Summarize Written Text is a crucial part of the Speaking & Writing section of the PTE exam, which requires test takers to concisely summarize the main idea of a given passage in one sentence. This task not only assesses your ability to comprehend the text but also your skills in summarizing effectively and following the 5-75 word limit format. This article will help you practice Summarize Written Text through a sample task covering the advancements in Water Desalination Technology, a highly relevant topic in today’s global dialogue on sustainable water management.
This post contains a high-quality, SEO-optimized practice task created around this theme to match commonly tested ideas in the PTE exam. By following it closely, you’ll gain crucial insights into tackling the Summarize Written Text component.
Sample Summarize Written Text Task on Water Desalination Technology Advancements
Task Prompt:
Water scarcity has become a pressing challenge globally, with rising populations and climate change exacerbating the problem. One solution gaining traction is desalination, the process of removing salt and other impurities from seawater to produce fresh water. Recent innovations in desalination technologies have significantly improved the efficiency and sustainability of this process. For example, reverse osmosis, a common desalination method, has been enhanced by the introduction of more energy-efficient membranes and advanced filtration systems. Furthermore, researchers are looking into renewable energy sources, such as solar panels, to power desalination plants, potentially reducing their environmental impact. Despite these advancements, challenges like high operational costs and concerns over brine disposal remain significant obstacles to large-scale adoption.
Summarize the text in one sentence (5–75 words):
Model Answers
Band Score 90 (Optimal Response):
Advancements in desalination technologies, particularly through energy-efficient membranes, filtration systems, and renewable energy sources like solar power, have made the process more sustainable and effective, but high operational costs and environmental challenges still hinder widespread adoption.
Content: Accurately summarizes the full scope of the text in a concise manner, covering key points such as the efficiency improvements, renewable energy benefits, and the ongoing obstacles.
Form: Correct format (one sentence with 53 words).
Grammar: Flawless use of complex sentence structures, clear and coherent.
Vocabulary: Advanced vocabulary, including terms like “desalination”, “membranes”, “filtration systems”, and “adoption”.
Spelling: No spelling errors.
Band Score 75-85 (Strong Response):
Although there have been improvements in desalination, such as better reverse osmosis membranes and the use of renewable energy, issues like high costs and environmental concerns continue to affect its large-scale implementation.
Content: Covers the key development points but lacks the specific mention of solar panels and brine disposal.
Form: Correct format (one sentence, 34 words).
Grammar: Strong grammatical structure but slightly less complex than the optimal response.
Vocabulary: Adequate range of academic vocabulary but some less specific terms.
Spelling: Correct throughout.
Band Score 60-74 (Good, but Incomplete):
Desalination technology is improving with new energy-efficient innovations, but it is still hindered by high costs and environmental concerns.
Content: Summarizes the main ideas but omits important details like renewable energy and operational approaches.
Form: Follows the required format (one sentence, 23 words).
Grammar: Good but lacks complexity.
Vocabulary: Simplified, general vocabulary without detailed terminology.
Spelling: No spelling mistakes.
Band Score 50-59 (Satisfactory Response):
Desalination technology has advanced, but costs and environmental issues are still a concern.
Content: Incomplete summary that mentions advancements and challenges without any detailed explanation or examples.
Form: Meets word count (one sentence, 15 words).
Grammar: Very basic sentence structure, lacking variety.
Vocabulary: Limited vocabulary that does not reflect the original text’s complexity.
Spelling: No errors.
Key Vocabulary and Grammar Breakdown
To further aid your understanding of the above task, here are some key advanced vocabulary words from the prompt along with their meaning, pronunciation, and usage examples:
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Desalination (/diːˌsælɪˈneɪʃən/):
- The process of removing salt from seawater to make it drinkable.
- Example: Many coastal countries rely heavily on desalination to meet their water demands.
-
Reverse osmosis (/rɪˈvɜːrs ˌɒzˈməʊ.sɪs/):
- A water purification process that uses a partially permeable membrane to remove ions, molecules, and larger particles from drinking water.
- Example: Reverse osmosis is widely used in modern desalination plants.
-
Membrane (/ˈmɛmbreɪn/):
- A thin layer of material used to separate substances.
- Example: The membrane in a reverse osmosis system filters out salt and impurities.
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Filtration system (/fɪlˈtreɪʃən ˈsɪstəm/):
- A process used to remove impurities from water.
- Example: Advanced filtration systems increase efficiency in water purification.
-
Renewable energy (/rɪˈnjuːəbəl ˈɛnədʒi/):
- Energy derived from sustainable resources, such as wind or solar power.
- Example: Solar panels are a form of renewable energy often used in modern desalination plants.
-
Operational costs (/ˌɒpərˈeɪʃənəl kɒsts/):
- Expenses related to the daily functioning of an enterprise.
- Example: High operational costs prevent many countries from adopting desalination technology.
-
Brine disposal (/braɪn dɪˈspəʊzəl/):
- The process of managing the waste salt water produced by desalination.
- Example: The environmental impact of brine disposal is an ongoing concern for regulators.
-
Sustainability (/səˌsteɪnəˈbɪlɪti/):
- The ability to maintain or improve practices with minimal environmental impact.
- Example: Desalination has the potential to be more sustainable when paired with renewable energy.
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Exacerbate (/ɪɡˈzæsərbeɪt/):
- To make an issue worse.
- Example: Climate change has exacerbated water scarcity in many regions.
-
Large-scale adoption (/lɑːrdʒ skeɪl əˈdɒpʃən/):
- The widespread use of a technology or practice.
- Example: Large-scale adoption of desalination requires overcoming both financial and environmental challenges.
Conclusion
The topic of Water Desalination Technology Advancements is a pressing one and frequently appears in exams given its global importance. When practicing for the PTE Summarize Written Text task, it’s essential to understand the main idea and organize your thoughts clearly and concisely into one sentence. This practice question illustrates how you can effectively tackle such topics using academic vocabulary and precise sentence structure.
What do you think of this practice task? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below. The more you practice, the better your chances of performing well on the PTE exam!
