PTE Academic Reading Test 6

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 Architecture of Memory

Memory is not a single faculty but rather a collection of distinct systems that 1 {{ANSWER:1}} different types of information. Working memory holds information temporarily for immediate use, like remembering a phone number long enough to dial it. Episodic memory stores personal experiences along with their temporal and spatial 2 {{ANSWER:2}}, allowing us to mentally travel back in time. Semantic memory contains general knowledge about the world, 3 {{ANSWER:3}} from the specific experiences through which it was acquired. Procedural memory underlies skills and habits, enabling actions like riding a bicycle without conscious thought. These memory systems involve different brain regions and can be 4 {{ANSWER:4}} affected by injury or disease. Understanding memory architecture has practical applications for education, where strategies can be tailored to the type of learning required, and for 5 {{ANSWER:5}}, whose episodic memories may be distorted by suggestive questioning or the passage of time. Memory researchers continue to investigate how these systems 6 {{ANSWER:6}} to create our continuous sense of personal identity.

1 Options: process, possess, profess, protest

2 Options: context, contest, content, contract

3 Options: detached, attached, dispatched, hatched

4 Options: selectively, selectivity, selection, selective

5 Options: eyewitness, eyewitnesses, eye witness, eye-witnesses

6 Options: interact, interfere, interrupt, intervene

Part 2: Re-order Paragraphs

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

Question 7-9

A The depletion of these resources affects not only the marine organisms that depend on them but also the coastal communities whose livelihoods and food security are built around fishing.

B Modern industrial fishing methods, including trawling, longlining, and purse seining, enable the capture of fish at rates that far exceed their reproductive capacity.

C As a result, many commercially important fish populations have collapsed or are at risk of collapse, with some species declining by over ninety percent from historical levels.

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 Psychology of Colour

Colour perception involves both physical and psychological dimensions, with cultural associations adding another layer of 10 {{ANSWER:10}}. While certain colour responses appear universal—such as the calming effect of blue and the energizing quality of red—many associations are culturally 11 {{ANSWER:11}}. White symbolizes purity in Western cultures but mourning in some Asian traditions. These associations influence consumer behaviour, with marketers carefully selecting colours to 12 {{ANSWER:12}} specific emotional responses. Research suggests that colour can affect perceptions of temperature, time passage, and even taste. In workplace and educational settings, colour choices may impact productivity and 13 {{ANSWER:13}}. However, the field is plagued by exaggerated claims and poorly designed studies, making it difficult to separate genuine effects from placebo responses or 14 {{ANSWER:14}} biases. Rigorous research continues to clarify which colour effects are robust and which are context-dependent or culturally variable.

Word Bank: complexity, evoke, confirmation, concentration, learned, specific, invoke

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 Placebo Effect

The placebo effect—improvement in symptoms following an inert treatment—reveals the powerful role of expectation and belief in health outcomes. When patients believe they are receiving effective treatment, measurable physiological changes occur, including release of endorphins and dopamine, activation of specific brain regions, and reduction in stress hormones. Placebo responses are strongest for subjective symptoms like pain and fatigue but have also been documented for objectively measurable outcomes. The effect depends on multiple factors, including the patient-provider relationship, the ritual and complexity of treatment, and prior conditioning from effective treatments. Ethical debates surround the clinical use of placebos: while deception raises concerns about patient autonomy, emerging research on "open-label placebos"—where patients know they are receiving a placebo—suggests that benefits may persist even when patients are fully informed, challenging assumptions about the necessity of deception.

Question 15: What does the passage reveal about the placebo effect?

A. It only works when patients are deceived about their treatment B. It involves measurable physiological changes, not just subjective reports C. It is equally effective for all types of medical conditions D. The patient-provider relationship has no impact on outcomes

Question 16

Passage: The Rise of Telemedicine

Telemedicine—the delivery of healthcare services through electronic communication technologies—has expanded dramatically, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic that necessitated alternatives to in-person visits. Video consultations, remote monitoring, and digital health applications enable patients to access care from their homes, reducing travel time and costs while increasing convenience. For rural and underserved populations, telemedicine can bridge gaps in specialist availability. However, the technology creates new barriers for those lacking internet access, digital literacy, or private spaces for confidential consultations. Clinical limitations exist: physical examinations, certain diagnostic tests, and procedures requiring hands-on intervention cannot be conducted remotely. Questions about quality of care, data security, reimbursement policies, and licensing across jurisdictions remain actively debated as healthcare systems integrate telemedicine into standard practice.

Question 16: What limitation of telemedicine does the passage identify?

A. It is never appropriate for specialist consultations B. Physical examinations cannot be conducted remotely C. It has no benefits for rural populations D. Data security is not a concern for digital health

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: Food Security Challenges

Global food security faces mounting pressures from population growth, climate change, and resource constraints. The world's population is projected to reach nearly ten billion by 2050, requiring substantial increases in food production. Climate change threatens agricultural yields through more frequent droughts, floods, and heat waves, while also shifting the geographic distribution of pests and diseases. Water scarcity affects irrigation-dependent agriculture in many regions. Soil degradation from intensive farming practices reduces long-term productivity. Meanwhile, dietary shifts toward more resource-intensive foods like meat increase pressure on agricultural systems. Addressing these challenges requires multiple strategies: improving crop yields through technology, reducing food waste throughout supply chains, shifting dietary patterns, and adapting agricultural practices to changing conditions. International cooperation is essential given the global nature of food systems and the uneven distribution of climate impacts.

Question 17: According to the passage, what factors threaten global food security?

A. Declining global population B. Climate change affecting agricultural yields C. Water scarcity in agricultural regions D. Soil degradation from intensive farming E. Decreased consumption of meat products

Question 18

Passage: The Neuroscience of Learning

Learning physically changes the brain through a process called neuroplasticity—the ability of neural connections to strengthen, weaken, or reorganize in response to experience. When new information is encountered, neurons fire together, and repeated activation strengthens the synaptic connections between them, as captured in the phrase "neurons that fire together, wire together." Sleep plays a crucial role in consolidating learning, with different sleep stages contributing to different types of memory. Spaced practice—distributing learning over time rather than cramming—produces more durable memories than massed practice. Retrieval practice—actively recalling information rather than passively reviewing it—strengthens memory more effectively than repeated exposure. Interleaving different topics or skills during practice, though more difficult, often produces better long-term retention than blocking practice of a single skill. These findings from cognitive neuroscience have significant implications for educational practices.

Question 18: What does the passage indicate about effective learning?

A. Sleep is important for memory consolidation B. Cramming is more effective than spaced practice C. Retrieval practice strengthens memory more than passive review D. Neuroplasticity allows the brain to change with experience E. Blocking practice produces better retention than interleaving

PTE Academic Reading - Test 6