Summarize Written Text for PTE: Economic Implications of Global Health Crises

The Summarize Written Text task is an integral part of the PTE Speaking & Writing section. The task evaluates your ability to condense information accurately and concisely while focusing on content, form, grammar, vocabulary, and spelling. In this post, we will cover an essential global topic, the Economic Implications Of Global Health Crises, and provide several sample questions along with complete answers graded by PTE scoring.

Why Understanding Economic Implications of Global Health Crises Is Important for PTE

The topic of global health crises and their wide-reaching effects is highly relevant in contemporary discussions, especially in the aftermath of events like the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic implications encompass not only immediate consequences, such as decreased business activity, but also long-term impacts like unemployment rates, changes to global supply chains, and economic recession. This topic often appears in Summarize Written Text exercises, as it allows you to demonstrate your skill in critical reading, summarization, and a well-structured response.

Summarize Written Text Sample 1

Now, let’s dive into our first sample question. Read the passage and provide your response following the PTE guidelines.

Sample Passage 1:

Global health crises result in massive disruptions to international trade and economies. The most evident example is the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to unprecedented lockdowns across the world, causing a reduction in manufacturing capacity and global demand. Additionally, the decrease in tourism and airline industries has significantly impacted countries heavily reliant on these sectors. Governments worldwide have had to allocate billions in stimulus packages to mitigate the economic fallout, raising concerns about long-term debt sustainability. Furthermore, shifts in working norms, such as remote work, have permanently altered the labor market and economic productivity. Still, recovery has been uneven, with developing nations facing larger economic setbacks compared to developed countries. While some have argued that global cooperation can aid recovery, others fear that protectionist policies might prevail, damaging the global economy even further.

Your task: Summarize the text in one sentence. Your response should be between 5 and 75 words.

Sample Answers and Grading

Band 90:

Global health crises, like the COVID-19 pandemic, disrupt international trade, reduce tourism and demand, force governments to provide stimulus packages, and alter work norms, with developing countries experiencing uneven recovery and potential threats from protectionist policies.

• Content: Fully captures the key points about the economic impacts of health crises, including the effects on global trade, tourism, government stimulus, and the differentiation between developed and developing nations.
• Form: Correct length (45 words), precise, and concise.
• Grammar: Accurate and advanced use of complex sentence structure and punctuation.
• Vocabulary: Excellent choice of relevant words (e.g., “stimulus packages,” “protectionist policies”).
• Spelling: No mistakes.

Band 75:

Global health crises damage economies by reducing manufacturing, tourism and demand, forcing governments to provide stimulus packages while affecting developed and developing countries unequally.

• Content: Captures most key points, though it omits the part about work norms and protectionist policies.
• Form: Correct length (32 words).
• Grammar & Vocabulary: Appropriate structure, though simpler than Band 90.
• Spelling: No mistakes.

Band 60:

Global health crises harm economies, reduce tourism, and cause governments to spend money to help them.

• Content: Lacking several important details, such as the impact on trade and the labor market, and the uneven recovery.
• Form: Very brief at 19 words.
• Grammar: Simple sentence structure.
• Vocabulary: Basic words like “help” instead of more advanced synonyms.
• Spelling: No mistakes.

Summarize Written Text Sample 2

Sample Passage 2:

Global health crises not only disrupt healthcare systems but also inflict deep economic consequences. Key sectors such as retail, travel, and manufacturing suffer enormous losses, as consumer confidence plummets and supply chains are disrupted. Governments are often forced to introduce economic relief measures involving significant public spending. However, the long-term effectiveness of such measures is debated, with some economists predicting an extended period of economic recession that could worsen inflation, debt, and unemployment. In contrast, others point to health crises as an opportunity for innovation and the restructuring of industries, forecasting the emergence of more sustainable economic models.

Your task: Summarize the text in one sentence. Your response should be between 5 and 75 words.

Sample Answers and Grading

Band 85:

Global health crises lead to major economic impacts, particularly in retail, travel, and manufacturing, prompting government relief measures that may cause long-term issues like debt and unemployment, though some believe such crises could drive innovation and sustainable growth.

• Content: Comprehensive, noting both the economic challenges (losses, inflation) and potential opportunities (innovation, sustainability).
• Form: Appropriate length (43 words).
• Grammar & Vocabulary: Sophisticated grammar and vocabulary choices (e.g., “prompting,” “sustainable growth”).
• Spelling: Flawless.

Band 70:

Global health crises cause economic losses in key sectors and government interventions, with possible long-term issues including unemployment, though they may also foster innovation.

• Content: Adequately summarised but leaves out some nuanced details, such as inflation and sustained economic models.
• Form: Correct length (29 words).
• Grammar & Vocabulary: Correct but limited word choices.
• Spelling: No spelling errors.

Band 55:

Global health crises hurt economies and make governments spend money on relief.

• Content: Misses many important aspects like specific industries affected, potential future consequences, or opportunities for innovation.
• Form: Too short at 11 words.
• Grammar & Vocabulary: Simplistic in structure and word usage.
• Spelling: No mistakes.

Vocabulary and Grammar Notes

Here are 10 key vocabulary words in these sample passages that are crucial to understand:

1. Stimulus package /ˈstɪmjʊləs ˈpækɪdʒ/ — A set of government actions to boost the economy during a downturn.

   • Example: The government introduced a large stimulus package to prevent the economy from collapsing.

2. Protectionist policy /prəˈtɛkʃənɪst ˈpɒlɪsi/ — A policy designed to protect a country’s economy by restricting foreign competition.

   • Example: Tariffs are a common tool in protectionist policies during economic crises.

3. Uneven recovery /ʌnˈiːvən rɪˈkʌvəri/ — A term describing how different parts of the economy recover at varying speeds.

   • Example: The uneven recovery left developing countries struggling more than developed nations.

4. Sustainable /səˈsteɪnəbəl/ — Capable of being maintained over the long term without harming resources.

   • Example: Health crises can lead to more sustainable practices in the future.

5. Debt sustainability /dɛt səˌsteɪnəˈbɪlɪti/ — The ability of a country or company to repay its debt without leading to economic instability.

   • Example: Many questions arise regarding the debt sustainability of nations post-health crises.

6. Recession /rɪˈsɛʃən/ — A significant economic downturn over a period of months or years.

   • Example: Health crises often lead to a global recession as businesses slow down.

7. Inflation /ɪnˈfleɪʃən/ — A general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money.

   • Example: Relief measures may result in inflation if too much money is injected into the economy.

8. Unemployment /ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/ — The state of not having a job despite actively seeking one.

   • Example: The economic crisis led to increased unemployment across various industries.

9. Consumer confidence /kənˈsjuːmə ˈkɒnfɪdəns/ — The degree of optimism that consumers feel about the overall state of the economy.

   • Example: Consumer confidence significantly dropped during the global health crisis, affecting sales.

10. Restructure /ˌriːˈstrʌktʃər/ — To change the organization or structure of something, especially an economy or a business.

    • Example: Some economists suggest the crisis is an opportunity to restructure entire economies.

Conclusion

Summarize Written Text in PTE demands a mixture of comprehension and summary skills. Topics like the economic implications of global health crises are common and allow candidates to demonstrate their ability to synthesize complex information clearly and concisely. Practicing this crucial skill by analyzing sample responses across different band scores will improve your performance in the real exam.

We encourage you to practice more Summarize Written Text questions on this topic and share your answers in the comments for feedback, ensuring your success in future PTE exams!