PTE Academic Reading Test 3

Time allowed: 29-30 minutes Total questions: 18

Part 1: Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks

Below is a text with blanks. Select the appropriate word from the dropdown list for each blank.

Question 1-6

Passage: The Neuroscience of Creativity

Creativity has long been considered a mysterious quality that some people possess and others lack. However, neuroscientific research is beginning to 1 {{ANSWER:1}} the biological basis of creative thinking. Brain imaging studies reveal that creativity involves the 2 {{ANSWER:2}} of multiple neural networks working in concert. The default mode network, typically active during daydreaming and self-reflection, generates novel ideas by making unexpected connections between concepts. Meanwhile, the executive control network helps 3 {{ANSWER:3}} and refine these ideas, filtering out impractical suggestions. The salience network acts as a switch between these systems, determining when to let imagination flow freely and when to apply critical 4 {{ANSWER:4}}. Interestingly, highly creative individuals show greater connectivity between these networks, suggesting that creativity may be less about having special abilities and more about efficient 5 {{ANSWER:5}} between different modes of thinking. This understanding has important implications for education and workplace design, as environments that allow for both focused work and relaxed 6 {{ANSWER:6}} may foster greater creative output.

1 Options: illuminate, eliminate, illustrate, intimidate

2 Options: collaboration, collection, collision, collusion

3 Options: evaluate, evacuate, evaporate, elaborate

4 Options: judgment, adjustment, enjoyment, treatment

5 Options: transition, transmission, transaction, translation

6 Options: contemplation, confrontation, compensation, contamination

Part 2: Re-order Paragraphs

The text boxes below have been placed in a random order. Restore the original order.

Question 7-9

A Furthermore, sleep deprivation impairs the consolidation of memories formed during the day, meaning that students who sacrifice sleep to study longer may actually retain less information.

B Research consistently demonstrates that adequate sleep is essential for optimal cognitive performance, with even moderate sleep restriction significantly impairing attention, working memory, and decision-making abilities.

C Despite this evidence, many students and professionals regularly sacrifice sleep to meet deadlines, mistakenly believing that additional waking hours compensate for reduced mental efficiency.

Correct order:

7 {{ANSWER:7}} → 8 {{ANSWER:8}} → 9 {{ANSWER:9}}

Part 3: Reading: Fill in the Blanks

Below is a text with blanks. Drag and drop the words from the word bank to complete the text.

Question 10-14

Passage: The Economics of Happiness

Traditional economic measures like GDP have long been used to assess national prosperity, yet economists increasingly recognize that these metrics fail to capture what truly matters to human 10 {{ANSWER:10}}. The emerging field of happiness economics attempts to measure subjective well-being and identify its 11 {{ANSWER:11}}. Studies consistently find that once basic needs are met, additional income yields 12 {{ANSWER:12}} returns in terms of life satisfaction. Factors such as social relationships, meaningful work, and personal autonomy appear to contribute more substantially to happiness than material 13 {{ANSWER:13}}. Some countries, notably Bhutan with its Gross National Happiness index, have begun incorporating well-being measures into policy decisions. Critics argue that happiness is too subjective to measure reliably, while proponents contend that ignoring well-being leads to policies that may increase economic output while 14 {{ANSWER:14}} quality of life.

Word Bank: diminishing, determinants, undermining, wellbeing, prosperity, accumulation, enhancing

Part 4: Multiple Choice, Choose Single Answer

Read the text and answer the multiple-choice question by selecting the correct response. Only one response is correct.

Question 15

Passage: The Decline of Insect Populations

Scientists have documented alarming declines in insect populations worldwide, with some studies suggesting that total insect biomass may be decreasing by as much as 2.5 percent annually. This trend has profound implications for ecosystems, as insects serve crucial roles as pollinators, decomposers, and food sources for other animals. The causes of insect decline are multifactorial, including habitat loss, pesticide use, light pollution, and climate change. Agricultural intensification has been particularly devastating, transforming diverse landscapes into monocultures that support few insect species. Urban sprawl has similarly fragmented habitats and introduced artificial lighting that disrupts insect behaviour. While the full consequences of insect decline remain uncertain, the potential collapse of pollination services alone could threaten global food security, given that approximately three-quarters of food crops depend to some degree on animal pollination.

