Academic Reading Skills Flashcards
7 cards from real PTE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Academic Reading Skills flashcards as text
A text states: 'The proliferation of misinformation on social media has exacerbated public distrust in scientific institutions.' The word 'exacerbated' means:
Answer: Made worse or more severe
Exacerbated means to make an already bad situation worse — misinformation intensified an existing decline in public trust.
When re-ordering paragraphs in PTE Academic, which sentence most likely belongs FIRST in a sequence?
Answer: An introductory sentence that presents a general concept or context without referring to prior ideas
Opening sentences introduce topics broadly without referencing prior text — they require no context because they set the scene.
A passage presents research showing that students who sleep fewer than six hours perform worse on memory tests. Which conclusion is best supported by this information?
Answer: Insufficient sleep is associated with poorer memory performance in students
The research shows a correlation between less sleep and lower memory scores, which supports the conclusion that insufficient sleep is linked to poorer memory performance.
In Fill in the Blanks (Reading & Writing), the sentence reads: 'The committee reached a _____ on the budget proposal after lengthy debate.' Which word fits best?
Answer: consensus
Consensus means general agreement, which logically follows from a committee completing its deliberations on a proposal.
Which of the following best describes the author's tone in a passage that uses phrases like 'alarmingly rapid,' 'dire consequences,' and 'urgent action required'?
Answer: Alarmed and persuasive
Words like 'alarmingly,' 'dire,' and 'urgent' convey a sense of crisis and are designed to persuade readers to act quickly.
What is the function of a 'cohesive device' in academic reading passages?
Answer: To link sentences and paragraphs together so ideas flow logically
Cohesive devices (e.g., pronouns, transition words, synonyms) create logical connections between sentences and paragraphs, ensuring smooth flow.
A PTE passage describes a study's methodology, results, and conclusion. What type of text structure is this?
Answer: Sequential / chronological reporting
Reporting methodology, results, and conclusion follows a sequential structure that mirrors the logical progression of scientific research.