Academic Reading Flashcards

A PTE passage about psychology reads: 'Cognitive dissonance arises when an individual holds two _______ beliefs simultaneously.' Which word best fills the blank?

Answer: contradictory

Cognitive dissonance by definition occurs when conflicting or contradictory beliefs create psychological tension.

Which feature of a sentence most strongly signals it cannot be the first paragraph in a Re-order Paragraphs task?

Answer: It opens with a pronoun (e.g., 'This,' 'They,' 'It') that refers to something not yet introduced

A sentence beginning with an anaphoric pronoun presupposes a prior referent, so it cannot logically open a passage.

In PTE Academic, how many Reading tasks are there in total within the Reading section?

Answer: 4

The PTE Academic Reading section contains four task types: Re-order Paragraphs, Fill in the Blanks, R&W Fill in the Blanks, and Multiple-choice.

A passage on renewable energy states: 'Solar capacity has grown _______, doubling every few years over the past decade.' Which word best fits?

Answer: exponentially

Doubling repeatedly over time describes exponential growth, making 'exponentially' the correct choice.

In PTE Reading Multiple-choice, choose multiple answers, which strategy best protects your score?

Answer: Only select options you are confident are correct, since wrong choices subtract points

Because incorrect selections deduct points, you should only choose options you are reasonably certain about.

A PTE passage uses the term 'empirical evidence.' This means evidence that is based on:

Answer: Observation, measurement, and experimentation

Empirical evidence comes from direct observation and experimentation rather than theory or authority.

Which of the following best describes the purpose of a 'topic sentence' in academic reading passages tested by PTE?

Answer: To introduce and state the main idea of the paragraph

A topic sentence announces the central idea of its paragraph, orienting the reader before the supporting details follow.