Free PTE Academic Reading Questions and Answers 3

Question 1

What does the word "ambiguous" mean in academic reading?

Accepted Answer

Open to more than one interpretation

Answer

"Ambiguous" means open to more than one interpretation or unclear in meaning. Recognizing ambiguity is important in PTE Academic reading tasks that require inference and understanding of authorial intent.

Question 2

In a PTE Academic passage, "anecdotal evidence" refers to:

Accepted Answer

Evidence based on personal accounts rather than systematic research

Answer

Anecdotal evidence is based on personal accounts, individual stories, or isolated observations rather than controlled studies. Academic texts often contrast anecdotal evidence with empirical or statistical evidence.

Question 3

Which reading comprehension skill involves determining the writer's attitude toward a subject?

Accepted Answer

Inferring tone

Answer

Inferring tone requires understanding the writer's attitude (e.g., critical, enthusiastic, neutral, cautious) from word choice and rhetorical devices. PTE Academic Multiple Choice questions often test this skill.

Question 4

The word "hypothetical" in academic writing means:

Accepted Answer

Relating to a hypothesis or imagined scenario

Answer

"Hypothetical" describes something based on a hypothesis or an imagined situation rather than reality. Understanding this term helps test takers recognize when authors are presenting conditional or theoretical scenarios.

Question 5

What is the function of a "cohesive device" in academic reading passages?

Accepted Answer

To link ideas and create flow between sentences and paragraphs

Answer

Cohesive devices (such as pronouns, conjunctions, and transition phrases) link ideas within and between sentences, creating textual flow and coherence. Recognizing them is essential for PTE Re-order Paragraphs tasks.

PTE Practice Test

PTE Practice Test

Free PTE Academic Reading Questions and Answers 3