PTE Reading: Practice Questions - 12 | Practice Tests for PTE PDF Download

Ans:
Darwin's theory of "natural selection" captured the attention of philosophers and scientists all over the world. But after the Great War, the theory of Darwinism that women stopped evolving earlier than men and so were less developed mentally was rejected and women in America were conceded many social and political rights. A large number of women started working in the offices and factories throwing off the shackles of Victorian conventions. Many women's Rights Movements started, the famous National Women Suffrage Association (NWSA) led by Elizabeth Candy Stanton argued that marriage was set up to gratify men and to disempower women. Many social feminists inspired women to get the right to vote; the radical feminists contended that social environment and not biology determined roles of men and women in society. In 1919, the American Congress passed the Nineteenth Amendment and all the states approved it in 1920. After a long struggle, American women finally won the right to vote. From Seattle to Portland, Los Angles to Kirkland, the economy quickened and new opportunities for women to work in factories and offices opened.

The text is about Darwin's take on intellect of the women and how it changed later. According to Darwin, women stopped evolving earlier than men, so were less developed mentally than them. However, this theory was rejected; women were given (conceded) many social and political rights. Many women's Rights Movements started, which argued that marriage was set up to please (gratify) men and to disempower women. After a long struggle, American women finally won the right to vote. The economy quickened and new opportunities ('scheme' is a large-scale systematic plan) for women to work in factories and offices opened.
1. evolving - the other options don't create meaning in context.
2. conceded - it means 'granted'; the other options don't fit.
3. gratify - the text states that the women's Rights Movements argued that marriage was an institution formed to provide pleasure to men ('gratify' or please them) but to disempower women.
4. opportunities - it is correct as suggested by 'to work in factories and offices opened'.

Ans:
Borneo is the third largest island in the world. The island features spectacular rain forests that are home to more than 15,000 known species of plants and animals. But Borneo's biodiversity faces an increasingly uncertain future as the natural resources that have long brought people to the island - timber, oil, natural gas, coal, gold, spices, and rubber - are harvested and exported to satisfy growing global demand. Only half of Borneo remains forested, due to extensive logging that accelerated in the 1970s and the more recent spread of commercial crops such as oil palm. Fires have also contributed substantially to forest loss. Set to clear land for agriculture, they have often spiralled out of control and burned neighbouring forests. Tropical rain forests usually can resist fire because of their high moisture content. However, in recent decades Southeast Asia has frequently had El Niño years, which have brought droughts to the region. Soils in logged forests are also drier because they're more exposed to sun and wind, and logging often leaves behind highly flammable tree litter. All of which has led to major fires that have claimed millions of acres of forest cover during drought years.
The text talks about Borneo island.
1. features - it is the only option that fits the context; the sentence states that the island 'has' these forests, so 'features' would be the correct word.
2. natural - it collocates with 'resources'. Also, examples provided are not only of plant, animal or artificial resources, but also of natural resources.
3. logging - it means 'cutting down trees for timber'; the reason for the trend is provided in the first half of the sentence.
4. resist - it is the only option that fits the context; with high moisture content, the forests would resist fires, but what happens when they go dry is elaborated in the next few sentences.
5. exposed - it collocates with 'to sun and wind'; 'open' wouldn't make sense.

Ans:
Few things symbolise Paris, like the Eiffel Tower. It is found on postcards, paintings, books, tee-shirts. Even home furnishings like lamps are fashioned into the recognisable shape. Of course, a trip to Paris simply isn't complete without a trip to the Eiffel Tower. It really isn't the most amazing thing in Paris, though, despite its fame. There are many attractions that are far older with a much richer history. You also do not physically have to visit the Eiffel Tower to see it. Anywhere in central Paris is almost sure to feature a view of the architectural wonder. If you do go, you can climb to the second floor, or take an elevator to the top. You will have to stand in line for one of the two elevators, although trips are around 8 minutes apart between the two. Visit the first floor for displays on the tower's history or to dine at the Altitude 95 restaurant. At the top, get a view of the city. This is so high-up, though, it can be difficult to make things out.
The text is about visit to Eiffel Tower. Eiffel Tower is the most prominent symbol of Paris which can be seen on postcards and even on home furnishings like lamps. It really isn't the most amazing (very impressive; 'amazing' is mostly used for something very impressive and 'surprising' is used for something unexpected) thing in Paris, though, despite its fame (popularity). Standing anywhere in the central Paris, you can see it without physically visiting it ('watch' is 'to observe attentively' and 'stare' means 'to look fixedly at somebody or something for a long time'). If you do go, you will have to stand in line for one of the two elevators.
1. home - lamps are items of home furnishings.
2. amazing - it means 'great' or 'wonderful'; there is no element of surprise or emotion in the text, so other options are incorrect.
3. fame - it can be derived from the text that it is a famous tourist attraction.
4. see - 'physically visit' to 'see' it; the other options are grammatically incorrect.
5. stand - 'stand in line' to catch the elevator.

