PTE Reading: Practice Questions - 13 | Practice Tests for PTE PDF Download

Ans:
Chase dreams often stem from feelings of anxiety and tension. The way we respond to anxiety and pressure in real life is manifested as a chase dream. Chase dreams may represent your way of coping with fears, stress or various situations in your working life. The pursuer or an attacker who is chasing you also represents a part of yourself. Such dreams are more common among women than men, who may feel physically vulnerable in the urban environment. These dreams are inspired by fears of violence. Falling dreams are also quite common in the world of dreams. Falling is an indication of insecurities, instabilities and anxieties. It means you are feeling overwhelmed and out of control in your real life. Test dreams are common with students who are taking an examination. Such dreams highlight feelings of anxiety and agitation. These dreams reveal the lack of self confidence and nervousness. Flying dreams fall under the category of lucid dreams. They are exhilarating, joyful and liberating experiences. They also symbolise your success and glory in a situation.

The text is about various types of chase dreams. Chase dreams develop from negative feelings of anxiety and tension. The way we respond to anxiety and pressure in real life is manifested as a chase dream. The pursuer or an attacker who is chasing you also represents a part of yourself. (There are two lines containing this word; the previous one talks about what chase dreams 'represent'.) They are common among women, as women feel that they can be attacked (vulnerable to urban environment). Falling dreams indicate insecurities and anxieties. Flying dreams are lucid dreams, which symbolise success and glory.
1. anxiety - it fits coherently with 'tension'; it goes with 'anxiety' and 'pressure' in the next line.
2. represents - it goes with 'represent' provided as a clue for this blank in the previous sentence.
3. vulnerable - a word with a negative connotation is required; it fits logically with 'fears of violence' in the next line.
4. indication - the other options don't create meaning in context.
5. success - a word with a positive connotation is required; the only option that fits is 'success'.

Ans:
A pleasant retreat set amidst the lush forested hills, Mt. Abu is a green oasis in the barren desertscape that is Rajasthan. Situated at the southern tip of the Aravali range, the hill retreat owes its cool climate to its rich flora covering the entire hillside that includes coniferous trees and flowering shrubs. The road leading to Mount Abu is a curved one characterised by arid region dotted with huge rocks in weird shapes and high velocity winds. The only hill station in Rajasthan, Mount Abu is more than just a summer retreat. Its stunning array of exquisite Dilwara Jain Temples, dating back to 11th-13th centuries, makes it a popular pilgrimage centre. Mount Abu has been home to many sages and saints. Mount Abu has the distinction of being named a "wildlife sanctuary," due to its abundant variety of both wildlife and plants. Mount Abu has a large wildlife presence, including several highly rare, threatened and endangered species. In addition, Mount Abu also serves as a major home for a variety of birds, with over 250 species reported to be living in the area.

The text is about mountain range in Rajasthan - Mt. Abu. Flora (plants) of the region contributes to the cool climate (prevailing weather condition of a region) of the hill station. Arid region is characterised with huge rocks in weird shapes and high velocity winds. Mt. Abu is a pilgrimage centre as it has been home to many sages and saints.
1. climate - it means 'the long-term prevalent weather conditions of a particular area' while weather is 'the day to day state of atmosphere of a place'; while describing a place one would talk about its climate (that is what it will be known for).
2. flora - it means plant life of a region 'that includes coniferous trees and flowering shrubs'.
3. winds - only 'winds' can be said to have 'high velocity'.
4. centre - it collocates with 'pilgrimage'.

