Food waste is a critical issue affecting economies, societies, and the environment at a global scale. The PTE Summarize Written Text section often includes important contemporary issues like food waste due to its relevance in various aspects of sustainability, agriculture, and economics. In this article, we will provide practice exercises to help you prepare for this task, focusing on how to effectively summarize written texts on this pressing topic.
Sample Summarize Written Text Task for Food Waste
Task 1: Global Food Waste
Food waste is an increasing problem that has both environmental and economic implications. According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately one-third of food produced for human consumption is wasted. This waste occurs at various stages of the food supply chain, from production to consumer levels. The majority of food waste at the production stage occurs due to inefficient harvesting methods, while waste generated at the household level is often linked to improper understanding of expiration dates and over-purchasing. Reductions in food waste could help mitigate environmental pressures by decreasing the need for extensive land use, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions produced by food that is never eaten. Furthermore, food waste prevention can also lead to significant cost savings for businesses and lower food expenses for consumers.
Summarize the passage in one sentence:
Task 2: Food Waste in Developing Nations
In developing nations, food waste is more concentrated at the post-harvest and processing stages of the food supply chain. Issues like poor transportation, inadequate infrastructure, and lack of technology hinder the ability to store and distribute food before it spoils. A significant portion of agricultural produce is lost because of these inefficiencies. Aside from its economic impact, such waste contributes to food insecurity and malnutrition, as valuable resources are used in the production of food that never reaches the consumer. Solving the food waste issue in emerging economies requires investment in infrastructure and technological improvements, which would reduce both food insecurity and greenhouse gas emissions.
Summarize the passage in one sentence:
Sample Answers for Different Band Scores
Task 1: Global Food Waste
Band Score 90
Almost one-third of food produced globally is wasted, leading to both environmental and economic issues, which could be alleviated through better production methods and consumer habits.
- Content: Fully captures all key points, including causes at both production and consumer levels.
- Form: Perfect form, one sentence.
- Grammar: No noticeable errors.
- Vocabulary: Diverse vocabulary usage, precise.
- Spelling: No spelling mistakes.
Band Score 70
Around one-third of food production worldwide is wasted due to inefficiencies in harvesting and consumer habits, with significant environmental and economic impacts.
- Content: Good but lacks specific details about greenhouse gas emissions.
- Form: Correct.
- Grammar: Minor imperfections in sentence structure.
- Vocabulary: Adequate.
- Spelling: No errors.
Band Score 60
Many food products around the world are wasted at different stages, which leads to environmental and economic problems.
- Content: Misses important specifics, vague.
- Form: Complete but simplistic.
- Grammar: Acceptable but basic.
- Vocabulary: Limited in range.
- Spelling: Correct.
Band Score 50
A lot of food is wasted, causing environmental damage.
- Content: Incomplete, lacks crucial details.
- Form: One sentence, but too short.
- Grammar: Basic, with issues in sentence fluidity.
- Vocabulary: Very limited, simplistic.
- Spelling: Correct.
Vocabulary and Grammar Insights
Here are ten key vocabulary words from the practice texts, followed by their pronunciation, meanings, and examples:
-
Consumption /kənˈsʌmpʃən/ – the act of using or eating resources or food.
Example: Global consumption of food is increasing rapidly with population growth. -
Inefficient /ɪnɪˈfɪʃənt/ – lacking the ability to produce desired outcomes effectively.
Example: Inefficient farming practices contribute to high levels of food waste. -
Expiration /ɛkspəˈreɪʃən/ – the date after which something, typically food, is no longer fit for use.
Example: Many consumers misinterpret expiration dates, discarding food prematurely. -
Greenhouse Gas Emissions /ˈɡriːnˌhaʊs ɡæs ɪˈmɪʃənz/ – gases like carbon dioxide that contribute to global warming.
Example: Reducing food waste could significantly cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. -
Harvesting /ˈhɑːrvəstɪŋ/ – the process of gathering ripe crops from the fields.
Example: Technological improvements in harvesting can prevent unnecessary food loss. -
Malnutrition /mælnjuːˈtrɪʃən/ – poor health caused by a lack of proper diet.
Example: Malnutrition remains a huge challenge in areas with prevalent food waste. -
Infrastructure /ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃər/ – essential physical and organizational structures for society (e.g., transport, electricity).
Example: Improved infrastructure could help reduce food waste in developing countries. -
Sustainability /səˌsteɪnəˈbɪlɪti/ – the ability to maintain ecological balance by avoiding depletion of resources.
Example: Sustainability in farming practices is essential to reducing global food waste. -
Post-harvest /poʊst ˈhɑrvɪst/ – concerning the period immediately after harvesting crops.
Example: Lack of technology leads to significant post-harvest food losses in rural areas. -
Spoils /spɔɪlz/ – to become unfit for consumption.
Example: Many agricultural products spoil before reaching the consumer due to poor storage.
Conclusion
Food waste is a growing global concern, and its implications are felt in everything from environmental sustainability to economic stability. The PTE Summarize Written Text section often includes topics like this due to their complexity and relevance. By practicing sample tasks, refining your summarization techniques, and learning the appropriate vocabulary related to food waste, you will significantly improve your PTE score. For more insights, explore other related topics such as Smart farming for food security and Sustainable agriculture and food security.
Feel free to test yourself with these practice questions and leave your comments or summaries below!
