PTE Reading Comprehension 3 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 3 flashcards as text
In academic reading, "denotation" refers to:
Answer: The literal, dictionary definition of a word
Denotation is the literal, primary meaning of a word as found in a dictionary. In contrast, "connotation" refers to the emotional or cultural associations. PTE Academic vocabulary questions test both denotative and connotative understanding.
What does the academic term "paradigm" mean?
Answer: A standard example or model that represents a broader pattern or framework
"Paradigm" refers to a typical example, model, or framework within a field of study. In academic contexts, a "paradigm shift" (coined by Thomas Kuhn) means a fundamental change in the underlying framework of a scientific discipline.
Which sentence best demonstrates understanding of cause and effect in academic reading?
Answer: Rising temperatures caused the ice to melt, leading to coastal flooding.
"Rising temperatures caused the ice to melt, leading to coastal flooding" explicitly expresses both the cause (rising temperatures), immediate effect (melting ice), and secondary effect (flooding). This causal chain structure is common in academic texts.
What is the meaning of "substantiate" in academic writing?
Answer: To provide evidence to support or prove a claim
"Substantiate" means to provide evidence or proof to support a claim or argument. Academic writers are expected to substantiate their assertions with data, research findings, or logical reasoning.
In a PTE Academic reading passage, "scope" typically refers to:
Answer: The range or extent of a study or discussion
"Scope" refers to the range, extent, or boundary of something — what is included and excluded. Academic texts frequently describe the "scope of the study" to define what was and was not examined, and PTE reading questions test understanding of this.
Which of the following is an example of an "objective" statement appropriate for academic text?
Answer: "Research indicates that the proposed intervention reduced error rates by 23%."
An objective statement is factual, evidence-based, and free of personal bias. "Research indicates... 23%" cites specific data objectively. The other options use subjective language ("obviously," "everyone agrees," "most amazing") inappropriate in academic writing.