Question 15: What is the primary concern expressed in the passage about insect decline?

A. Insects are becoming resistant to pesticides B. The decline could disrupt essential ecosystem services including pollination C. Climate change is the sole cause of insect population decline D. Urban areas are experiencing the most severe insect losses

Question 16

Passage: Quantum Computing Fundamentals

Unlike classical computers that process information in binary bits representing either zero or one, quantum computers utilize quantum bits, or qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously through a phenomenon called superposition. This property, combined with quantum entanglement—where qubits become correlated in ways that have no classical equivalent—enables quantum computers to perform certain calculations exponentially faster than any conventional machine. However, qubits are extremely fragile, requiring isolation from environmental interference and operation at temperatures near absolute zero. Current quantum computers remain limited in scale and prone to errors, though progress is accelerating. Potential applications include cryptography, drug discovery, materials science, and optimization problems that are currently intractable. While quantum computers will not replace classical computers for everyday tasks, they may eventually solve specific problems that would take conventional supercomputers longer than the age of the universe to complete.

Question 16: According to the passage, what distinguishes quantum computers from classical computers?

A. Quantum computers operate at higher temperatures B. Quantum computers use qubits that can exist in multiple states simultaneously C. Quantum computers are better suited for everyday computing tasks D. Quantum computers require less isolation from environmental interference

Part 5: Multiple Choice, Choose Multiple Answers

Read the text and answer the question by selecting all the correct responses. More than one response is correct.

Question 17

Passage: Urban Agriculture Movement

Urban agriculture has gained momentum as cities seek to address food security, environmental sustainability, and community development simultaneously. Rooftop gardens, vertical farms, and community plots are transforming underutilized urban spaces into productive agricultural land. Proponents argue that growing food locally reduces transportation emissions, provides fresher produce, and creates green spaces that mitigate urban heat islands. Community gardens offer additional social benefits, bringing together residents of different backgrounds and providing therapeutic outdoor activities. Educational programs in urban farms teach children about food systems and nutrition. However, critics note that urban agriculture typically produces only a small fraction of a city's food needs and may be economically viable only for high-value crops. Soil contamination from historical industrial use poses health risks in some locations, requiring careful site assessment and remediation.

Question 17: According to the passage, what are the benefits of urban agriculture?

A. Reduces transportation emissions B. Eliminates the need for rural farming C. Creates green spaces that reduce urban heat D. Provides social benefits through community interaction E. Produces the majority of urban food requirements

Question 18

Passage: The Science of Habit Formation

Habits are automatic behaviours triggered by contextual cues, formed through repeated association between a situation and a response. Neuroscientific research reveals that habit formation involves a shift in brain activity from the prefrontal cortex, responsible for deliberate decision-making, to the basal ganglia, which controls automatic actions. This transfer explains why established habits require little conscious effort and can be difficult to break. The habit loop consists of three components: a cue that triggers the behaviour, the routine itself, and a reward that reinforces the association. Understanding this structure has practical applications for behaviour change. Rather than relying solely on willpower, which depletes with use, individuals can modify habits by identifying cues, substituting routines, or adjusting rewards. Research suggests that new habits typically require several weeks of consistent repetition to become automatic, though this varies considerably depending on the complexity of the behaviour and individual differences.

Question 18: What does the passage indicate about habit formation?

A. Habits involve a shift from conscious to automatic brain processing B. The habit loop includes cue, routine, and reward components C. Willpower alone is sufficient for changing habits D. New habits can become automatic after consistent repetition E. The prefrontal cortex controls automatic actions

PTE Academic Reading - Test 3