The Pearson Test of English (PTE) assesses a candidate’s academic English proficiency, and one of its critical sections is the “Summarize Written Text” task in the Speaking & Writing segment. In this task, candidates are required to summarize a provided text into one sentence, highlighting the ability to capture key ideas concisely. Incredibly relevant topics like Gene Therapy Advancements And Ethics often appear in this section due to their increasing prominence in scientific debate.
In this guide, we present quality practice materials and breakdowns that can help candidate(s) achieve high scores in the Summarize Written Text (SWT) component, focusing on gene therapy advancements and ethics.
Practice Test 1: Gene Therapy – A Double-Edged Sword
Test Prompt
Gene therapy offers the potential to treat or even cure certain genetic disorders by replacing damaged genes with functional ones. Among its successes are the treatments of severe combined immunodeficiency disease (also known as “bubble boy” syndrome), some cases of muscular dystrophy, and other rare conditions. However, concerns have emerged over its safety and ethics. Mistakes in gene editing could lead to unforeseen side effects, including cancer, and broader ethical questions revolve around the potential for so-called ‘designer babies’—genetically modifying traits for non-medical reasons, which could deepen social inequalities. As research progresses, balancing potential benefits with ethical considerations remains a challenge.
Instruction: Summarize the text in one sentence only; your summary should not exceed 75 words.
Sample Answers
Band Score 90 (Correct Format, Strong Content, Excellent Grammar)
Gene therapy, while offering groundbreaking treatments for genetic diseases, raises significant concerns regarding safety due to potential side effects such as cancer, and ethical debates over genetic manipulation for non-medical purposes.
Analysis:
- Content: Covers the key points of the text, including both the benefits and the ethical concerns.
- Form: The sentence is concise and within the word limit.
- Grammar: Notably complex without any errors, using passive voice for precision.
- Vocabulary: Demonstrates advanced use of academic vocabulary such as “groundbreaking,” “genetic manipulation,” and “ethical debates.”
- Spelling: No spelling errors.
Band Score 75 (Good Content, Minor Grammar Errors)
Although gene therapy is seen as a promising technique for genetic disease treatment, concerns arise regarding safety and the risk of creating ‘designer babies’ based on non-medical genetic modifications.
Analysis:
- Content: All key points are captured, but the sentence lacks some finesse compared to the 90-band answer.
- Form: Meets the requirements.
- Grammar: Slightly repetitive with verb structures such as “seen” and “creating.”
- Vocabulary: Adequate use of vocabulary but slightly less sophisticated.
- Spelling: No spelling errors.
Band Score 60 (Limited Content, Basic Grammar)
Gene therapy is a new way to treat genetic diseases, but it might cause problems like cancer and make people design babies.
Analysis:
- Content: This summary misses the intricate ethical concerns discussed in the passage.
- Form: Within the word limit.
- Grammar: Simple and lacks diversity, and the phrasing “make people design babies” is too informal for academic writing.
- Vocabulary: Basic level of English; lacks terms like “ethical concerns” or “side effects.”
- Spelling: No spelling errors.
Practice Test 2: The Ethical Dilemma in Genetic Modification
Test Prompt
The realm of genetic modification has expanded dramatically, especially with new technologies like CRISPR-Cas9, which allows for precise alterations in the genome. This has sparked excitement about potential medical breakthroughs but also concerns regarding the intentional alteration of human traits for non-medical purposes. If used carelessly, gene editing could lead to unintended ecological consequences and increased divisions among social classes, as enhanced genetic modifications may be accessible to only the wealthy. Scholars are debating whether current ethical frameworks are sufficient to regulate future developments.
Instruction: Summarize the text in one sentence only; your summary should not exceed 75 words.
Sample Answers
Band Score 90 (Correct Format, Strong Content, Excellent Grammar)
While CRISPR-Cas9 offers unparalleled precision in gene editing with promising medical benefits, it also raises concerns about its potential environmental impact and the risk of creating social inequalities due to the disparity in access.
Analysis:
- Content: Fully captures both the scientific potential and the ethical concerns with CRISPR technology.
- Form: Complies with sentence length requirements.
- Grammar: Properly structured with complex clauses and no visible errors.
- Vocabulary: Demonstrates a high level of precision with terms like “unparalleled precision” and “disparity in access.”
- Spelling: Correct.
Band Score 75 (Good Content, Minor Grammar Errors)
CRISPR technology has great potential to treat genetic disorders, but concerns that it will lead to ecological imbalances and larger economic gaps should not be ignored.
Analysis:
- Content: Sufficiently addresses the key points of scientific promise and social concerns.
- Form: Adheres to format rules.
- Grammar: Contains an unnecessary shift from “will lead” to “should not be ignored.”
- Vocabulary: Overall good vocabulary, although less sophisticated than the best answers.
- Spelling: No spelling errors.
Band Score 60 (Limited Content, Basic Grammar)
CRISPR is a powerful technology, but it can have bad effects on society and the environment.
Analysis:
- Content: Barely conveys the ethical dimension and misses specific concerns like economic inequality.
- Form: Technically correct but oversimplified.
- Grammar: Simplistic grammar, lacks sophistication and variety.
- Vocabulary: Very basic, missing important academic terms (“bad effects” vs. ecological impact).
- Spelling: Correct.
Ethical debates on gene therapy and CRISPR in PTE Tests
Vocabulary and Grammar Focus
Below are 10 advanced words from the texts with their explanations and example usage:
-
Precision /prɪˈsɪʒən/ – (n) The quality of being exact and accurate.
Example: CRISPR’s precision in editing genes allows for targeted interventions. -
Gene editing /ʤiːn ˈɛdɪtɪŋ/ – (n) The process of altering the DNA of an organism in a direct and targeted manner.
Example: Gene editing could treat genetic diseases but also poses risks. -
Immunodeficiency /ɪmˌjunəʊdɪˈfɪʃənsi/ – (n) The state of having a weakened immune system.
Example: Gene therapy is often used for treating immunodeficiency disorders. -
Unforeseen /ʌnfɔːˈsiːn/ – (adj) Unexpected and not anticipated in advance.
Example: The effects of gene modification on future generations may be unforeseen. -
Enhancement /ɪnˈhɑːnsmənt/ – (n) An improvement or augmentation of a characteristic.
Example: Genetic enhancements for non-medical traits could create societal issues. -
Breakthrough /ˈbreɪkθruː/ – (n) A significant and dramatic discovery.
Example: CRISPR represents a major breakthrough in gene therapy. -
Disparity /dɪˈspærɪti/ – (n) Inequality; a great difference.
Example: Disparity in genetic modification access could widen socioeconomic divides. -
Framework /ˈfreɪmwɜːk/ – (n) An essential structure underlying a system or concept.
Example: The ethical framework for CRISPR is still under development. -
Alteration /ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃən/ – (n) A change or modification.
Example: Any alteration to the human genome may have long-term consequences. -
Inequality /ɪnɪˈkwɒlɪti/ – (n) The lack of equality or fairness in a situation.
Example: Genetic technologies may exacerbates inequality if only the wealthy have access.
Conclusion
Understanding gene therapy advancements and ethics is crucial not just for mastering PTE exams but also for engaging with a contemporary and evolving debate in science. Such themes often appear in the PTE Summarize Written Text task to test your comprehension of complex issues, urging you to balance conciseness with clarity. We encourage candidates to practice regularly with diverse yet relevant topics to enhance their ability across form, grammar, and vocabulary. Feel free to share your summaries below for feedback and discussion!
