In the PTE Speaking & Writing section, the Summarize Written Text task is one of the most important sections that significantly evaluates your ability to comprehend and condense complex written content. One of the relatively common themes seen in recent PTE exams revolves around discussions on environmental policies, with a frequently occurring topic being “The Ethics Of Geoengineering.”
In this article, we will dive into the ethics of geoengineering by providing sample Summarize Written Text practice questions, complete with model answers for different scoring bands. This will help learners understand how to craft effective summaries and also predict some potential content areas in this topic.
What is Summarize Written Text in PTE?
Summarize Written Text (SWT) is a task in which candidates are presented with a passage of between 150 to 400 words, and they are required to summarize the main idea of the passage in one sentence. Your summary should be no more than 75 words. You will be timed for 10 minutes to complete each task.
Key Focus Areas:
- Content
- Form (1 sentence, no more than 75 words)
- Grammar
- Vocabulary
- Spelling
Let’s look at an example of a typical geoengineering text, followed by three model answers for different band scores (ranging from high to low performances).
Sample PTE Summarize Written Text Question: The Ethics of Geoengineering
Geoengineering refers to large-scale human interventions in the Earth’s climate system aimed at combating global warming. Advocates argue that it is a necessary tool to offset the severe effects of climate change, especially as traditional mitigation efforts, such as cutting down emissions, have proven to be insufficient. They propose methods such as spraying sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere to reflect sunlight or fertilizing oceans to enhance their carbon absorption capabilities. However, geoengineering is met with strong ethical criticisms. First, there are concerns about “playing God” with Earth’s natural systems and causing unintended consequences that could be even more detrimental than the warming they seek to prevent. Additionally, geoengineering could be perceived as bypassing the root causes of climate change, promoting a continued reliance on fossil fuels without addressing the habits and policies that led to global warming in the first place. Another key issue is the unequal distribution of benefits and risks, as wealthier nations could be more likely to reap its gains while poorer, vulnerable populations might suffer the consequences. Thus, even though geoengineering offers a potential solution to the climate crisis, its ethical implications remain deeply contested.
Task: Write a one-sentence summary of this text in not more than 75 words.
Sample Answer for a High Scoring Band (Above 75)
Geoengineering is debated due to its potential to mitigate climate change effects through large-scale interventions, but ethical concerns arise over unintended consequences, unequal risk distribution, and its failure to address the fundamental causes of global warming, sparking controversy on whether this approach is a justifiable solution.
Analysis:
- Content: Captures all key points: the methods suggested, ethical concerns, unequal risk distribution, and the risk of bypassing root causes.
- Form: Completed within one sentence and remains well-structured.
- Grammar: Correct and advanced, with appropriate punctuation (commas used to separate ideas).
- Vocabulary: Varied and precise (e.g., “interventions,” “mitigate,” “unintended consequences,” “ethical concerns”).
- Spelling: No errors present.
Geoengineering debate ethics, unintended consequences and risk distribution
Sample Answer for a Medium Scoring Band (50-65)
Geoengineering offers potential methods to mitigate global warming, but it raises ethical concerns about unintended risks and the possibility of wealthier nations benefiting more from the technology.
Analysis:
- Content: Includes the key points about geoengineering’s ability to mitigate warming and ethical criticisms. However, it overlooks the idea of bypassing fundamental causes of pollution and overlooks the appropriate tone on risk distribution.
- Form: The sentence structure is correct and coherent, though it could incorporate more complex ideas.
- Grammar: Sound, without major mistakes.
- Vocabulary: Satisfactory, though less advanced than the high-band response.
- Spelling: Correct.
Geoengineering risk and reward imbalance across nations
Sample Answer for a Low Scoring Band (Below 50)
Geoengineering could stop global warming but it has ethical problems.
Analysis:
- Content: Too vague, does not include specifics like methods, risk distribution, or unintended consequences. Very basic.
- Form: Technically accurate but oversimplified.
- Grammar: Too simplistic, lacks range and clarity about the topic.
- Vocabulary: Basic words, no demonstration of advanced vocabulary.
- Spelling: No errors detected.
Vocabulary and Grammar Breakdown
Here are some specific words and phrases from the text that will enhance your understanding:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geoengineering | /ˌdʒiːoʊˌɛn.dʒɪˈnɪər.ɪŋ/ | Large-scale interventions in the Earth’s climate system to combat global warming. | “Geoengineering can help mitigate the effects of climate change.” |
| Mitigate | /ˈmɪt.ɪ.ɡeɪt/ | To make something less severe, serious, or painful. | “Various efforts have been proposed to mitigate the damage caused by deforestation.” |
| Unintended | /ˌʌnɪnˈtɛndɪd/ | Not planned or meant. | “The unintended consequences of geoengineering could outweigh its benefits.” |
| Interventions | /ˌɪn.təˈvɛn.ʃənz/ | The process of becoming involved to solve a problem or improve a difficult situation. | “The government interventions have failed to address the root problems of climate change.” |
| Criticisms | /ˈkrɪtɪˌsɪzmz/ | The expression of disapproval based on perceived faults or mistakes. | “Despite technological advancements, geoengineering faces numerous criticisms.” |
| Bypassing | /ˈbaɪpɑːsɪŋ/ | To avoid or go around something. | “Bypassing the problem doesn’t lead to a long-term solution for environmental damage.” |
| Fossil fuels | /ˈfɒsɪl fjʊəls/ | Natural fuels such as coal or gas formed in the geological past from the remains of living organisms. | “Reliance on fossil fuels continues to be a widespread issue.” |
| Vulnerable | /ˈvʌln(ə)rəb(ə)l/ | Capable of being physically or emotionally wounded or damaged. | “Vulnerable communities might suffer the most from untested geoengineering projects.” |
| Climate crisis | /ˈklaɪmət/ | The dramatic change in climate due to human activities. | “The climate crisis calls for urgent actions to curb emissions and protect the environment.” |
| Reflect sunlight | /rɪˈflɛkt ˈsʌnlaɪt/ | To throw back or redirect sunlight away from the Earth’s surface. | “Spraying aerosols to reflect sunlight could have unintended side effects on natural ecosystems.” |
Key terminology related to geoengineering and ethics vocabulary
Conclusion
The topic of “The ethics of geoengineering” is not only relevant to real-world environmental discussions but also frequently appears as a theme in PTE’s Summarize Written Text. By practicing with sample topics like this, you can sharpen your skills and better understand how to approach ethical debates in the test. Remember, creating a succinct yet informative summary requires practice, so head to the comment section for more examples and feedback to improve your score.
Keep practicing, and feel free to try summarizing!
