Academic Reading Skills Flashcards

A text states: 'The proliferation of misinformation on social media has exacerbated public distrust in scientific institutions.' The word 'exacerbated' means:

Answer: Made worse or more severe

Exacerbated means to make an already bad situation worse — misinformation intensified an existing decline in public trust.

When re-ordering paragraphs in PTE Academic, which sentence most likely belongs FIRST in a sequence?

Answer: An introductory sentence that presents a general concept or context without referring to prior ideas

Opening sentences introduce topics broadly without referencing prior text — they require no context because they set the scene.

A passage presents research showing that students who sleep fewer than six hours perform worse on memory tests. Which conclusion is best supported by this information?

Answer: Insufficient sleep is associated with poorer memory performance in students

The research shows a correlation between less sleep and lower memory scores, which supports the conclusion that insufficient sleep is linked to poorer memory performance.

In Fill in the Blanks (Reading & Writing), the sentence reads: 'The committee reached a _____ on the budget proposal after lengthy debate.' Which word fits best?

Answer: consensus

Consensus means general agreement, which logically follows from a committee completing its deliberations on a proposal.

Which of the following best describes the author's tone in a passage that uses phrases like 'alarmingly rapid,' 'dire consequences,' and 'urgent action required'?

Answer: Alarmed and persuasive

Words like 'alarmingly,' 'dire,' and 'urgent' convey a sense of crisis and are designed to persuade readers to act quickly.

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

Answer: To link sentences and paragraphs together so ideas flow logically

Cohesive devices (e.g., pronouns, transition words, synonyms) create logical connections between sentences and paragraphs, ensuring smooth flow.

A PTE passage describes a study's methodology, results, and conclusion. What type of text structure is this?

Answer: Sequential / chronological reporting

Reporting methodology, results, and conclusion follows a sequential structure that mirrors the logical progression of scientific research.