In this article, we present sample Summarize Written Text tasks related to carbon-neutrality and sustainable lifestyles, helping you prepare effectively for the PTE exam.
Carbon-Neutral Cities and Sustainable Living: Sample Summarize Written Text Task
Task 1: Carbon-Neutral Urban Development
The push towards developing carbon-neutral cities is a key part of the global response to climate change. By focusing on renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power, urban centers can significantly reduce their carbon emissions. Additionally, the construction of energy-efficient buildings, the expansion of public transport, and the promotion of green spaces—where trees and plants absorb CO2—are all critical elements of this shift. Cities like Copenhagen and Barcelona have demonstrated that it’s possible to undergo structural changes and become sustainable without sacrificing economic growth. These initiatives not only benefit the environment by reducing harmful emissions but also contribute to a higher quality of life by improving health and reducing energy costs for inhabitants.
Task Requirement: Write a one-sentence summary of the given passage. Your response should describe the main idea of the text.
Carbon-neutral cities integrating renewable energy and sustainable practices
Sample Responses
Band 90:
Carbon-neutral cities are tackling climate change by integrating renewable energy, energy-efficient buildings, public transport, and green spaces, resulting in reduced emissions and improved quality of life.
Analysis:
- Content: This summary captures all key points of the original text: renewable energy, energy-efficient buildings, transportation, green spaces, and improved living conditions.
- Form: Excellent, the sentence is concise and summarizes the main idea within the size requirement.
- Grammar: Error-free.
- Vocabulary: Uses a range of academic vocabulary, such as “tackling”, “integrating”, and “green spaces”.
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 75:
Carbon-neutral cities are developing sustainable solutions by using renewable energy, reducing emissions, and enhancing quality of life for their residents.
Analysis:
- Content: Covers most of the key points but simplifies the overall message by not elaborating on specific solutions like public transport or energy-efficient buildings.
- Form: Satisfactory.
- Grammar: Correct overall but less sophisticated.
- Vocabulary: Adequate but lacks the variety of the higher-band response.
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 60:
Cities are becoming carbon-neutral to reduce emissions and improve living standards for people.
Analysis:
- Content: Captures the general idea but omits specific strategies, like using renewable energy and promoting green spaces.
- Form: Within the word limit.
- Grammar: Simple but okay.
- Vocabulary: Basic; lacks detail compared to higher-band summaries.
- Spelling: No errors.
Task 2: Sustainable Living and Urban Planning
One of the most important trends in modern urban planning is sustainable living, which emphasizes minimizing environmental impact by optimizing energy consumption, reducing waste, and promoting efficient transportation systems. Cities like Singapore have adopted vertical gardens, integrated renewable energy into their infrastructure, and created eco-friendly public spaces to enhance sustainability. Urban planners argue that creating compact, well-designed living spaces that reduce reliance on cars can contribute significantly to reducing the carbon footprint of a city, making it possible to achieve a balance between urban development and environmental sustainability.
Task Requirement: Write a one-sentence summary of the given passage. Your response should summarize the main idea.
Sustainable living and urban planning with renewable energy and eco-friendly systems
Sample Responses
Band 90:
Sustainable living, as seen in cities like Singapore, focuses on optimizing energy use, reducing waste, and promoting eco-friendly spaces to strike a balance between urban development and environmental preservation.
Analysis:
- Content: Covers all important points: energy optimization, reducing waste, eco-friendly public spaces, and achieving a balance between development and sustainability.
- Form: Precisely within the word limit.
- Grammar: No grammatical issues.
- Vocabulary: Sophisticated vocabulary, including “optimizing”, “eco-friendly”, and “preservation”.
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 75:
Urban planners are promoting sustainable living by integrating renewable energy, reducing waste, and creating eco-friendly transport systems.
Analysis:
- Content: Reasonably good, but the summary lacks mentions of specific initiatives like vertical gardens or the compact city structure.
- Form: Good structure and coherent.
- Grammar: Grammatically sound.
- Vocabulary: Appropriate but less varied than the 90-band response.
- Spelling: No inaccuracies.
Band 60:
Cities are trying to promote sustainability by using energy-efficient systems and reducing their carbon footprint.
Analysis:
- Content: Simplistic and generic, missing detailed strategies like transportation systems and eco-friendly spaces.
- Form: Fits within required word limits.
- Grammar: Simple grammar with no mistakes.
- Vocabulary: Basic vocabulary, lacking details.
- Spelling: Correct.
Vocabulary and Grammar
Below are 10 challenging words from the tasks above, with their definitions, phonetic transcriptions, and examples:
-
Sustainability /səˌsteɪ.nə.ˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/: The ability to maintain or preserve resources without damaging the environment.
Example: “Sustainability is a key consideration in urban development.” -
Renewable /rɪˈnjuː.ə.bəl/: Energy derived from resources that are naturally replenished, such as solar and wind.
Example: “The city uses renewable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions.” -
Urban /ˈɜː.bən/: Relating to a city or town.
Example: “Urban planners must consider sustainability in their designs.” -
Emissions /ɪˈmɪʃənz/: The production and release of substances, especially gases, into the atmosphere.
Example: “Reducing emissions is a critical goal in the drive for carbon-neutral cities.” -
Infrastructure /ˈɪn.frəˌstrʌk.tʃə/: The basic physical systems and structures needed for the operation of a society.
Example: “Sustainable infrastructure is vital for reducing environmental impact.” -
Compact /ˈkɒm.pækt/: Small or tightly constructed.
Example: “Compact living spaces help minimize urban sprawl.” -
Footprint /ˈfʊt.prɪnt/: The impact or lasting effect of an action or process on the environment.
Example: “Efficient public transport can significantly reduce a city’s carbon footprint.” -
Eco-friendly /ˈiː.kəʊ ˌfrend.li/: Not harmful to the environment.
Example: “Eco-friendly buildings use less energy and produce fewer emissions.” -
Optimize /ˈɒp.tɪ.maɪz/: To make the best or most effective use of a situation or resource.
Example: “The goal is to optimize energy usage in urban environments.” -
Vertical garden /ˈvɜː.tɪ.kəl ˈɡɑː.dən/: Gardens that grow vertically, often on the walls of buildings, used to enhance urban sustainability.
Example: “Vertical gardens improve air quality in densely populated cities.”
Conclusion
The Summarize Written Text tasks we have outlined give a clear understanding of how carbon neutrality and sustainable living play a role in modern urban planning, with specific examples and strategies. These topics are increasingly prevalent in PTE exams and are worth preparing for thoroughly. Practice makes perfect – feel free to leave a comment below with your one-sentence summary!
