PTE Reading Practice Test (Free, with Answers)

Cities that build large areas of asphalt and concrete often record higher temperatures than the countryside around them. Engineers call this an urban heat island. The effect is strongest at night, when stone and tar release heat they absorbed during the day, while open fields and forests cool down quickly. Planners have responded with tree-lined streets, reflective roofs and green roofs, all of which reduce the heat that surfaces absorb.

The public library introduced a new loan policy this year. Members may now borrow up to twelve items at once, up from eight, and loans for new fiction have been extended from three to four weeks. The library also started charging a small fee for reserving items that are already on loan, which had previously been free. The changes followed a survey in which most members asked for longer loan periods.

Put the sentences into the order that makes the paragraph coherent.

1. Eventually the ice moves slowly under its own weight, carving valleys as it advances.UpDown
2. Glaciers form when snowfall lasts longer than the melt season, so the snow gradually packs into dense ice.UpDown
3. When the climate warms, many glaciers shrink, leaving behind ridges and lakes that reveal their former size.UpDown
4. Over many years, the weight of newer layers presses older ice downward and outward.UpDown

Researchers have found that regular sleep plays a central role in memory. During deep sleep, the brain Choosestrengthensweakensignoresdelays new connections between nerve cells, and it appears to Chooseforgetreplaymeasurecopy the most important experiences of the day. Students who Choosegetavoidskipignore enough sleep before an exam often recall more of what they studied.

Volcanic soil is often highly      , because minerals released from lava break down into       that plants can absorb.

Coral reefs get their colour and much of their food from microscopic algae that live inside the coral's tissue. When seawater stays unusually warm for weeks, the coral becomes stressed and expels these algae, leaving its pale skeleton visible through transparent tissue. This is called bleaching. A bleached coral is not necessarily dead: if temperatures fall soon enough, algae can return and the coral can recover. If the heat persists, however, the coral starves, and the reef may be overgrown by seaweed that offers far less shelter to fish.

Economists use the term opportunity cost to describe the value of the best alternative that is given up when a choice is made. Suppose a farmer can plant a field with either wheat or barley, but not both. If wheat would earn more, then the opportunity cost of planting barley is the profit lost by not growing wheat. The idea is useful because it shows that even a choice that makes a profit may be a poor one, if a different choice would have earned more. It also applies to time: an hour spent on one task cannot be spent on another.

Before the mid-fifteenth century, books in Europe were copied by hand, which made each one slow and expensive to produce. The introduction of movable metal type allowed printers to arrange letters into pages, print many copies, and then reuse the letters for the next job. As printing workshops spread, the cost of books fell and more people had a reason to learn to read. The technology did not change what people wanted to read overnight, but it did change how quickly an idea could travel from one town to another.

Wind and solar power produce electricity only when the wind blows or the sun shines, so their output rises and falls through the day. Grid operators manage this variation in several ways. Batteries and pumped-water storage can hold surplus energy for later use. Long power lines connect regions with different weather, so a calm area can draw on a windy one. Some consumers, such as factories, can also agree to use less electricity at peak times. None of these measures removes the variation completely, but together they make a grid with a large share of renewable power much easier to run.

In 1854 a cholera outbreak struck one district of London. A physician named John Snow marked each reported case on a map and noticed that the cases clustered around a single public water pump. He asked local officials to remove the pump's handle, and new cases declined, although the outbreak may already have been fading. At that time many people believed that disease spread through foul air. Snow's careful mapping of where cases occurred gave weight to the alternative view that contaminated water was responsible, and it became an early example of using data to guide public health decisions.

Psychologists have long studied how the timing of study sessions affects memory. In the so-called spacing effect, material reviewed several times over days or weeks is remembered better than the same material reviewed for the same total time in one long session. One explanation is that each return to the material forces the learner to retrieve it from memory, which strengthens it. Cramming can still produce acceptable results for a test the next morning, but the information tends to fade quickly afterwards. Spacing takes more planning, yet many learners find that it saves effort over a whole course.

Put the sentences into the order that makes the paragraph coherent.

1. In doing so they add grammar and vocabulary, and the result is a full language known as a creole.UpDown
2. A pidgin has a small vocabulary and very few grammatical rules, because its purpose is limited to practical exchange.UpDown
3. When traders who speak different languages meet regularly, they often develop a simple shared system of communication called a pidgin.UpDown
4. If children grow up hearing a pidgin as their main language, however, they tend to expand it.UpDown

Put the sentences into the order that makes the paragraph coherent.

1. More recently, planners in several cities have narrowed lanes and widened pavements to change this balance.UpDown
2. Many cities built wide roads in the twentieth century to move cars quickly through their centres.UpDown
3. Shops on such streets often report more passing customers on foot, although results vary from place to place.UpDown
4. These roads did carry traffic, but they also separated neighbourhoods and made walking unpleasant.UpDown

Put the sentences into the order that makes the paragraph coherent.

