PTE Reading Comprehension 2 Flashcards
6 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 6 PTE Reading Comprehension 2 flashcards as text
Read this sentence: "The committee's decision was predicated on the assumption that funding would be secured." What does "predicated on" mean?
Answer: Based on or dependent upon
"Predicated on" means based on or dependent upon a condition or assumption. It is formal academic vocabulary. The decision depended on the assumption about funding — if the assumption failed, the decision might change.
Which reading skill is primarily tested by PTE Academic's "Multiple Choice, Choose Multiple Answers" task?
Answer: Ability to identify multiple specific pieces of information and evaluate each answer option
Multiple Choice, Choose Multiple Answers requires careful reading to identify all correct options. Test takers must evaluate each option against the text, with negative marking for wrong selections — rewarding careful detail comprehension.
The word "catalyst" in an academic text about social change most likely means:
Answer: Something that speeds up or triggers a process
In academic texts, "catalyst" (originally a chemistry term) means something that accelerates or triggers a process. "The protests acted as a catalyst for legislative reform" means the protests triggered faster legislative change.
In a PTE Academic reading passage, what is the function of a "counterexample"?
Answer: To present a case that challenges or contradicts the main argument
A counterexample presents a case that contradicts or challenges the main argument or generalization. Academic writers use counterexamples to acknowledge limitations, and recognizing them is important for PTE reading comprehension questions.
What does "paraphrase" mean in the context of PTE Academic reading and writing?
Answer: Restate the meaning of a text in different words
Paraphrasing means expressing the meaning of something using different words, typically to avoid direct quotation. PTE Academic Summarize Written Text tasks reward paraphrasing over copying phrases directly from the passage.
The phrase "notwithstanding the challenges" in an academic text means:
Answer: In spite of the challenges
"Notwithstanding" is a formal preposition meaning despite or in spite of. It acknowledges obstacles while maintaining that the main outcome or action still occurred. It is equivalent to "despite" or "regardless of."