Renewable energy sources play a crucial role in sustainable development, offering clean alternatives to fossil fuels. This topic frequently appears in PTE Summarize Written Text tasks, challenging test-takers to concisely capture key points. Let’s explore an example question and learn effective summarization strategies for this important subject.
PTE Summarize Written Text Sample Question
Read the passage below and summarize it using one sentence in 5-75 words:
Renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal power, are becoming increasingly important in the global effort to achieve sustainable development. Unlike fossil fuels, these energy sources are naturally replenished and produce minimal greenhouse gas emissions, making them essential for combating climate change. The adoption of renewable energy not only reduces environmental impact but also promotes energy security and economic growth in many regions. As countries worldwide set ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions, investment in renewable energy infrastructure has surged. This shift is creating new job opportunities in the green energy sector and driving technological innovations. Moreover, the decreasing costs of renewable technologies are making clean energy more accessible to developing nations, helping to address energy poverty while supporting sustainable economic growth. However, the transition to renewable energy is not without challenges. Intermittency issues with solar and wind power require advancements in energy storage solutions. Additionally, the initial costs of implementing renewable energy systems can be high, though they often prove more cost-effective in the long term. Despite these hurdles, the role of renewable energy in sustainable development continues to grow, offering a promising path towards a more environmentally friendly and economically viable future.
Sample Answers and Analysis
Band 9 Answer (69 words):
Renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal power, are integral to sustainable development, offering environmental benefits, energy security, and economic opportunities while addressing climate change and reducing fossil fuel dependence, despite challenges such as intermittency and initial costs, with their growing adoption driven by global emission reduction targets, technological advancements, and decreasing costs, particularly benefiting developing nations in their pursuit of sustainable growth.
Analysis: This response comprehensively covers all key points from the passage, including types of renewable energy, their benefits, challenges, and global impact. It maintains coherence and conciseness while addressing the multifaceted nature of the topic.
Band 8 Answer (57 words):
Renewable energy sources are crucial for sustainable development, providing environmental and economic benefits despite challenges, with their adoption driven by global emission targets and technological advancements, offering solutions to climate change and energy security while creating job opportunities and supporting developing nations, though issues like intermittency and initial costs remain to be addressed.
Analysis: This answer covers most main points succinctly, slightly less comprehensive than the Band 9 response but still maintaining excellent coherence and content coverage.
Band 7 Answer (45 words):
Renewable energy sources are vital for sustainable development, offering environmental benefits and economic opportunities while combating climate change, with increasing global adoption driven by emission targets and technological progress, despite challenges like intermittency and high initial costs, particularly benefiting developing nations.
Analysis: This response captures the essence of the passage but omits some specific details. It’s concise and coherent, suitable for a Band 7 score.
Band 6 Answer (33 words):
Renewable energy sources support sustainable development by reducing emissions and promoting energy security, despite challenges, with increasing global adoption creating economic opportunities and benefiting developing nations in their pursuit of sustainable growth.
Analysis: This answer provides a basic summary of key points but lacks the depth and specificity of higher band responses. It’s concise but misses some important details.
Renewable Energy Sources and Sustainable Development Infographic
Key Vocabulary and Usage
- Renewable (/rɪˈnjuːəbəl/) – capable of being replaced by natural ecological cycles
Example: Solar power is a renewable energy source that can be harnessed indefinitely. - Sustainable (/səˈsteɪnəbəl/) – able to be maintained at a certain rate or level
Example: The company aims to implement sustainable practices to reduce its environmental impact. - Intermittency (/ˌɪntərˈmɪtənsi/) – the quality of stopping and starting at irregular intervals
Example: The intermittency of wind power necessitates effective energy storage solutions. - Infrastructure (/ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃər/) – the basic physical and organizational structures needed for operation
Example: Significant investment in infrastructure is required to support the transition to renewable energy. - Geothermal (/ˌdʒiːəˈθɜːrməl/) – relating to or produced by the internal heat of the earth
Example: Iceland utilizes its abundant geothermal resources for heating and electricity generation. - Emissions (/ɪˈmɪʃənz/) – the production and discharge of something, especially gas or radiation
Example: Switching to electric vehicles can help reduce carbon emissions in urban areas. - Accessibility (/əkˌsesəˈbɪləti/) – the quality of being able to be reached or entered
Example: Improving the accessibility of clean energy technologies is crucial for developing nations. - Viable (/ˈvaɪəbəl/) – capable of working successfully; feasible
Example: With recent advancements, solar power has become a more economically viable option for many households. - Combating (/kəmˈbætɪŋ/) – taking action to reduce or prevent
Example: Renewable energy plays a vital role in combating climate change and its effects. - Surged (/sɜːrdʒd/) – increased suddenly and greatly
Example: Investment in renewable energy has surged as awareness of climate change has grown.
Conclusion
Mastering the PTE Summarize Written Text task on renewable energy and sustainable development requires a deep understanding of the subject matter and excellent summarization skills. The sample question provided reflects the complexity and importance of this topic in real PTE exams. Practice with similar texts to enhance your ability to identify key points and concisely express them within the word limit.
FAQ
- How can I improve my summarization skills for PTE Summarize Written Text tasks?
Practice regularly with diverse topics, focus on identifying main ideas, and work on concise expression. Use transitional phrases to connect ideas smoothly. - What are the most important aspects to include in a summary about renewable energy and sustainable development?
Include the types of renewable energy, their benefits, challenges, global impact, and their role in addressing climate change and promoting economic growth. - How can I ensure I stay within the word limit for PTE Summarize Written Text?
Start by identifying key points, then draft your summary. Review and refine, removing unnecessary details while maintaining coherence and completeness. - Are there specific grammatical structures that work well for summarizing in PTE?
Complex sentences with dependent clauses can help convey multiple ideas concisely. Also, use of transitional phrases and active voice can improve clarity and conciseness. - How important is vocabulary in PTE Summarize Written Text tasks?
Using appropriate, varied vocabulary is crucial. It demonstrates language proficiency and helps express complex ideas concisely. - What strategies can I use to quickly understand the main ideas in a passage about renewable energy?
Focus on topic sentences, look for repeated concepts, and pay attention to statistical information or data presented in the text. - How can I practice summarizing texts about renewable energy and sustainable development?
Read articles from reputable sources on these topics, practice summarizing them, and compare your summaries with those of experts or peers for feedback and improvement.
