PTE Academic Reading Skills 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which word correctly completes: "The government implemented the policy ______ widespread public opposition."
- despite (Correct answer)
- although
- because
- therefore
Correct answer: despite
"Despite" is a preposition followed by a noun phrase, making it grammatically correct here. "Although" is a conjunction that introduces a clause with a subject and verb, not a noun phrase.
Question 2: In PTE Academic reading, what is the primary purpose of "scanning" as a reading technique?
- Understanding the writer's tone and attitude
- Locating a specific fact or piece of information quickly (Correct answer)
- Grasping the overall structure of the text
- Evaluating the strength of the author's argument
Correct answer: Locating a specific fact or piece of information quickly
Scanning means moving your eyes rapidly through text to find specific information (names, dates, statistics, keywords) without reading everything. It is especially useful for PTE Multiple Choice Single Answer tasks.
Question 3: The word "proliferation" in academic texts refers to:
- A decrease in quantity
- Rapid increase or spread (Correct answer)
- Scientific measurement technique
- Government regulation process
Correct answer: Rapid increase or spread
"Proliferation" means rapid spread or increase in number. Common academic usage: "the proliferation of social media platforms" or "nuclear proliferation." The root is Latin "proles" (offspring).
Question 4: Which sentence demonstrates correct use of a concessive clause?
- Although the results were inconclusive, the study was well-designed. (Correct answer)
- Because the results were inconclusive, the study was well-designed.
- The results were inconclusive, so the study was well-designed.
- The results were inconclusive, the study was well-designed.
Correct answer: Although the results were inconclusive, the study was well-designed.
"Although" introduces a concessive clause, acknowledging a fact while presenting a contrasting or surprising conclusion. Concessive clauses are common in academic argumentation and PTE reading passages.
Question 5: What does "corroborate" mean in an academic research context?
- To disprove or refute findings
- To confirm or support a claim with additional evidence (Correct answer)
- To publish research in a journal
- To collaborate on a research project
Correct answer: To confirm or support a claim with additional evidence
"Corroborate" means to confirm or give support to a statement or theory through additional evidence. Academic writing often discusses whether findings corroborate or contradict existing theories.
Question 6: Which of the following is an example of a "hedge" in academic writing?
- "The results definitively prove the hypothesis."
- "It appears that the results support the hypothesis." (Correct answer)
- "The hypothesis is completely wrong."
- "The experiment was poorly designed."
Correct answer: "It appears that the results support the hypothesis."
Hedging language (e.g., "it appears," "may suggest," "tends to") expresses caution and uncertainty, which is a hallmark of academic writing. PTE reading passages frequently use hedging, and recognizing it helps with comprehension questions.
PTE Academic Reading Skills 3
Which word correctly completes: "The government implemented the policy ______ widespread public opposition."