1. The Sun's pull adds to this pattern, so tides are strongest when the Sun and Moon line up.UpDown
2. Ocean tides are caused mainly by the gravitational pull of the Moon on the water of the Earth.UpDown
3. Finally, local features such as bays and narrow channels can magnify or reduce the height of the tide at a particular coast.UpDown
4. As the Earth rotates, a given coastline passes through each bulge in turn, which is why most places experience two high tides a day.UpDown
5. The water closest to the Moon is pulled towards it, creating a bulge, and a second bulge forms on the opposite side of the planet.UpDown

When the amount of money in an economy grows faster than the supply of goods and services, prices tend to Choosevanishfreezerisehide. This general rise in prices is called inflation, and it reduces the Choosecolourpurchasing powerweighthistory of each unit of currency. Central banks therefore try to keep inflation Chooseas high as possibleunmeasuredinvisiblelow and steady, since stable prices make it easier for businesses and households to plan ahead.

Languages that share a common ancestor are said to belong to the same Choosefamilyalphabetaccentsentence. English, German and Dutch, for example, all developed from an early Germanic language, which explains why many of their everyday words are Chooseunrelatedsimilarsilentinvented. Languages also borrow from one another, however, so a shared word does not always Choosepreventcancelhideprove a shared origin.

Solar panels contain materials that release tiny electric Choosestormsseedscurrentssounds when sunlight strikes them. This process is known as the photovoltaic effect. A single panel produces only a small amount of power, so panels are usually Choosepaintedconnectedburiedweighed in groups to supply a home or a larger site. Output is highest on clear days and Chooseidenticalunlimitedsilentlower on cloudy ones, although panels still work in diffuse light.

Plankton are tiny organisms that drift with ocean currents. Many are microscopic plants that use sunlight to make food, and they form the base of most marine      . Small animals feed on them, larger fish feed on those animals, and so energy is passed       through the chain. Because plankton need light, they live mainly near the       of the water.

Working memory is the system that holds a small amount of information for a short time while we use it, for instance while we       a phone number we have just heard. Its capacity is      , so new information can push out what was held before. Writing things down reduces the       placed on this system.

Antibiotics are medicines that treat infections caused by      , but they do not work against viruses such as those that cause colds. When antibiotics are used too often, some bacteria survive and become       to the drug. Doctors therefore prescribe them only when they are      , which helps to keep them effective for the future.

Zoning rules divide a city into areas for different uses, such as housing, shops or industry. Their original aim was to keep factories away from       areas, but strict separation can force people to travel long       for daily needs. Some planners now favour mixed-use districts, where homes and small businesses sit close      , so that many errands can be done on foot.

Archaeologists often date wooden remains using dendrochronology, the study of tree rings. In many climates a tree adds one ring of growth each year, and the width of that ring varies with rainfall and temperature. Because trees growing in the same region show the same pattern of wide and narrow rings, researchers can match the pattern in a beam from an old building against a long reference sequence built from overlapping timbers. When the patterns line up, the year in which the outer ring formed can be read off, sometimes to a single year. The method works only where trees record clear seasonal change and where a suitable reference sequence already exists.

Crop rotation means growing different crops on the same field in a planned sequence rather than planting the same one every year. Legumes such as beans and clover host bacteria that convert nitrogen from the air into a form plants can use, so a field that has carried legumes often needs less added fertiliser for the next crop. Rotation also interrupts the life cycles of pests and diseases that target a single crop, because the organisms find no host in the following season. Farmers must weigh these benefits against the need to plan equipment, storage and markets for several different crops.

When a nerve cell fires, it releases chemical messengers called neurotransmitters into the tiny gap between itself and the next cell. The messengers bind to receptors on the receiving cell and either make it more likely to fire or less likely. Afterwards, many neurotransmitters are drawn back into the sending cell or broken down, which clears the gap and prepares it for the next signal. Several common medicines work by changing this clearing process, so that a messenger remains active for longer. Scientists stress, however, that mood and behaviour depend on networks of many cells, not on a single chemical.

Container shipping changed the logistics of world trade by standardising the size of the boxes in which goods travel. Because every container fits the same cranes, ships, trains and lorries, cargo can move between them without being unpacked. This cut the time that ships spent in port and reduced the damage and theft that came with handling loose goods. The system has a weakness, though. A delay at one busy port, or a shortage of empty containers in the wrong place, can spread through the network and affect journeys on the other side of the world.

Astronomers measure the distance to nearby stars using parallax. As the Earth travels around the Sun, a nearby star seems to shift slightly against the far more distant stars behind it. By photographing the same star six months apart, when the Earth is on opposite sides of its orbit, astronomers can measure the size of this shift. The smaller the shift, the farther away the star is. Parallax is reliable for stars within a limited range, because beyond that range the shift becomes too small to measure accurately, and other methods must be used.

