PTE Academic — Pearson Test of English

PTE Reading and Writing — Fill in the Blanks, Set 1

Take the PTE Reading and Writing — Fill in the Blanks, Set 1: 20 multiple-choice questions (30 minutes) with instant scoring and a full answer review.…

What this test covers

20 PTE Reading and Writing

Sample questions with answers

The first 5 questions of this test, with the correct answer and explanation.

Q1. Researchers ______ a significant correlation between sleep and test performance. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. found ✓
- B. took
- C. made
- D. did
Answer: A. found
Explanation: Researchers "find" a correlation.
Q2. The government has ______ steps to reduce air pollution. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. done
- B. taken ✓
- C. made
- D. given
Answer: B. taken
Explanation: The fixed expression is "take steps".
Q3. The study ______ light on the causes of the disease. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. puts
- B. makes
- C. gives
- D. sheds ✓
Answer: D. sheds
Explanation: To "shed light on" something is to help explain it.
Q4. The results were ______ with earlier findings, which strengthened the researchers' conclusions. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. indifferent
- B. contrary
- C. consistent ✓
- D. irrelevant
Answer: C. consistent
Explanation: Results that agree with earlier findings are consistent with them.
Q5. Rising sea levels ______ a serious threat to coastal cities. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. cause
- B. build
- C. make
- D. pose ✓
Answer: D. pose
Explanation: The collocation is "pose a threat".

The other 15 questions

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Q6. The company decided to ______ its operations into new markets in Asia. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. increase
- B. expand
- C. enlarge
- D. extend
Q7. The drug was effective in trials; ______, it caused side effects in some patients. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. therefore
- B. similarly
- C. moreover
- D. however
Q8. Prices rose sharply, ______ demand for the product fell. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. despite
- B. although
- C. and consequently
- D. whereas
Q9. The success of the project depends ______ the support of local communities. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. at
- B. on
- C. of
- D. from
Q10. There has been a sharp increase ______ the number of students studying abroad. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. of
- B. in
- C. on
- D. at
Q11. The policy is designed to ______ the gap between rich and poor regions. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. thin
- B. lower
- C. narrow
- D. shorten
Q12. The theory remains ______: some experts accept it, while others reject it. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. unanimous
- B. conclusive
- C. controversial
- D. obsolete
Q13. The survey ______ more than 2,000 participants from ten countries. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. involved
- B. consisted
- C. composed
- D. included in
Q14. Scientists ______ an experiment to test the new hypothesis. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. played
- B. did up
- C. made
- D. conducted
Q15. ______ the heavy rain, the outdoor concert went ahead as planned. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. Despite
- B. However
- C. Although
- D. Because of
Q16. Regular exercise can significantly ______ the risk of heart disease. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. drop
- B. fall
- C. reduce
- D. decline
Q17. Students are encouraged to ______ part in extracurricular activities. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. make
- B. have
- C. do
- D. take
Q18. The museum's collection ______ objects from more than 3,000 years of history. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. spans
- B. stretches out
- C. lasts
- D. continues
Q19. The researchers were interested ______ how children learn to read. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. on
- B. in
- C. for
- D. about of
Q20. Many cities have introduced bicycle lanes ______ to reduce traffic congestion. Choose the word that best completes the sentence.
- A. in order
- B. so that
- C. such as
- D. because