In the PTE Speaking & Writing section, one of the most challenging tasks is the Summarize Written Text. This task requires test takers to condense a several-paragraph text into a single sentence that captures the main idea. Today, we’ll focus on a prevalent topic: Water Scarcity In Global Agriculture. It’s crucial because water management has become a significant concern worldwide, particularly in agriculture. Let’s go through a sample question set and explore optimized answers, tailored to various PTE band scores.
Sample Question: Water Scarcity in Global Agriculture
The passage below is a hypothetical prompt based on the keyword “Water scarcity in global agriculture” relevant to the PTE Summarize Written Text task.
Prompt:
Water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change, population growth, and inefficient water management, is becoming one of the greatest challenges facing global agriculture. Lack of water resources affects crop yields and threatens food security in regions most dependent on agriculture as their primary source of income. Moreover, the overuse of available water leads to soil degradation and decreased biodiversity. Irrigation methods, such as flood and furrow irrigation, often result in water wastage. To combat this, many experts are advocating for advanced irrigation practices, including drip irrigation and sensors, which ensure efficient water use. If agricultural productivity continues to decline due to water shortages, communities may face heightened poverty, hunger, and displacement.
Task:
Write a one-sentence summary of the text.
Answer Samples for Various PTE Band Scores
Score Band: 90-79
Efficient water usage is crucial for addressing the growing threat of water scarcity, which results in reduced agricultural yields, soil degradation, and food insecurity, further exacerbated by climate change and population growth, with advanced irrigation systems being the key to mitigating these challenges.
Analysis of Band 90-79 Answer:
- Content: Provides a full coverage of the main points: water scarcity, climate change, food security, agriculture, and improved irrigation.
- Form: Fulfills the requirement of a single sentence under 70 words.
- Grammar: Perfect grammar with well-interconnected clauses.
- Vocabulary: Uses relevant academic words like “mitigating,” “agricultural,” and “exacerbated.”
- Spelling: No spelling errors or inconsistencies.
Score Band: 78-65
Water scarcity, compounded by climate change and population growth, threatens food security, reduces crop yields, and can be resolved by more efficient irrigation practices.
Analysis of Band 78-65 Answer:
- Content: Covers key points but does not go into as much depth about advanced irrigation methods or specific societal impacts.
- Form: Adheres to the one-sentence rule.
- Grammar: Well-structured, but lacks complexity.
- Vocabulary: Suitable vocabulary for this level, though less academic than the top band.
- Spelling: Error-free.
Score Band: 64-50
Water scarcity affects agriculture, leading to lower food production, and can improve by better irrigation technologies.
Analysis of Band 64-50 Answer:
- Content: Simplified but conveys the essential idea of the relationship between water scarcity and agriculture.
- Form: Meets the single-sentence requirement but is considerably shorter (~20 words).
- Grammar: Basic sentence structure, no major grammatical flaws, but lacks sophistication.
- Vocabulary: Elementary vocabulary such as “affects” and “better,” missing more advanced synonyms.
- Spelling: No spelling issues.
Score Band: 49-30
Water scarcity is a problem for agriculture, but good irrigation can help.
Analysis of Band 49-30 Answer:
- Content: Only covers the most fundamental ideas.
- Form: Adheres to the one-sentence rule but very brief.
- Grammar: Basic sentence construction without any conjunctions.
- Vocabulary: Poor variety and oversimplification.
- Spelling: No errors.
Vocabulary for Water Scarcity in Global Agriculture
Here, we list some challenging words from the passage that could appear in a Summarize Written Text task. Make sure you enhance your vocabulary for a better score.
-
Scarcity /ˈskeə.sɪ.ti/ (n): A state of being in short supply; shortage.
E.g., The scarcity of water is affecting agricultural activities globally. -
Exacerbate /ɪɡˈzæs.ə.beɪt/ (v): To make a problem worse.
E.g., Climate change exacerbates the problem of water scarcity. -
Degradation /ˌdeɡ.rəˈdeɪ.ʃən/ (n): The process of something being damaged or destroyed.
E.g., Soil degradation often happens due to improper irrigation methods. -
Biodiversity /ˌbaɪ.oʊ.daɪˈvɜː.sɪ.ti/ (n): The variety of plant and animal life in a particular habitat.
E.g., Water overuse leads to a significant loss in biodiversity. -
Irrigation /ɪr.ɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/ (n): The supply of water to land or crops to help growth.
E.g., More efficient irrigation systems are vital for sustainable agriculture. -
Mitigate /ˈmɪt.ɪ.ɡeɪt/ (v): To make less severe, serious, or painful.
E.g., Using drip irrigation can help mitigate the effects of water scarcity. -
Sustainability /səˌsteɪ.nəˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/ (n): The ability to maintain or uphold something.
E.g., Sustainable water use is key to ensuring long-term agricultural productivity. -
Poverty /ˈpɒv.ɚ.ti/ (n): The state of being extremely poor.
E.g., Water shortages in agriculture can lead to increased poverty in rural areas. -
Displacement /dɪsˈpleɪs.mənt/ (n): Forced movement of people from their locales.
E.g., People face displacement when agricultural productivity declines. -
Crop yields /krɒp jiːlds/ (n): The total quantity of crop that the land produces.
E.g., Water scarcity can dramatically reduce crop yields across entire regions.
Conclusion
Water scarcity in global agriculture is a pressing issue that impacts food security, crop yields, and biodiversity. As seen in the Summarize Written Text task, the ability to concisely capture the essence of such complex issues is a key skill required in the PTE exam. Be sure to practice several examples and refine your summaries while focusing on essential elements like water management and irrigation technologies. Consistent practice can significantly elevate your PTE scores.
For more in-depth details, consider exploring practical applications of Water management in agriculture to grasp better insights into answering these challenges in PTE.
Got any questions? Leave a comment below and start practicing confidently!
