In the PTE writing test, the Summarize Written Text section is a crucial part where candidates are required to summarize a given passage into a single sentence. One of the common topics in this section is ocean acidification and its impact on coral reefs. Practice is key to mastering this section, so in this article, we will provide a detailed sample task and answers with an analysis to help you get a better grasp of what is expected.
What is Ocean Acidification and How Does it Affect Coral Reefs?
Ocean acidification refers to the process by which oceans absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) from human activities such as industrial processes and fossil fuel combustion. This increased CO2 leads to a decrease in the water’s pH levels, making the ocean more acidic. More acidic water decreases the availability of calcium carbonate, a mineral that is essential for coral reef growth and maintenance. Without enough calcium carbonate, coral structures may weaken, growth rates slow down, and coral reefs may be more vulnerable to erosion and bleaching, which significantly impacts the broader marine ecosystem.
Ocean acidification reduces calcium carbonate availability and weakens coral structures
Sample Summarize Written Text Task: Ocean Acidification’s Impact on Coral Reefs
Here is a practice task created to simulate a real PTE Summarize Written Text task.
Read the following passage and summarize it in one sentence. Your response should be between 5 to 75 words.
The ocean absorbs about a quarter of the carbon dioxide (CO2) released into the atmosphere every year. As oceans absorb more CO2, the pH levels decrease, leading to acidification of the seawater. This change in ocean chemistry negatively affects marine life, particularly coral reefs, which rely on calcium carbonate to build their skeletons. When the water’s acidity increases, corals struggle to survive because calcium carbonate becomes less available, leading to weakened coral structures and slowed growth. Over time, these weakened corals are more prone to bleaching, reducing their ability to support abundant marine biodiversity. Furthermore, the long-term impact on coral reefs could disrupt entire marine ecosystems and lead to a loss of species that rely on them for habitat and food.
Summarize Written Text:
Example Answers and Analysis:
Band 90 (High proficiency)
As the ocean absorbs more carbon dioxide, its decrease in pH leads to ocean acidification, which reduces coral survival by making calcium carbonate less available, weakening reefs, and disrupting marine ecosystems.
- Content: Excellent. The summary captures all key points about ocean acidification, coral survival, weakened structures, and its broader ecological impact.
- Form: Correct length and structure, appropriate use of conjunctions and punctuation.
- Grammar: No errors.
- Vocabulary: High level and precise, clearly explaining the processes of “acidification,” “calcium carbonate,” and “disruption of ecosystems.”
- Spelling: Error-free.
Band 75 (Good proficiency)
Ocean acidification, caused by the absorption of CO2, makes calcium carbonate less available for corals, weakening their structures and threatening marine biodiversity.
- Content: Good. This sentence summarizes the key factors: acidification, impact on calcium carbonate, corals, and biodiversity but omits some minor details like slower coral growth and the broader disruptive effects.
- Form: About the right length; the structure is logical and coherent.
- Grammar: No significant errors.
- Vocabulary: Uses academic terms effectively, though may be slightly more generalized than a Band 90 answer.
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 65 (Moderate proficiency)
Coral reefs suffer from the ocean absorbing CO2, which lowers pH and makes it hard for them to survive due to a reduced amount of calcium carbonate.
- Content: Fairly good but lacks specific mention of broad ecological systems and the impact on biodiversity, while focusing primarily on coral survival.
- Form: Adequate length; lacks some complexity with fewer linking phrases.
- Grammar: Minor issues with sentence construct (e.g., “which makes it hard”).
- Vocabulary: Basic but accurate, lacks some precision in terms like “ocean chemistry” and “disruption.”
- Spelling: No errors.
Band 50 (Low proficiency)
When the ocean absorbs more CO2, it causes the corals to get weak because they don’t have enough calcium carbonate for growth.
- Content: Misses the key point about acidification and focuses solely on weakened growth without mentioning broader ecosystem impacts.
- Form: Explanation is underdeveloped for Summarize Written Text.
- Grammar: Basic errors, such as “cause the corals to get weak.”
- Vocabulary: Limited use of academic language; relies on more casual terms.
- Spelling: No errors.
Vocabulary for the Summarize Written Text Task on Ocean Acidification
Below is a list of 10 challenging words and phrases used or related to the topic, along with their meanings and a sample sentence:
-
Acidification /əˌsɪdɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
Definition: The process of making something more acidic.
Example: “Ocean acidification is one of the most concerning impacts of rising CO2 levels.” -
Calcium Carbonate /ˈkælsiəm ˈkɑːbəneɪt/
Definition: A chemical compound used by corals to build their skeletons.
Example: “Coral reefs rely on calcium carbonate to maintain their strength and structure.” -
Erosion /ɪˈroʊʒən/
Definition: The gradual destruction or weakening of something, often due to external forces.
Example: “Coral reefs are increasingly vulnerable to erosion due to weakening structures.” -
Biodiversity /ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsɪti/
Definition: The variety of life in a particular habitat or ecosystem.
Example: “The loss of coral reefs has a devastating effect on marine biodiversity.” -
Bleaching /ˈbliːtʃɪŋ/
Definition: The loss of color in corals due to stress, often leading to their death.
Example: “Corals experiencing bleaching are less able to support marine life.” -
pH Levels /piːˌeɪtʃ ˈlɛvəlz/
Definition: A measure of how acidic or basic water is.
Example: “As pH levels drop, the ocean becomes more acidic.” -
Habitat /ˈhæbɪtæt/
Definition: The natural environment where a particular species lives and grows.
Example: “Coral reefs provide a crucial habitat for numerous marine species.” -
Marine Ecosystems /məˈriːn ˈiːkəʊˌsɪstəmz/
Definition: Aquatic systems composed of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Example: “Marine ecosystems are heavily reliant on the health of coral reefs.” -
Disruption /dɪsˈrʌpʃən/
Definition: A disturbance that leads to the interruption of regular functions or processes.
Example: “Ocean acidification has the potential to cause significant disruption to marine life.” -
Fossil Fuels /ˈfɒsəl ˌfjʊəlz/
Definition: Natural fuels like coal or gas, formed from the remains of living organisms.
Example: “Burning fossil fuels contributes to the increasing levels of CO2.”
Bleached coral reefs showing signs of vulnerability and stress
Conclusion
The Summarize Written Text section in the PTE exam is an essential skill that evaluates a test taker’s ability to capture the main ideas efficiently while maintaining coherence and correctness. The example on “Ocean acidification’s impact on coral reefs” provided in this article gives insights into how ocean acidification poses a real threat to coral reefs and marine ecosystems. This is a very common topic in exams due to its relevance in environmental conversations.
To solidify your grasp, remember to keep practicing, revisit tasks such as the one shared here, and check other similar topics like Ocean acidification’s effects on biodiversity to better prepare for related subjects in the PTE writing section.
