PTE Academic Reading Test 7

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 Economics of Healthcare

Healthcare systems worldwide face the challenge of providing quality care while containing costs that consume an ever-larger share of national 1 {{ANSWER:1}}. Different countries have adopted varied approaches to this challenge, from single-payer systems where government acts as the primary 2 {{ANSWER:2}} to market-based models relying on private insurance. Each approach involves trade-offs between access, quality, and cost. Administrative complexity in multi-payer systems 3 {{ANSWER:3}} significant overhead costs, while centralized systems may face challenges with innovation and responsiveness. Pharmaceutical pricing remains particularly 4 {{ANSWER:4}}, with new treatments offering genuine benefits but sometimes at costs that strain budgets and raise questions of equity. Preventive care promises long-term savings but requires upfront investment, and benefits may take years to 5 {{ANSWER:5}}. Ageing populations in developed countries intensify these pressures, as healthcare needs increase while the working-age population supporting the system shrinks. Finding sustainable solutions requires difficult conversations about priorities, rationing, and the 6 {{ANSWER:6}} of individual versus collective responsibility.

1 Options: budgets, buckets, brackets, bulletins

2 Options: insurer, ensurer, assurer, usurer

3 Options: generates, generalizes, germinates, genuflects

4 Options: contentious, conscientious, contagious, continuous

5 Options: materialize, memorialize, merchandise, metabolize

6 Options: balance, bounce, bounds, bonus

Part 2: Re-order Paragraphs

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

Question 7-9

A These findings have prompted efforts to develop artificial general intelligence—systems capable of transferring learning across domains—though most experts believe this goal remains decades away, if it is achievable at all.

B Artificial intelligence has achieved remarkable performance on specific tasks, from playing chess to diagnosing medical images, often exceeding human capabilities within narrow domains.

C However, current AI systems remain brittle and limited, struggling with tasks that require common-sense reasoning, adapting to novel situations, or understanding context in ways that come naturally to humans.

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 Anthropology of Gift-Giving

Gift exchange has been a central topic in anthropology since Marcel Mauss's seminal 1925 essay, which argued that gift-giving creates social 10 {{ANSWER:10}} that bind individuals and communities together. Unlike market transactions, which are complete once payment is exchanged, gifts create ongoing relationships of 11 {{ANSWER:11}} and obligation. The recipient incurs a debt that must eventually be repaid, not necessarily in equivalent value but in a manner that maintains the relationship. This dynamic explains why receiving gifts can sometimes feel burdensome rather than purely pleasant. Cross-cultural studies reveal 12 {{ANSWER:12}} variation in gift-giving norms: what constitutes an appropriate gift, when gifts should be given, and how recipients should respond differ dramatically across societies. In modern consumer cultures, the 13 {{ANSWER:13}} of gifts has complicated traditional meanings, as purchased items may carry different significance than handmade or symbolic offerings. Nevertheless, gift exchange remains a fundamental mechanism for creating and maintaining social 14 {{ANSWER:14}} in virtually all human societies.

Word Bank: bonds, reciprocity, commodification, substantial, solidarity, considerable, connections

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 Science of Climate Tipping Points

Climate scientists warn of potential tipping points—thresholds beyond which changes become self-reinforcing and potentially irreversible. The melting of Arctic sea ice illustrates this concern: as reflective ice is replaced by darker ocean water, more solar energy is absorbed rather than reflected, accelerating further warming and melting. Similar feedback mechanisms threaten the Amazon rainforest, which generates much of its own rainfall through transpiration; significant deforestation could trigger a transition to savannah that would release massive amounts of stored carbon. The collapse of ice sheets in Greenland and West Antarctica could raise sea levels by several meters over centuries. The precise locations of these tipping points remain uncertain, as climate systems are complex and historical data on such transitions is limited. This uncertainty argues for caution: by the time a tipping point is clearly crossed, reversing the process may be impossible on human timescales.

Question 15: What does the passage indicate about climate tipping points?

A. Their exact thresholds are precisely known B. Changes beyond these points may be self-reinforcing and irreversible C. They only affect sea ice, not other climate systems D. Historical data provides complete certainty about their locations

Question 16

Passage: The Evolution of Money

Money has taken remarkably diverse forms throughout human history, from shells and beads to precious metals, paper currency, and now digital representations. What unifies these forms is their function as a medium of exchange, store of value, and unit of account—roles that require widespread acceptance and trust. The shift from commodity money with intrinsic value (like gold) to fiat money backed only by government authority represents a profound conceptual leap, dependent on institutional credibility and social consensus. Digital currencies and blockchain technology raise new questions about whether private entities can create monetary systems independent of government control. Central bank digital currencies, now being explored by many nations, could transform how money is created and transmitted while raising concerns about privacy and financial surveillance. Throughout these transformations, the fundamental social nature of money persists: it functions only because people collectively agree to accept it.

Question 16: According to the passage, what is essential for money to function?

A. It must be made from precious metals B. Widespread acceptance and trust in its value C. Government control of all monetary systems D. Physical form that can be easily carried

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: The Benefits of Bilingualism

Research on bilingualism has shifted dramatically from early concerns that learning two languages might confuse children to recognition of significant cognitive benefits. Bilingual individuals frequently outperform monolinguals on tasks requiring attention control, cognitive flexibility, and inhibition of irrelevant information—collectively termed executive function. These advantages appear to stem from the constant need to manage two language systems, suppressing one while using the other. Evidence suggests that bilingualism may delay the onset of dementia symptoms by several years, possibly by building cognitive reserve that compensates for age-related neural decline. However, the field has faced recent challenges, with some studies failing to replicate earlier findings of bilingual advantage, particularly among younger adults. Methodological factors, including how bilingualism is defined and measured and which specific cognitive tasks are assessed, may account for inconsistent results. Despite these debates, the practical benefits of knowing multiple languages for communication, cultural understanding, and career opportunities remain uncontested.

Question 17: According to the passage, what cognitive benefits have been associated with bilingualism?

A. Improved attention control B. Enhanced cognitive flexibility C. Superior mathematical abilities D. Better inhibition of irrelevant information E. Guaranteed prevention of dementia

Question 18

Passage: Sustainable Fashion

The fashion industry generates significant environmental impacts through water consumption, chemical pollution, carbon emissions, and textile waste. Fast fashion's model of rapid trend cycles and disposable clothing has intensified these problems, with the average garment now worn far fewer times before disposal than in previous decades. Sustainable fashion initiatives address these issues through multiple strategies: using organic or recycled materials, reducing water and chemical use in production, designing for durability and recyclability, and promoting rental, resale, and repair services that extend garment lifespans. Consumer behaviour change is equally important, as purchasing fewer, higher-quality items and caring for clothing properly can significantly reduce environmental impact. However, sustainable options often cost more, raising questions of accessibility and equity. Greenwashing—misleading claims about environmental benefits—has emerged as a concern, prompting calls for standardized labelling and verification systems that enable informed consumer choices.

Question 18: What strategies does the passage mention for sustainable fashion?

A. Using organic or recycled materials B. Increasing the speed of fashion trend cycles C. Designing for durability and recyclability D. Promoting rental and resale services E. Reducing prices of all fashion items

PTE Academic Reading - Test 7