PTE Academic Reading Skills 3

Question 1

Which word correctly completes: "The government implemented the policy ______ widespread public opposition."

Accepted Answer

despite

Answer

"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?

Accepted Answer

Locating a specific fact or piece of information quickly

Answer

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:

Accepted Answer

Rapid increase or spread

Answer

"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?

Accepted Answer

Although the results were inconclusive, the study was well-designed.

Answer

"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?

Accepted Answer

To confirm or support a claim with additional evidence

Answer

"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.

PTE Practice Test

PTE Practice Test

PTE Academic Reading Skills 3