Ans:
If you want to climb the Mount Everest, there are several trails available, some of them are easy; some are more difficult. Many climbers come every year and try to succeed. But this is not easy, because many of them get ill due to the altitude. The cold weather takes many victims, and the wind is not easy to bear. Normal climbers need to be accompanied by a professional mountain guide. Most of the untrained climbers have problems in the "death zone". This area is situated where the mountain is more than 8,000 metres high. If they are not careful about how they are equipped, the climbers may suffer frostbite on the extremities of their body, because the temperatures can get very low. This part of the trail is covered with snow and ice, so the tourists may slip and fall. The winds also make many problems to the climbers. Because of the atmospheric pressure, the oxygen level in the air is low and also causes problems to the tourists that manage to get through this zone.
There are several trails available to climb the Mount Everest. Many climbers come every year and try to succeed, but the wind is not easy to bear and the cool weather makes the conditions difficult. So, normal climbers need to be accompanied by a professional mountain guide. Most of the untrained climbers have problems in the "death zone". If they are not careful (cautious in their actions; 'attentive' doesn't refer to action) about how they are equipped, the climbers may suffer frostbite. This part of the trail is covered with snow and ice, so the tourists may slip (involuntarily gliding on snow; an accident) and fall.
1. succeed - it is used for people trying to 'succeed' to climb the Everest.
2. easy - the cold weather has taken a toll on life, so wind is not 'easy' to bear (adding to the problems of the climbers).
3. untrained - most of the 'untrained' climbers will have problem.
4. careful - 'if not careful..., climbers may suffer'; 'attentive' should be followed by 'to'.
5. slip - only 'slip' indicates involuntary gliding; it is applied to accidental sliding due to loss of balance thereby falling.

Ans:
College students today often act as if they believe that work could not be basically satisfying, but is primarily a way to earn a living, and to find a place in the social order. This is a conclusion, which is partly projected upon the occupational scene as the result of their experience with the curriculum in college and university, and also as the result of experience with college and university as organisations, which are viewed as bureaucratic, monolithic, and unchangeable by many students.
I do not think it is the primary task of education to prepare students for their later occupational roles, or indeed narrowly specialised roles, nor to teach them to enjoy work regardless of its quality and meaning. Rather, the relation of education to later life should be a dialectical and critical one. If, however, one result of going to college is to become alienated from work per se and defeatist about the possibility of altering one's relation to it, then it seems to me one ought to re-examine academic institutions themselves and see whether anything in them, or in one's own attitude, or in both might be changed.
College students today believe that work is primarily a way to earn a living (livelihood) ('Bread' should not be preceded by the article 'a'). However, the author believes that the primary task (most important) of education is neither to prepare students for their later occupational roles nor to teach them to enjoy work ignoring (regardless) its quality and meaning. Rather, education should have an instructive role. If it is not so, then education system should be re-examined or one should look at one's own attitude to see if any change is required.
1. living - 'earn a living' is a phrasal form.
2. primary - it means 'most important'.
3. regardless - it means 'in spite of'; the other options don't create meaning in context.
4. re-examine - the text states that if the education institutes do not cater to the needs of the students for 'later life', then it should be re-examined.
5. attitude - a singular noun is required; 'study' and 'performance' do not fit the context.

Ans:

Anthropologists have discovered mind boggling facts about the old culture and the religious traditions of the ancient Egyptian civilisation. In antiquity, the Pharaohs established a powerful central government in the Nile valley of Egypt. The Egyptians worshipped the Pharaohs and believed that when the pharaoh died, he became "King of the dead". And if the dead body didn't have proper care, the pharaoh would not be able to carry out the duties as "king of the dead". They regarded it an ill omen, leading to natural calamities, death and destruction. Hence, each dead pharaoh was mummified to prevent the divine retribution.
The ancient Egyptians built massive tombs, carved into bedrocks to protect the body and pharaoh's soul. The huge blocks of stones were pushed up the ramps to their top positions. The builders of the tombs were not slaves or foreigners but the permanent employees. Archaeologists believe that 20 to 30 thousand workers were engaged to build the pyramids. The pyramid at Giza took 80 years.

