In the PTE Academic exam, the Summarize Written Text section requires candidates to condense a given text into a single sentence. Topics related to ocean ecosystems and global climate are commonly encountered in this part of the test. The practice question below is designed to help you master the essential skills for this task.
Summarize Written Text: Practice Question on Ocean Ecosystems and Global Climate
Instructions: Read the following passage and summarize it in one sentence. Your response should be between 5 and 75 words.
Passage:
Ocean ecosystems play a vital role in regulating the Earth’s climate. They act as both carbon sinks and regulators of temperature through their influence on water cycles and heat distribution. Additionally, the diverse marine species contribute to the maintenance of ecological balance, which in turn supports atmospheric stability. However, the effects of human activity, including pollution and overfishing, have severely compromised the health of these ecosystems, limiting their capacity to mitigate climate change. Urgent efforts are required to preserve marine biodiversity and restore the natural mechanisms that maintain climate balance.
Sample Responses by Scoring Band
Band 79+ (High Score)
Ocean ecosystems are crucial for regulating Earth’s climate through carbon sequestration and temperature control, but human activities such as pollution and overfishing have reduced their effectiveness in mitigating climate change, necessitating urgent conservation efforts.
- Content: The summary effectively captures all key points, including the ecosystem’s role in climate regulation and human impact.
- Form: Excellent adherence to the word limit, comprehensive, and clear.
- Grammar: No errors in sentence structure, punctuation, or word choice.
- Vocabulary: A varied and appropriate range of vocabulary (e.g., “carbon sequestration,” “mitigating”).
- Spelling: All words are spelled correctly.
Band 65-78 (Competent Score)
Ocean ecosystems help regulate Earth’s climate by controlling carbon and temperature, but human activity is damaging their ability to help fight climate change, making protection necessary.
- Content: All main ideas are included, though less detailed than a higher-scoring response.
- Form: Within the word limit and decently clear.
- Grammar: Minor grammatical or syntactical issues but nothing major.
- Vocabulary: Acceptable but not as sophisticated (“help fight” could be replaced by “mitigate”).
- Spelling: Correct spelling.
Band 50-64 (Moderate Score)
The ocean regulates the climate, but pollution is affecting its ability to do so, and we need to protect it.
- Content: Only partially covers the text’s main ideas about climate regulation and does not mention the role of marine biodiversity or specific harmful activities.
- Form: The response is shorter than ideal.
- Grammar: Simple sentence construction; lacks complexity.
- Vocabulary: Somewhat basic; lacks specific terms like “conservation” and “carbon sinks.”
- Spelling: No errors.
Band Below 50 (Low Score)
Ocean protects climate but pollution destroys it.
- Content: The key points are severely lacking; important points about the process of climate regulation and human impact are missing.
- Form: The sentence is too short and incomplete.
- Grammar: Basic sentence structure with improper punctuation.
- Vocabulary: Extremely basic; lacks variety and fails to capture the complexity of the original text.
- Spelling: No major mistakes, but the word choice is overly simplistic.
Vocabulary and Grammar
Here are some advanced vocabulary words from the passage that could enhance your response:
-
Sequestration /ˌsɛkwəsˈtreɪʃən/ (n.) – the action of removing or isolating something, typically carbon in this context.
Example: “Forests are key to carbon sequestration.” -
Mitigate /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/ (v.) – to make something less severe or serious.
Example: “Policies that mitigate climate change could save countless ecosystems.” -
Biodiversity /ˌbaɪoʊdaɪˈvɜːrsɪti/ (n.) – the variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat.
Example: “Protecting biodiversity is essential for stable ecosystems.” -
Pollution /pəˈluːʃən/ (n.) – the presence or introduction of harmful substances into the environment.
Example: “Marine pollution affects all ocean life forms.” -
Overfishing /ˌoʊvərˈfɪʃɪŋ/ (n.) – catching too many fish, leading to depletion of fish stocks.
Example: “Overfishing threatens marine biodiversity.” -
Ecosystem /ˈiːkoʊsɪstəm/ (n.) – a biological community of interacting organisms and their environment.
Example: “Healthy ecosystems support carbon cycles.” -
Stability /stəˈbɪlɪti/ (n.) – the state of being stable, i.e., not likely to change.
Example: “Ecosystem stability is critical for climate resilience.” -
Conservation /ˌkɒnsərˈveɪʃən/ (n.) – the preservation, protection, or restoration of the natural environment.
Example: “Conservation measures can help restore the ocean’s health.” -
Human Activity /ˈhjuːmən ækˈtɪvɪti/ (n.) – actions done by humans, which often impact the environment.
Example: “Human activity like deforestation speeds up climate change.” -
Carbon Sink /ˈkɑrbən sɪŋk/ (n.) – a natural system that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it releases.
Example: “Oceans function as major carbon sinks.”
Conclusion
Summarizing texts in the PTE Summarize Written Text exam is a crucial skill, particularly on topics like ocean ecosystems and global climate, which feature frequently in actual exams. This practice question and answers show how to approach the task effectively and avoid common mistakes. Proper practice with real-world examples can significantly improve your Summarize Written Text responses.
For more insights on other climate-related topics and their relevance in the exam, explore our related article on Climate change and its impact on ecosystems.
FAQ on Answering Summarize Written Text Questions
How does human activity impact ocean ecosystems in this context?
Human activities such as pollution and overfishing reduce the ocean’s capacity to regulate climate effectively.
What is the importance of “carbon sequestration” in the ocean?
Carbon sequestration helps absorb carbon dioxide, lowering the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which mitigates climate change.
What are key points to focus on when summarizing texts on ocean ecosystems?
Make sure to mention the ocean’s role as a climate regulator, human impact on ecosystems, and the need for urgent conservation.
What vocabulary should I use to explain the climate-regulating function of oceans?
Use advanced terms like “carbon sinks,” “biodiversity,” and “mitigate” to capture the complexity of the topic.
Is it okay to write a simple sentence for the PTE Summarize Written Text task?
It’s important to keep your sentence simple but also comprehensive enough to cover all key points within the word limit.
By continually practicing and incorporating feedback, you can sharpen your skills and confidently tackle the Summarize Written Text section for higher scores.