Ans:
My conception of social life is modest, for it makes no demands on what we have, though it does make some on what we are. Interest, wonder, sympathy and love, the first two leading to the last two, are the psychological prerequisites for social life; and the need for the first two must not be underrated. We cannot make the most even of our intimate social life unless we are able to make strangers of our oldest friends everyday by discovering unknown areas in their personality, and transforming them into new friends. In sum, social life is a function of vitality. It is tragic, however, to observe that it is these very natural springs of social life, which are drying up among us. In the poor middle class, I have hardly seen any social life properly so-called. Not only has the grinding routine of making a living killed all desire for it in them, but it has also generated a standing mood of peevish hostility to other human beings. Increasing economic distress in recent years has infinitely worsened this state of affairs, and has also brought sinister addition - class hatred.

The text is about the author's perspective of social life. According to him, interest and wonder are the prerequisites for social life and, therefore, they should not be underrated. We cannot claim to be social unless we are able to transform strangers into our friends. The author, however, believes that these natural springs (metaphor for the prerequisites for social life) are drying up because of the burdensome routine in order to make a living.
1. underrated - since interest, wonder etc. are the prerequisites for social life, their need must not be underestimated (underrated); 'not be understood' would mean the opposite.
2. transforming - it means 'markedly changing' (here 'strangers' into 'friends').
3. springs - 'are drying up' suggests the answer.
4. routine - daily grind or 'routine' has killed the desires of the man and made him hostile to other humans.

Ans:
The British Renaissance was marked by the growth of technology and religious upheaval. Protestant Reformation was the main religious event. In 1476, William Caxton set up the first printing press in Westminster which resulted into proliferation of journals and papers to cater to the educated middle class of England. The growth of middle class was a great cultural feature. This led to a new cultural set up and the writers were forced to cater to the tastes of the middle class people. The proliferation of papers and magazines, dealing with the themes of morality and didacticism, were now in vogue as they were widely read, and with passage of time were recognised as middle class literature. Sea explorations opened new vistas of knowledge. We find countless adventurous scenes in the novels and dramas of the Renaissance. Lusts for wealth and knowledge were common themes of Renaissance literature. People also became romantic and loved sensational tales.

The text is about the growth of literature during the British Renaissance.
The British Renaissance was marked by the growth of technology and religious upheaval. First printing press was set up. The proliferation of journals and magazines served (catered to) the newly growing educated middle class. Papers and magazines dealing with the themes (subject of a piece of writing) of morality and didacticism were now in vogue as they were widely read and, with passage of time, were recognised (identified) as middle class literature.
1. marked - it means 'characterized as having a particular quality or feature' (here, growth of technology and religious upheaval).
2. cater - it is correct - 'cater to' the needs middle class England; 'provide' should be followed by the preposition 'for'.
3. themes - it means 'ideas', of morality and didacticism; the other options don't create meaning in context.
4. recognised - it is correct as suggested by 'in vogue' and 'widely read'.

Ans: (2, 3, 5)
Option 2 can be derived from "...fire as a source of warmth and as a means of cooking food."
Option 3 can be derived from "Lamps, too, probably were developed by accident."
Option 5 can be derived from "Such lamps...have persisted in identical form up to quite recent times."
Options 1 and 4 cannot be derived from the text and hence are incorrect.

Ans:
3. Meerkats, inhabiting the harsh conditions of the open and arid, semi-desert plains in southern Africa, differ from the other mongoose species by being unusually sociable animals.
2. Three different sub-species of meerkats are found in varying geographic locations, although they are very similar in appearance.
1. All live in highly organised communities known as gangs or bands that rely on one another for their survival in such hostile conditions.
4. Whilst the majority of the group is out foraging for food, others stand on guard to keep a watchful eye out for approaching predators.

Let us check the introductory text and form pairs based on common links. The whole text is about a species of mongoose, named meerkats. The species is introduced in text 3. "All' in text 1 connects with 'three different sub-species' in text 2, giving us the 2-1 pair. Text 4 gives an example of 'rely on one another for their survival', giving us the 1-4 pair.