The text is about the culture and the religious traditions of the ancient Egyptians. They worshipped the Pharaohs. After the death of Pharaohs, if the dead bodies didn't have proper care, they would not be able to carry out their duties. They regarded it an ill omen leading to natural calamities, death and destruction. The ancient Egyptians built massive tombs. The huge blocks of stones were pushed up the ramps to their top positions. Archaeologists believe that 20 to 30 thousand workers were engaged to build the pyramids.
1. traditions - it collocates with 'religious'.
2. omen - it collocates with 'ill'. Omen is something which is likely to happen in future, it may be good or bad. Here, ill omen suggests a negative sign. Other options don't form a compound word.
3. destruction - it is the only option that creates meaning in context: 'death and destruction'.
4. ramps - the text is about the construction of pyramids, which is a man-made structure; other options are natural features and, hence, incorrect in the context.
5. engaged - it means 'employed'; the other options don't fit the context.

Ans: (1, 3, 4)
Options 1, 3 and 4 are mentioned in the text.
Option 1 is stated as line "Routine discharges like these, together with chronic low-level oil leaks, present considerable environmental risk."
Option 3 can be derived from "They may not be able to tolerate the higher salinity or they may be decimated by invading predators with an affinity for saltier waters."
Option 4 is stated in line "...distinctly harmful effects on some forms of marine life,...choke them, or cut off the light, which is essential to their whole food chain."
Option 2 presents the contradictory information. When an offshore oil well becomes operational and discharges routinely, the discharges "together with chronic low-level oil leaks, present considerable environmental risk." Option 5 runs contradictory to the information in the text. The text states, "...to a lesser extent, laying pipeline cause another kind of environmental disruption."

Ans:
2. As a fundamental instrument for safeguarding individual's freedom against arbitrary and lawless state action, a writ of habeas corpus serves as a procedural device, by which governmental restraints on personal liberty are subjected to judicial scrutiny.
4. The purpose of such a writ of habeas corpus is not to determine the guilt or innocence of a prisoner, but only to test the legality of a prisoner's current detention.
1. In other words, for the reviewing court, the writ of habeas corpus only functions to test jurisdictional defects that may invalidate the legal authority to detain the person.
3. The review is only for the power and authority of the governmental authority to detain the person, and not for the correctness of the authorities' conclusion to detain the person.

Let us try to find the topic of the paragraph and see where it begins, before making pairs of connectors. The topic is 'writ of habeas corpus', which is introduced in statement 2 as 'a writ', describing what it is. This is followed by statement 4, with a cross-reference 'such writ', which describes its purpose. That gives us the 2-4 pair. 'In other words' in statement 1 restates the purpose. The 241 sequence is followed by 3, which mentions review once again, connecting it with 'the reviewing court'.

Ans:
4. To search for food, foraging worker ants leave the nest or mound and wander randomly.
3. Upon discovery of a food source, they head straight back to the colony, using their stingers to mark the ground and leave a chemical pheromone trail periodically.
1. When they reach their colony, additional worker ants follow the pheromone trail to the newly found food source.
2. Those ants retrieve the food and return to the colony, also marking the pheromone trail laid down by the first group of ants. 5. In a short period, many more ants follow the "foraging trail", quickly arriving at the source and dominating the site to protect it from competitors while collecting the food particles.

The first sentence introduces the central topic 'How ants search food?" Sentence 3 uses the pronoun 'they' which refers to 'worker ants' in sentence 4. 'Discovery of food source' in 3 is in sequence to 'ants leaving their nest to search food' stated in sentence 4. Sentence 3 mentions 'ants heading to the colony', sentence 1 explains what happens once they reach the colony. The determiner 'those' in the sentence 2 refers to 'additional worker ants' in seritence 1. It is also mentioned they follow the marks left by the first group of ants. Sentence 5 concludes the paragraph by mentioning the 'collection of food particles'.

Ans:
The present heyday of industrialism will develop far beyond its present level, but sooner or later, owing to the exhaustion of raw material, its capacity to supply human needs will diminish, not suddenly, but gradually. This could be prevented, if men exercised some restraint or foresight in their present frenzied exploitation. Perhaps before it is too late, they will learn to do so. How long will it be?
The text states that industrialism will decline, if adequate measures are not taken by humans to prevent it. Although in the coming years, the present day bloom (heyday) of industries will extend. However, its capacity to supply human needs will gradually diminish. This can be prevented, if man limits the exploitation of raw materials needed for industrial manufacturing of goods.
1. heyday - a word with a positive connotation is required; only 'heyday' fits the blank.
2. capacity - it goes with 'to supply needs'.
3. diminish - 'but' in the sentence provides the necessary contrast; the part before 'but' is positive; the part after it will be negative in meaning; also 'capacity' will 'diminish'.
4. exploitation - it is hinted by "prevented.... if...exercised restraint...in..."; 'exploitation' is the only word that fits.

