Climate change and its impacts have become a pressing global issue and are frequently covered in the PTE exam. In this article, we will present several sample questions for the Summarize Written Text section from the Speaking & Writing part of the PTE exam focusing on “Climate Change Adaptation Strategies Worldwide.” Reviewing these questions will help you practice summarizing effectively and improve your skills for the actual exam.
Climate Change in the PTE Summarize Written Text
Topics related to climate change are becoming increasingly popular in academic contexts, which means they often find their way into language proficiency tests like the PTE. In the Summarize Written Text section, candidates are required to read a short text (150-400 words) and write a one-sentence summary. It tests your ability to understand, condense, and report the key points of a given text concisely.
For an in-depth understanding of climate change and its consequences, you can also explore articles such as Climate change and its impact on ecosystems.
Sample Question: Summarize Written Text
Question 1:
Climate change adaptation strategies have evolved over time to address the unprecedented challenges that global warming presents to societies. Some key strategies include improving water management practices in agriculture, enhancing energy efficiency in urban infrastructure, and promoting nature-based solutions like restoring wetlands and forests. Governments worldwide are implementing policies to reduce vulnerabilities by creating resilient systems that can mitigate the effects of climate change. Coastal cities, in particular, are investing in flood defenses and other infrastructure to protect against rising sea levels. Meanwhile, international cooperation has led to agreements such as the Paris Accord, which encourages all nations to take substantial measures to adapt to climate change, ensuring a collective effort toward global sustainability.
Your Task:
Summarize the text in one sentence.
Model Answers
Band 90 Response:
Adaptation strategies globally include water management, energy efficiency, nature-based solutions, and international cooperation, with coastal cities and nations taking proactive measures to mitigate climate change effects and ensure sustainability.
Analysis:
- Content: Excellent inclusion of all main points (water management, energy, nature-based solutions, infrastructure).
- Form: Perfect one sentence.
- Grammar & Vocabulary: Advanced use of vocabulary (proactive, mitigation) enhances clarity.
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 65 Response:
The strategies discussed include improving agriculture, energy efficiency, protecting against floods, and international accords aimed at reducing climate change impact.
Analysis:
- Content: Misses some details about nature-based solutions and specific policies.
- Form: One sentence but slightly vague.
- Grammar & Vocabulary: Adequate, but lacks more sophisticated vocabulary.
- Spelling: Correct.
Resilient urban infrastructures against climate change effects
Band 50 Response:
Many countries are using ways to fight climate change, improve farming, fix energy issues, and work together internationally.
Analysis:
- Content: Simplified, missing key details and lacks precision.
- Form: Single sentence, but a bit disorganized.
- Grammar & Vocabulary: Too basic; lacks academic tone.
- Spelling: No mistakes, but improvements needed in expression.
Vocabulary and Grammar for Summarizing Climate Change Topics
Understanding important terminology related to climate change is crucial for summarizing effectively. Below are 10 essential words that may appear in texts related to “Climate change adaptation strategies worldwide”:
-
Adaptation /əˌdæpˈteɪʃən/: Adjustment of systems to minimize the impact of changes.
Example: Successful adaptation to climate change involves both technological innovation and behavioral shifts. -
Mitigation /ˌmɪt.ɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/: The action of reducing the severity of something.
Example: Increasing energy efficiency is key to climate change mitigation. -
Resilient /rɪˈzɪl.jənt/: Able to recover quickly or withstand difficult conditions.
Example: Cities must become resilient to withstand the effects of climate-driven natural disasters. -
Sustainability /səˌsteɪnəˈbɪlɪti/: The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level.
Example: Sustainable agriculture practices are central to many adaptation strategies. -
Infrastructure /ˈɪn.frə.strʌk.tʃə/: The basic systems and structures that society uses.
Example: Developing climate-resistant infrastructure is essential for urban areas. -
Policies /ˈpɒl.ɪ.siːz/: A set of ideas or plans used as a basis for making decisions.
Example: National policies must be in line with international climate agreements to tackle global warming efficiently. -
Cooperation /kəʊˌɒp.ərˈeɪ.ʃən/: The process of working together to achieve a common goal.
Example: Cooperation between nations is crucial to addressing climate change on a global scale. -
Flood Defenses /flʌd dɪˈfɛnsɪz/: Structures built to prevent the impact of flooding.
Example: Coastal cities are increasing investment in flood defenses to protect against sea-level rise. -
Nature-Based Solutions /ˈneɪʧər beɪst səˌluːʃənz/: Strategies that utilize natural processes to address challenges.
Example: Wetland restoration is one example of a nature-based solution to climate change. -
Paris Accord /ˈpær.ɪs əˌkɔːd/: An international agreement to combat climate change.
Example: The Paris Accord is one of the most important frameworks guiding nations’ adaptation actions.
Wetland restoration as a nature-based solution to climate change
Conclusion
Summarizing written texts is an essential skill for the PTE exam, especially when dealing with multifaceted topics like climate change adaptation. By practicing with relevant material and learning key vocabulary, you can effectively capture the essence of complex topics in concise summaries. Don’t forget to explore more about climate change and how it affects our planet’s ecosystems in helpful articles like Climate change and its impact on ecosystems. Practicing regularly will enable you to achieve a high score and excel in your PTE exam!
