethics of space mining are debated, with advocates seeing it as a solution to resource scarcity and critics warning of potential space exploitation, unclear legal frameworks, and environmental damage, which may exacerbate global inequality.
Content: Fully captures all key points, addressing resource scarcity, legal concerns, inequality, and environmental damage.
Form: One sentence (58 words), within PTE guidelines.
Grammar: Grammatically flawless, with complex sentence structure.
Vocabulary: Academic-level vocabulary such as “exacerbate,” “resource scarcity,” and “space exploitation” enhances the summary.
Spelling: No spelling mistakes.
Band 70 Response:
Supporters of space mining think it could help Earth’s resource problems, but some are concerned about the lack of clear legal rights and potential harm to space environments, which may increase inequality.
Content: Covers the major points, but doesn’t address the full spectrum of criticisms surrounding space exploitation.
Form: One sentence (42 words).
Grammar: Solid, though less complex sentence structure than a Band 90 response.
Vocabulary: Adequate but simpler, using terms like “legal rights” instead of “legal frameworks.”
Spelling: No spelling mistakes.
Band 60 Response:
Space mining can help solve Earth’s resource issues, but there are concerns about legal rights and harming the environment.
Content: Oversimplifies the issues by omitting discussions around inequality and the exploitation of space.
Form: One sentence (22 words) but too short, missing many key points.
Grammar: Reasonable grammar but lacks sentence complexity.
Vocabulary: Basic vocabulary; could improve with more specific terminology like “resource scarcity” instead of just “resource issues.”
Spelling: No errors.
Band 50 Response:
Space mining might help Earth but cause problems for space environment and legal ownerships are uncertain.
Content: Misses many important points, including inequality and exploitation.
Form: One sentence (16 words) but far too short, lacking clear articulation of the issues.
Grammar: Several errors (“ownerships” should be “ownership,” awkward sentence structure).
Vocabulary: Very basic and vague, reducing the depth of the argument.
Spelling: No errors.
Band 40 Response:
Space mining is good, but there are problems.
Content: Lacks substance, with almost no discussion of any of the issues raised in the passage.
Form: One sentence (7 words), far below the word limit.
Grammar: Extremely poor with overly simplistic sentence structure.
Vocabulary: Very basic and unclear.
Spelling: No errors.
Vocabulary and Grammar Tips
Here are ten key vocabulary terms from the passage, along with their meanings and examples of how they might be used in context:
-
Exacerbate /ɪɡˈzæs.ə.beɪt/: Make something worse.
Example: The mining activities could exacerbate existing inequalities between countries. -
Scarcity /ˈskeər.sə.ti/: A situation in which something is not easy to find or obtain.
Example: Space mining could address resource scarcity on Earth. -
Exploit /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/: To use something in a way that helps you unfairly.
Example: Critics argue that space mining could lead to the exploitation of celestial bodies. -
Ambiguous /æmˈbɪɡ.ju.əs/: Unclear or open to more than one interpretation.
Example: The international treaties governing space resources are ambiguous. -
Inequality /ˌɪn.ɪˈkwɒl.ɪ.ti/: The unequal distribution of resources or opportunities.
Example: Space mining could worsen global inequality. -
Celestial /sɪˈles.ti.əl/: Relating to the sky or outer space.
Example: Celestial bodies like asteroids may contain valuable minerals. -
Irreparable /ɪˈrep.ər.ə.bəl/: Impossible to repair or fix.
Example: Mining could cause irreparable damage to the natural environments of these bodies. -
Proponent /prəˈpəʊ.nənt/: Someone who supports a particular idea.
Example: Proponents of space mining believe it will be a key solution to resource shortages. -
Framework /ˈfreɪ.mwɜːk/: A set of rules or ideas that forms the structure of something.
Example: The legal framework governing space mining remains a topic of debate. -
Relieve /rɪˈliːv/: To reduce or remove something, such as pain or an unpleasant feeling.
Example: Space mining could relieve Earth’s dependency on its own natural resources.
Conclusion
The Ethics Of Space Mining is a prevalent topic in the PTE Summarize Written Text section. As this example demonstrates, it raises various global concerns about resource usage, sustainability, legal jurisdiction, and inequality—issues relevant not just to governments, but also to the future of humanity. To best prepare for this and similar topics, try practicing more with materials such as the Space exploration and resource utilization resources found on our platform. These will help deepen your understanding and sharpen your summarization skills.
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