Sample Summarize Written Text Question: Food Sovereignty and Local Agriculture
In this section, you will be presented with a text of 150-400 words on food sovereignty and local agriculture. Your task is to summarize the passage into one sentence.
Sample Question 1:
“Food sovereignty refers to the right of people to define and control their own food systems, including agricultural practices, market strategies, and consumption habits. It promotes local agriculture by encouraging small-scale farmers to use sustainable farming techniques that are beneficial for both people and the environment. Advocates of food sovereignty argue that it can enhance food security by reducing dependence on global food corporations and increasing the resilience of local economies. Food sovereignty also fosters biodiversity by promoting the cultivation of a variety of indigenous crops, rather than relying on imported food that may damage local ecosystems.”
Instructions: Summarize the passage in one sentence. Your response must be between 5 and 75 words.
Sample Responses:
Band Score: 90
“Food sovereignty enhances local agriculture by empowering communities to control their own food systems, supporting small-scale sustainable farming, promoting biodiversity, and reducing dependence on global food corporations.”
Analysis:
- Content: Fully captures the main ideas of the passage, including food sovereignty, local agriculture, sustainable farming, biodiversity, and independence from global corporations.
- Form: Correct word limit (29 words).
- Grammar: Error-free sentence with complex structure.
- Vocabulary: Advanced, precise use of terms (e.g. “empowering,” “sustainable farming,” “biodiversity”).
- Spelling: No errors.
Band Score: 75
“Food sovereignty allows communities to control their food systems by promoting local agriculture and sustainability, reducing global dependence, and promoting biodiversity.”
Analysis:
- Content: Summarizes the main points but lacks detail on how food sovereignty impacts local economies.
- Form: Correct word count (22 words).
- Grammar: Clear structure, minor grammatical simplicity.
- Vocabulary: Accurate but less advanced (e.g., “promoting” is used twice).
- Spelling: No errors.
Band Score: 65
“Food sovereignty supports local farming and helps reduce dependency on global food corporations.”
Analysis:
- Content: Mentioned some key ideas, but omitted information about biodiversity, sustainability, and local control.
- Form: Correct word count (12 words).
- Grammar: Simple sentence, clear but lacking complexity.
- Vocabulary: Basic vocabulary (e.g., “supports,” “helps”).
- Spelling: No errors.
Vocabulary and Grammar for Summarize Written Text
To tackle questions on food sovereignty and local agriculture effectively, it is important to strengthen your vocabulary related to this field. Below are 10 useful vocabulary words from the sample passage, along with their definitions and examples.
| Word | Phonetics | Meaning | Sentence Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sovereignty | /ˈsɑːvrənti/ | Supreme power or authority over a territory or domain. | Food sovereignty emphasizes the right of farmers to control their own food systems. |
| Indigenous | /ɪnˈdɪdʒɪnəs/ | Native to a particular place; originating naturally in a given area. | Indigenous crops are more resilient to local environmental conditions. |
| Biodiversity | /ˌbaɪoʊdaɪˈvɜːrsəti/ | The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat. | Biodiversity can enhance the sustainability of local agriculture. |
| Resilience | /rɪˈzɪliəns/ | The ability to quickly recover from difficulties; toughness. | Local economies show greater resilience when they rely on regional food systems. |
| Cultivation | /ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃn/ | The process of growing plants for food. | Cultivation of indigenous crops helps preserve the ecosystem. |
| Ecosystem | /ˈiːkoʊsɪstəm/ | A biological community of interacting organisms and their environment. | The import of non-native species can damage the delicate balance of the local ecosystem. |
| Sustainability | /səˌsteɪnəˈbɪləti/ | The ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level without depleting natural resources. | Sustainability in agriculture is essential for long-term food security. |
| Agriculture | /ˈæɡrɪkʌltʃər/ | The science or practice of farming. | Small-scale agriculture plays a crucial role in local economies and food sovereignty. |
| Dependency | /dɪˈpɛndənsi/ | Reliance on something or someone else for support or survival. | Reducing dependency on global food corporations is key to enhancing food sovereignty and local agriculture. |
| Corporation | /ˌkɔːrpəˈreɪʃn/ | A large company or group of companies. | Global food corporations often control much of the world’s food supply, reducing the autonomy of local communities. |
Conclusion
In this practice activity for Summarize Written Text, we explored the topic of food sovereignty and local agriculture—a theme that is increasingly relevant on the global stage. The provided sample answers and detailed analysis should help improve your summarization skills, which are critical for success in the PTE Speaking & Writing section. This topic is common in real PTE tests, so practice is highly recommended. Be sure to try it yourself, and don’t hesitate to leave comments with your answers for more feedback!