A school district has revised its homework policy for primary pupils. Pupils in the first three years will no longer receive written homework, although teachers may suggest daily reading at home. Older primary pupils will have no more than thirty minutes of homework on weeknights, and none at weekends or during school holidays. The district said the change followed consultation with parents and teachers, and that it will review the policy after one full school year. Secondary schools in the district are not affected.

Architects designing tall buildings must account for wind. A tall tower acts like a sail, and wind flowing around it can shed swirling pockets of air that push the structure from side to side. Designers reduce this movement in several ways. They may round or taper the building so the air flows around it smoothly, add openings that let wind pass through, or install a heavy mass near the top that swings against the building's motion. Wind tunnel tests on small models are used to check these choices before construction begins.

Put the sentences into the order that makes the paragraph coherent.

1. In winter the pattern reverses, and dry air flows from the land towards the sea.UpDown
2. In summer, land heats faster than the sea, so warm air rises over the land and draws in moist air from the ocean.UpDown
3. Monsoons are seasonal winds that reverse direction during the year.UpDown
4. As this air rises and cools, the moisture condenses and falls as heavy seasonal rain.UpDown

Put the sentences into the order that makes the paragraph coherent.

1. Only then do they remove the soil, layer by layer, noting where every object was found.UpDown
2. Archaeological excavation begins long before anyone picks up a trowel.UpDown
3. This careful record matters because digging destroys the evidence, and the notes are all that remain of the original context.UpDown
4. Teams first survey the site, mapping its surface and recording any visible features.UpDown

Put the sentences into the order that makes the paragraph coherent.

1. Critics reply that it can be unfair to drivers who have no practical alternative.UpDown
2. Many cities are trying to reduce traffic by changing how people pay for road space.UpDown
3. Because of such objections, many schemes are paired with improvements to public transport.UpDown
4. Supporters argue that the charge encourages people to use buses, trains or bicycles instead.UpDown
5. One approach is a charge on vehicles that enter a busy central zone at certain hours.UpDown

Meteorologists use satellites, weather stations and computer models to Choosepredictcauseforgetpaint the weather. A forecast for tomorrow is usually more Choosedistantreliablecolourfulexpensive than one for ten days ahead, because small errors in the starting data Choosevanishfreezegrowsleep as time passes. For this reason, forecasters often express uncertainty as a Choosecolourmountainhabitchance of rain rather than a simple yes or no.

Governments that wish to improve literacy often Chooseinvest inabolishconcealdispute early childhood education, because children who learn to read in the first years of school tend to Chooseretreatperformshrinkwander better in later subjects. Some systems also provide extra support for pupils who Choosemarchbouncefallreply behind, so that small gaps do not become permanent.

Neuroscientists describe the brain as Choosefixedinvisiblesilentadaptable, meaning that it can change its structure in response to experience. When a person practises a skill such as playing an instrument, the connections used most often become Choosestrongersmallercolderolder, while those that are rarely used may fade. This ability is greatest in childhood, but research shows that adults can Chooseavoidacquiredamageborrow new skills too, although it usually takes more effort.

Irrigation supplies crops with water when rainfall is      . However, if too much water is applied to dry land, dissolved salts can be left in the       as the water evaporates, which gradually harms the       of the land.

A       is a large body of rock and ice that travels around the Sun on a long orbit. As it approaches the Sun, heat turns some of its ice into gas, forming a glowing       that can stretch for millions of kilometres.

Before building a bridge, engineers carry out a       study to examine the ground beneath the river, because the foundations must carry the full       of the structure and the traffic that crosses it. They also consider how long the bridge will remain       under repeated use.

Sociologists often describe migration using push and pull factors. Push factors are conditions that encourage people to leave a place, such as a shortage of paid work. Pull factors are the attractions of a destination, such as university places or higher wages. In practice, few decisions rest on a single factor. Researchers also stress the role of social networks: a migrant who already has relatives or friends in the destination can offer advice, temporary housing and introductions to employers. These connections lower the cost and uncertainty of moving, which helps explain why people from one town so often settle in the same neighbourhood abroad.

Water alone cleans grease poorly because oil and water do not mix. Soap solves this problem through the shape of its molecules. Each soap molecule has a head that is attracted to water and a long tail that is attracted to fats and oils. When soapy water meets a greasy surface, the tails burrow into the grease while the heads face outward into the water. Gradually the grease is broken into tiny droplets, each surrounded by soap molecules. Because the outsides of these droplets are water-attracting, they stay suspended and can be rinsed away instead of settling back onto the surface.