Ans:
A medical research team in Japan revealed they have made what is hailed as a groundbreaking discovery, which has changed their view of the development and specialisation of cells. They are on the verge of being able to make human organs by injecting human stem cells into animal embryos. The technique, called blastocyst complementation, provides us with a novel approach for organ supply.

The text talks about a scientific technique developed by researchers in Japan. They are on the verge (be very close; while 'boundary' means 'limit') of growing human organs by injecting human stem cells into animal embryos. This technique is hailed (approve enthusiastically; while 'term' means 'to give a descriptive name') as a groundbreaking discovery because it provides with a novel approach for organ supply.
1. hailed - it means 'praised'; it goes with 'groundbreaking discovery'.
2. verge - 'on the verge of' is the correct idiomatic usage.
3. embryos - a plural noun is required as the blank is not preceded by 'a/an', which would necessitate a singular noun such as 'heart'. The only option that fits is 'embryos'.
4. novel - it collocates with 'approach'; the other options don't create meaning in context.

Ans:
One of the frustrations for scientists working on HIV/AIDS treatments has been the human immunodeficiency virus' ability to evade the body's immune system. Now, an Indiana University researcher has discovered a compound that could help induce the immune system back in the hunt. It's not that the human immune system does not recognise HIV. Indeed, an infection causes the body to unleash antibodies that attack the virus and initially some HIV is destroyed.
The text is about a recent discovery of a compound that can help counter HIV/AIDS. Any scientist working on HIV/AIDS gets frustrated when he is unable to find a cure to virus' ability to (escape) evade the body's immune system. Now, a researcher has found a compound that could help induce the immune system back into action and protect the body from the infection. The human body actually recognises HIV, as it unleashes (let loose) antibodies to counter the virus once infected.
1. frustrations - the phrase 'one of the' is followed by a plural noun; 'respects' does not create meaning in context.
2. evade - a verb is required because the virus escapes and doesn't get noticed by the immune system (which would have otherwise counteracted it); it creates frustrations for scientists.
3. induce - a verb is required as suggested by 'back in the hunt'; the other options don't create meaning in context.
4. unleash - it means 'release'; when the infection spreads, initially the antibodies are released that attack the HIV virus and destroy them.

Ans:
In English literature and culture, the emergence of the coffee houses was a national event which greatly influenced the British life of the 18th century. Coffee was introduced in 1860s. It spread throughout the continent and many new coffee houses were opened in different cities. Paris coffee houses were the "major feature of the French Enlightenment".
The text talks about the emergence of the coffee houses and their influence over the European continent. Coffee was introduced in 1860s. It spread throughout Europe and greatly influenced the European life. Paris coffee houses were the "major feature of the French Enlightenment".
1. emergence - it supports the phrase 'coffee was introduced in' in the next sentence.
2. greatly - an adverb is required to describe the verb 'influenced'; the other words don't create meaning in context.
3. throughout - it is used to describe the extent of the spread of coffee houses.
4. feature - it is the only word among the option that fits; coffee houses cannot be 'event' or even a 'hurdle' (as the context is positive).

Ans: (2)
The correct answer can be inferred from these lines: 'The bone fragment, originally thought to come from a bear, was quite small, but when the DNA was studied, the team realised it was from a dog.'
Option 1 is incorrect because the text states 'The researchers did not set out to study dogs.'
Option 3 is incorrect because the text states 'the remains represent the oldest confirmed remains of a domestic dog in the Americas' (not the latest one).
Option 4 is incorrect since we don't know whether the exact year is known from the text.