Public Health Challenges in Disaster Response – Summarize Written Text in PTE

Overview of Summarize Written Text in the PTE Exam

In the Speaking & Writing section of the PTE exam, the Summarize Written Text task is particularly important as it evaluates your ability to compress key information from a passage into one clear, concise sentence. One of the key areas frequently tested is public health challenges in disaster response, given its relevance in both academic and real-world scenarios. In this article, we’ll provide sample tests, along with expected answers, guiding you to better understand and refine your skills for the PTE exam.

Disaster response and the Public health infrastructure in cities are pivotal topics due to their profound effects on health outcomes, societies, and economies worldwide, making them essential for PTE preparation.

Below, we’ll create a series of sample tests modeled on real questions in the PTE exam for you to practice and improve your summarization skills.

Sample Summarize Written Text Task 1: Public Health and Disaster Response

Text:

Disaster response presents a wide range of public health challenges, from communicable disease outbreaks to mental health concerns. During natural disasters, healthcare systems are often overwhelmed, and essential resources are scarce. For example, in the aftermath of hurricanes, access to clean water and proper sanitation is limited, leading to an increase in waterborne diseases. Furthermore, the psychological effects post-disaster can be long-lasting, exacerbated by the feeling of loss and instability. Efforts to build resilient public health systems must focus not only on addressing immediate concerns but also on creating sustainable strategies for preparedness and recovery.

Your task is to summarize the passage in one sentence.

Possible Answer for Band 90:

Disaster response involves various public health challenges, including outbreaks of diseases and psychological impacts, requiring resilient healthcare systems to ensure adequate preparedness and recovery.

Content: 5/5
Form: 1/1
Grammar: 2/2
Vocabulary: 2/2
Spelling: 2/2

This response covers all aspects of the passage effectively, mentioning key terms like “public health challenges,” “outbreaks of diseases,” “psychological impacts,” and the importance of “resilient healthcare systems.” The sentence is concise, grammatically correct, and written within one sentence, adhering to the format requirements.

Disaster response can strain health systems, leaving limited resources

Possible Answer for Band 65:

The challenges posed to public health during disasters include disease outbreaks and psychological issues that need strong healthcare systems to address.

Content: 4/5
Form: 1/1
Grammar: 1/2
Vocabulary: 1/2
Spelling: 2/2

This answer captures the main idea but lacks the specific terms such as “resilient” healthcare systems and omits the mention of both preparedness and recovery. Additionally, the phrasing is weak in some parts, slightly affecting the content score.

Possible Answer for Band 50:

Disaster response creates many public challenges that impact physical and mental health and calls for better healthcare systems.

Content: 3/5
Form: 1/1
Grammar: 1/2
Vocabulary: 1/2
Spelling: 2/2

Although this response touches on key points, it is vague and lacks the detail necessary to fully capture the complexity of the passage. The use of general terms like “public challenges” and “better” is not as precise as the higher-scoring responses.

Sample Summarize Written Text Task 2: Public Health Systems in Crisis Situations

Text:

When an environmental disaster strikes, healthcare systems are often strained. Hospitals may become overcrowded, and healthcare providers struggle to keep up with the influx of patients, a lack of resources, and potential infrastructural damage. In such circumstances, public health agencies are responsible for ensuring that critical services, such as medical care, disaster relief, and disease prevention, continue. Therefore, contingency plans and disaster preparedness strategies designed well in advance can significantly mitigate the negative impacts of these crises.

Your task is to summarize the passage in one sentence.

Possible Answer for Band 90:

Environmental disasters strain healthcare systems, often resulting in overcrowded hospitals and resource shortages, emphasizing the need for pre-planned disaster preparedness strategies to ensure continued public health services.

Content: 5/5
Form: 1/1
Grammar: 2/2
Vocabulary: 2/2
Spelling: 2/2

This sentence captures the main elements of the passage, using complex vocabulary and precise phrasing to convey the key points in a professional, polished manner.

Environmental disasters strain healthcare systems, causing overcrowding and resource shortages.

Possible Answer for Band 65:

Environmental disasters make healthcare systems overwhelmed, leading to shortages and overcrowding, which is why advanced preparedness is necessary.

Content: 4/5
Form: 1/1
Grammar: 1/2
Vocabulary: 1/2
Spelling: 2/2

While this sentence captures the basic meaning, it lacks the nuance and specific details about the role of “public health agencies” mentioned in the passage. Furthermore, vocabulary choices could be improved (“make healthcare systems overwhelmed” could be phrased better).

Vocabulary and Grammar Focus

Here are some useful words from the provided texts:

1. Resilient /rɪˈzɪliənt/ (adj.): Able to recover quickly from difficult conditions.
   Example: “Healthcare systems must be resilient to cope with disasters.”

2. Mitigate /ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt/ (v.): To make something less severe.
   Example: “Planning ahead can mitigate the impacts of public health crises.”

3. Overwhelmed /ˌoʊvərˈwelmd/ (adj.): Overpowered or overloaded, especially with tasks or demands.
   Example: “Hospitals may be overwhelmed during natural disasters.”

4. Communicable /kəˈmjuːnɪkəbl/ (adj.): Capable of being transmitted from one person to another.
   Example: “Communicable diseases can spread more easily when sanitation is poor.”

5. Contingency /kənˈtɪndʒənsi/ (n.): A future event that is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty.
   Example: “Having a contingency plan is essential for effective disaster response.”

6. Long-lasting /ˈlɒŋˈlæstɪŋ/ (adj.): Enduring for a prolonged period.
   Example: “The psychological effects of disasters can be long-lasting.”

7. Infrastructural /ˌɪnfrəˈstrʌktʃərəl/ (adj.): Related to the basic physical and organizational structures of a system.
   Example: “Infrastructural damage can severely impact the functioning of health services.”

8. Pre-planned /priːˈplænd/ (adj.): Planned in advance.
   Example: “Disaster preparedness requires pre-planned strategies.”

9. Psychological /ˌsaɪkəˈlɑːdʒɪkl/ (adj.): Pertaining to the mind or mental processes.
   Example: “Natural disasters often lead to significant psychological distress.”

10. Outbreak /ˈaʊtbreɪk/ (n.): A sudden occurrence of a disease or other harmful condition.
    Example: “Outbreaks of waterborne diseases are common during floods.”

Conclusion

Mastering the Summarize Written Text task is crucial for gaining a high score in the PTE writing section. By practicing with relevant themes, such as public health challenges in disaster response, you sharpen your ability to extract and condense key ideas under time constraints. Topics like these are common due to their global relevance, so consistent practice is instrumental to scoring well.

Don’t forget to regularly test your skills with timely topics like those related to the Public health infrastructure in cities, ensuring you are well-prepared for a variety of subjects.

Ready for more practice? Share your own summaries and discuss them in the comments below!