Geologists reading layers of sedimentary rock usually assume that, in an undisturbed sequence, the lowest layers are the oldest, because new sediment settles on top of what is already there. This idea, known as superposition, lets them place rock layers in order without knowing their exact ages. The assumption must be applied with care, however. Powerful earth movements can fold a sequence so far that layers turn upside down, and a fault can push older rock above younger rock. Before relying on superposition, geologists therefore look for evidence that the layers have not been overturned or displaced.

The mean, or arithmetic average, adds every value and divides by the number of values. The median is the middle value when the numbers are placed in order. When data are roughly symmetrical, the two are similar. When a few values are extremely large, however, the mean is pulled upward while the median barely moves. Imagine nine households with modest incomes and one with an enormous income: the mean would suggest that a typical household is far richer than it really is. For this reason, analysts who describe incomes or house prices often prefer the median, or report both measures together.

A novel told in the first person lets readers see events only through one character's eyes. The narrator may be honest, but may also be mistaken, forgetful or biased, and attentive readers learn to compare what the narrator says with what other characters do. A third-person narrator who knows the thoughts of every character offers a wider view, but loses some of the intimacy of a single voice. Many writers move between the two approaches in different chapters, choosing the one that best suits the scene.

In management, the span of control is the number of employees who report directly to one manager. A wide span means a manager supervises many people, which tends to produce an organisation with fewer levels of management. This suits routine work, where staff are trained and need little supervision. A narrow span means each manager oversees only a few people. It is more common where tasks are complex or risky and close guidance matters, although it requires more managers and can slow decisions as instructions pass through more layers.

Coaches use the principle of progressive overload to improve fitness. Training places a demand on the body, and during rest the body adapts to become slightly stronger. To keep improving, the demand must then be raised gradually, for example by adding weight, distance or repetitions. If the increase is too rapid, the body may not recover in time, and the risk of injury rises. If the demand never changes, progress eventually levels off. Rest days are therefore considered part of training rather than a break from it.

Put the sentences into the order that makes the paragraph coherent.

1. For that reason, many ethicists argue that automated decisions affecting people's lives should come with an explanation and a way to appeal.UpDown
2. Such systems can process applications quickly, but their reasoning is often hard for ordinary people to follow.UpDown
3. Organisations increasingly use software to help decide who receives a loan or an interview.UpDown
4. This raises an ethical question, because someone refused a loan may reasonably want to know why.UpDown

Put the sentences into the order that makes the paragraph coherent.

1. In nature, such acid comes from rainwater, which absorbs carbon dioxide from the air and soil.UpDown
2. Much later, once the passages contain air, dripping water can leave behind mineral deposits that build into hanging formations.UpDown
3. Many caves form in limestone, a rock that dissolves slowly in weak acid.UpDown
4. As this water seeps along cracks, it dissolves the rock and gradually widens the cracks into passages.UpDown

Put the sentences into the order that makes the paragraph coherent.

1. This makes it more likely that the sample reflects the wider population, rather than only one group within it.UpDown
2. A survey cannot ask every member of a large population, so researchers usually question a sample.UpDown
3. By contrast, a convenient sample, such as people who happen to walk past a researcher, may look similar but can hide a systematic bias.UpDown
4. If that sample is chosen at random, each person has an equal chance of being included.UpDown

A business can be profitable on paper and still run into trouble if it neglects cash flow. Profit measures the Choosedifferencerepetitionlocationhistory between income and costs over a period, whereas cash flow tracks the actual movement of money in and out. A company that waits ninety days for customers to Choosedesignpayinspectcancel its invoices may be unable to pay its own suppliers on time, even though its sales are Chooseinvisibleillegalstrongunrecorded.

Regular aerobic exercise gradually changes the way the heart works. Because the heart muscle becomes Choosesmallerslowercolderstronger, each beat pumps more blood, so the heart does not need to beat as often at Chooserestspeedrandomaltitude. As a result, athletes frequently have a lower resting heart rate than people who are Choosemorelessfullyequally active.

A metaphor describes one thing as if it were another in order to Chooseconcealcorrectillustratemeasure a point vividly. When a writer calls a city a 'jungle', no one believes there are literally trees and animals; instead the reader is expected to Chooseignoreeraserejectinfer the ideas of danger and competition. Metaphors that are used so often that they lose their freshness are called Chooseclichéscontractsfootnotesheadlines.

Rust forms when iron reacts with       and water, producing a flaky red-brown compound known as iron      . Painting or galvanising iron slows the process by keeping these substances away from the metal.

Two measurements may rise and fall together without one       the other. Often a hidden factor, called a       variable, influences both, which is why statisticians warn against drawing firm conclusions from a pattern alone.

Earthquakes occur when rock along a       that has been under growing stress slips suddenly. The stored       is released and travels outward through the ground as seismic waves.