Ans:

4. Net Overseas Migration (NOM) is the difference between migrant arrivals in Australia and departures from Australia.
3. The arrivals are counted in NOM if migrants are in Australia for 12 months or more during a 16-month period.
5. NOM affects population growth, which is in turn one of the drivers of economic growth.
1. Population growth is expected to have slowed from 1.2 per cent in 2019-20 to 0.4 per cent in 2021-22.
2. This is the lowest growth in over a hundred years.

Note that 3 statements are about Net Overseas Migration or NOM; 3 are about population growth. These should ordinarily be placed together. One of the statements that mentions both NOM and population growth is perhaps the link between the two groups. Statement 4 introduces NOM and tells us what NOM is (full form): difference between arrivals and departures. Next comes statement 3: when arrivals are counted in NOM (4-3 pairing). Statement 5 concludes NOM and introduces population growth (4-3-5 set). 'This is the lowest growth' in statement 2 refers to low growth of '0.4 per cent in 2021-22'-statement 1 (5-1-2 set).

Ans:
If people are most receptive to learning in youth, and in later years draw upon their attainments, it is essential that the young are given every opportunity to learn. It is extremely important that a broad–based training is given to young people so that through vertical transfer they may find it easier to learn a variety of skills when they are older.
The text talks about the importance of providing opportunities for learning to the youth. It is essential to provide the young people every opportunity to learn. People should be more receptive to learning in youth, so that they can achieve their goals in the later age. By getting a broad-based training, they can learn a variety of skills.
1. receptive - it means 'able to receive something' – here 'learning'.
2. essential - learning is something 'essential' for the young and not 'futile'.
3. opportunity - it is correct - 'given an opportunity'.
4. learn - training is provided so that the young ones may 'learn' a variety of skills.

Ans:
The advent of computer and internet technology has simplified our lives, but the benefits ushered in by the technology revolution have also had an adverse effect on the core of our interpersonal relationships. Mere communication is no longer by face-to-face contact, but rather by electronic email, by personal internet message boards, and by personal electronic assistants.
The text is about the negative effects of technology on relationships of people. Advent (arrival) of computer and internet technology brought many benefits, which have simplified our lives, but they also have an adverse effect on our interpersonal relationships. (Mere communication is no longer by face-to-face contact)
1. advent - it means 'coming of' - (here) computers and internet technology.
2. adverse - it is correct; the word should begin with a vowel.
3. interpersonal - it collocates with 'relationships'.

Ans:
General purpose technologies reshape the nature of production and service activities irreversibly. They open up new opportunities and necessitate reorganisation of production. They share characteristics like elaboration and applicability across a range of uses and potential for use in a variety of products and processes. They alter the skill mix in the economy by biasing it towards higher-skilled people.
The text is about the role of general purpose technologies in the field of production. Nature of production and service activities has changed irreversibly (permanently) through them. They open up new opportunities. The change in the nature of production and its reorganisation is necessitated (made necessary) by general purpose technologies. Such technologies have elaborate uses (across a range of uses) in a variety of products and processes.
1. irreversibly - an adverb is required; 'irreversibly' explains the verb 'reshape'.
2. opportunities - it goes with 'open up'.
3. necessitate - production is reshaped by necessitating its reorganisation.
4. elaboration - a noun with positive connotation is required; 'elaboration' and 'applicability' both are the characteristics of the general purpose technologies.

Ans: 
In the 18th century, the postal system was unorganised; the coffee houses provided a place for communicating news and information. Information was gathered from these coffee houses on the major events of the day, victories or defeats in battles or other political upheavals. Sales, auctions, deals, appointments and transfers were made on the coffee tables by the elite of London.
The text is about the source of gathering information in the 18th century Europe. The coffee houses were used for communicating news and information as the postal system was unorganised. Information was gathered on the major events (major or important occurrence). Elite (high class) of London made deals, sales and auctions on the coffee tables.
1. unorganised - it is correct as suggested by the rest of the text.
2. communicating - a present participle is required due to preposition 'for'; news and information are communicated.
3. events - it collocates with 'major'; it is an occurrence (here "victories or defeats in battles or other political upheavals").
4. elite - a noun is required, relating to members of the society; 'elite' is correct.

Ans: (1)
Read the question carefully. It is not asking about the whole text but about 'levels of carbon dioxide'.
Option 1 is correct and is the main point that the author is trying to convey through the text.
Option 2 though may be correct in the real world, yet it is not stated in the text as such. Also, it does not answer the question.
Option 3 is incorrect as this does not answer the question.
Option 4 is incorrect as cause and effect in this option are reversed. The text states as a hypothetical statement "...carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is increased as a result of air pollution...." This is not even the main point.