When preparing for the PTE exam, mastering the Summarize Written Text section is crucial. In this task, test takers condense reading passages into a single sentence. A common debate topic addressed in this section is the relationship between renewable energy initiatives and indigenous communities. This subject highlights global environmental, social, and economic concerns essential for success in the exam.
Let’s dive into some Renewable Energy And Indigenous Communities practice questions. These samples reflect the real PTE exam format closely and provide an excellent way to enhance your skills.
Summarize Written Text Practice 1: Renewable Energy Development and Indigenous Rights
Passage:
The advancement of renewable energy technologies such as solar and wind farms offers a solution to reduce global carbon emissions. However, large-scale renewable projects have been criticized for encroaching on indigenous lands. Indigenous communities worldwide often rely on their land for cultural practices and sustenance. Despite the green agenda, energy companies and governments sometimes overlook the needs and rights of indigenous peoples. The challenge lies in striking a balance between promoting sustainable energy development and respecting indigenous rights and traditions.
Task:
Summarize the passage in one sentence. Your response should be between 5 and 75 words.
Answers
Band 90:
Although renewable energy efforts aim to reduce carbon emissions globally, they risk encroaching upon indigenous lands, creating tension between sustainable development and the protection of indigenous rights and traditions.
- Content: Fully addresses both the benefits and concerns.
- Form: Word count is within the required range.
- Grammar: Very strong; no errors.
- Vocabulary: Advanced use of words like “encroaching” and “sustainable.”
- Spelling: All words are correctly spelled.
Band 70:
Renewable energy projects help reduce emissions but can conflict with indigenous land and cultural rights.
- Content: Addresses both renewable energy benefits and tension with indigenous rights.
- Form: Word count is acceptable.
- Grammar: Solid with minor areas for improvement in sentence structure.
- Vocabulary: Satisfactory; could expand word variety.
- Spelling: Correct spelling.
Band 50:
Renewable energy reduces carbon but affects indigenous communities.
- Content: Simplistic; lacks sufficient details.
- Form: Word count is within the range.
- Grammar: Acceptable, but lacks complexity.
- Vocabulary: Limited use of vocabulary.
- Spelling: No spelling errors.
Summarize Written Text Practice 2: Energy Sovereignty among Indigenous Communities
Passage:
Energy sovereignty refers to the right of communities to control and manage their energy sources. In many indigenous territories, there is a growing movement toward energy sovereignty, where indigenous communities seek to implement renewable energy solutions that align with their cultural values and ecological stewardship. However, these movements often face challenges due to external political and economic pressures that prioritize corporate interests over those of indigenous people.
Task:
Summarize the passage in one sentence. Your response should be between 5 and 75 words.
Answers
Band 90:
Indigenous communities advocate for energy sovereignty to align renewable energy solutions with their cultural and ecological values, but they face external pressures from political and economic actors prioritizing corporate interests.
- Content: Covers both advocacy for energy sovereignty and the challenges faced.
- Form: Word count meets criteria.
- Grammar: Flawless; no improvements needed.
- Vocabulary: Strong, with words like “advocate” and “sovereignty.”
- Spelling: All words are correctly spelled.
Band 70:
Indigenous communities seek to manage renewable energy aligned with their culture, but outside political and economic forces often hinder these efforts.
- Content: Highlights the main idea but could elaborate more on external pressures.
- Form: Satisfactory word count.
- Grammar: Strong, but could use greater complexity.
- Vocabulary: Good with room for some refinement.
- Spelling: Correct spelling.
Band 50:
Indigenous people want energy control but face challenges from outside interests.
- Content: Very basic; lacks sufficient explanation.
- Form: Word count is accurate.
- Grammar: Simple and lack depth.
- Vocabulary: Limited variety.
- Spelling: No spelling errors.
Renewable energy development in conflict with indigenous land rights
Summarize Written Text Practice 3: Balancing Renewable Energy and Indigenous Land Concerns
Passage:
As the world moves toward renewable energy, ensuring indigenous concerns are addressed is key to avoiding further marginalization. Many renewable projects are touted for their environmental benefits, but they can disrupt ecosystems critical to indigenous cultures. Governments and private entities need to collaborate with indigenous stakeholders to ensure any renewable energy developments are culturally appropriate and do not infringe upon historical lands.
Task:
Summarize the passage in one sentence. Your response should be between 5 and 75 words.
Answers
Band 90:
Collaboration between renewable energy developers and indigenous communities is essential to ensure projects respect cultural significance and ecosystems without infringing on historical lands.
- Content: Thoroughly covers collaboration and respecting indigenous lands.
- Form: Word count falls within the required range.
- Grammar: Excellent and error-free.
- Vocabulary: Strong, particularly in phrases like “culturally appropriate” and “historical lands.”
- Spelling: No spelling mistakes.
Band 70:
Renewable energy projects should work with indigenous peoples to avoid disrupting important ecosystems and lands.
- Content: Adequate but could include more details about collaboration.
- Form: Word count is acceptable.
- Grammar: Strong structure; some room for added complexity.
- Vocabulary: Good but could be broadened.
- Spelling: Correct spelling.
Band 50:
Renewable energy must respect indigenous lands.
- Content: Lacks details and depth.
- Form: Fits within word count.
- Grammar: Simple but correct.
- Vocabulary: Limited and basic.
- Spelling: All words spelled correctly.
Indigenous community’s relationship to renewable energy projects
Key Vocabulary from These Passages
-
Encroach (ɪnˈkroʊtʃ) – (verb) to gradually take over someone else’s rights or land.
Example: The wind farms encroach upon the sacred lands. -
Sovereignty (ˈsɑːvrənti) – (noun) the authority to govern or control.
Example: Indigenous communities fight for their energy sovereignty. -
Touted (taʊt) – (verb) to promote or praise something publicly.
Example: The solar project was touted as an eco-friendly initiative. -
Ecological (ˌiːkəˈlɑːdʒɪkl) – (adjective) relating to the relationship between living organisms and their environment.
Example: Renewable projects must take indigenous ecological concerns into account. -
Marginalization (ˈmɑːrdʒɪnəlaɪz) – (noun) the treatment of a group as insignificant or peripheral.
Example: Indigenous peoples fear marginalization in policy discussions. -
Stakeholders (ˈsteɪkhoʊldərz) – (noun) individuals or groups with an interest in a particular issue.
Example: It’s essential to include indigenous stakeholders in green energy decisions. -
Appropriate (əˈproʊpriət) – (adjective) suitable or proper in the context.
Example: A culturally appropriate development plan was necessary. -
Collaboration (kəˌlæbəˈreɪʃn) – (noun) working together to achieve a goal.
Example: Successful collaboration between the government and indigenous communities is needed. -
Infringe (ɪnˈfrɪndʒ) – (verb) to violate or encroach upon someone’s rights.
Example: Energy projects must not infringe upon indigenous land rights. -
Cultural (ˈkʌltʃərəl) – (adjective) relating to the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a society.
Example: The project ignored vital cultural traditions.
Conclusion
The relationship between renewable energy and indigenous communities is an increasingly common topic in the PTE Summarize Written Text section, as it highlights the global challenge of balancing modern development with cultural preservation. It’s essential to continually practice tasks like these to enhance your fluency and timing with complex topics.
For more practice on similar subjects, check out our article about Sustainable tourism and cultural preservation.
Feel free to share your response to these tasks in the comments below!