PTE Academic Practice Questions — All Questions
22 questions
The findings, ___ were published last year, have influenced current policy. Which choice is correct?
- a.who
- b.that
- c.which✓
- d.whom
In a non-defining relative clause set off by commas and referring to a thing, 'which' is required. 'That' cannot introduce a non-defining clause, and 'who' refers to people.
Researchers recommend that the sample ___ selected at random to reduce bias. Which choice is correct?
- a.be✓
- b.is
- c.was
- d.being
After 'recommend that', the subjunctive base form 'be' is used. The verb stays uninflected regardless of the subject.
The more data the team collected, the ___ their conclusions became. Which choice is correct?
- a.confident
- b.confidently
- c.most confident
- d.more confident✓
The 'the more..., the more...' structure requires a comparative in both halves: 'the more confident'. A superlative or plain adjective breaks the pattern.
Neither the hypothesis nor the results ___ consistent with earlier studies. Which choice is correct?
- a.was
- b.were✓
- c.is
- d.has been
With 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject. 'Results' is plural, so the plural verb 'were' is correct.
Having ___ the experiment three times, the students were confident in their results. Which choice is correct?
- a.ran
- b.run and
- c.run✓
- d.running
The perfect participle 'having' is followed by a past participle: 'having run'. 'Ran' is the simple past and cannot follow 'having'.
The study aims to ___ the relationship between sleep and memory. Which word best fits?
- a.ignore
- b.investigate✓
- c.conceal
- d.postpone
'Investigate' means to examine carefully, which fits the purpose of a study. The other verbs would not describe research aims.
The results were ___ with the researchers' original predictions. Which word best fits?
- a.consistent✓
- b.reluctant
- c.curious
- d.abundant
'Consistent with' means in agreement with, which fits results matching predictions. The other adjectives do not collocate with 'with' in this sense.
The author presents a ___ argument, supported by extensive evidence. Which word best fits?
- a.vague
- b.trivial
- c.hesitant
- d.compelling✓
A 'compelling' argument is convincing and strong, which fits being backed by extensive evidence. 'Vague' and 'trivial' would suggest a weak argument.
Further research is needed to ___ these preliminary findings. Which word best fits?
- a.dismiss
- b.exaggerate
- c.confirm✓
- d.ignore
To 'confirm' findings is to verify them, which is the goal of further research. The other verbs would undermine or overstate the findings.
The two theories offer ___ explanations for the same phenomenon. Which word best fits?
- a.competing✓
- b.identical
- c.silent
- d.grateful
'Competing' explanations are rival accounts of the same thing, which fits two different theories. 'Identical' would mean they are the same.
The committee will conduct a thorough ___ of the proposal. Which choice is correct?
- a.analyze
- b.analytical
- c.analysis✓
- d.analytically
After the adjective 'thorough', a noun is needed: 'analysis'. 'Analyze' is the verb and 'analytical' the adjective.
The data were ___ collected over a period of ten years. Which choice is correct?
- a.system
- b.systematically✓
- c.systematic
- d.systematize
The blank modifies the verb 'collected', so an adverb is needed: 'systematically'. 'Systematic' is the adjective.
The results provide strong ___ for the proposed model. Which choice is correct?
- a.support
- b.supportive
- c.supportively
- d.evidence✓
After the adjective 'strong', a noun completes the phrase; 'evidence' fits the meaning 'strong evidence for the model'. 'Supportive' is an adjective and would not follow 'strong' naturally here.
The professor asked us to ___ our sources at the end of the essay. Which choice is correct?
- a.cite✓
- b.citation
- c.cited
- d.citable
After 'to', the base verb is needed: 'cite'. 'Citation' is the noun and does not follow the infinitive marker.
___ the limited sample size, the study offers valuable insights. Which choice is correct?
- a.Because of
- b.Despite✓
- c.Due to
- d.Owing to
'Despite' introduces a contrast: the small sample yet valuable insights. 'Because of' and 'due to' would signal cause, which does not fit the contrast.
The first experiment failed; ___, the team revised its method. Which choice is correct?
- a.nevertheless
- b.for instance
- c.consequently✓
- d.in contrast
'Consequently' signals a result: the failure led to a revised method. 'Nevertheless' would imply contrast, which does not fit the cause-and-effect here.
The theory accounts ___ several observations that earlier models could not explain. Which choice is correct?
- a.for✓
- b.to
- c.with
- d.on
The verb 'account' collocates with 'for' when it means to explain: 'accounts for several observations'. The other prepositions are not used in this sense.
The lecture focused ___ the ethical implications of the research. Which choice is correct?
- a.at
- b.to
- c.in
- d.on✓
The verb 'focus' takes the preposition 'on': 'focused on the ethical implications'. The other prepositions do not collocate with 'focus'.
Which sentence is written in correct academic English?
- a.The experiment was consisted of three stages.
- b.The experiment consisted of three stages.✓
- c.The experiment was consist of three stages.
- d.The experiment consisting of three stages.
'Consist of' is not used in the passive; it is active: 'consisted of three stages'. Adding 'was' before it is a common error.
Which sentence corrects the error in 'This research is different than previous studies'?
- a.This research is different to than previous studies.
- b.This research is more different than previous studies.
- c.This research is different from previous studies.✓
- d.This research is differ from previous studies.
In formal written English, 'different' is followed by 'from': 'different from previous studies'. 'Different than' is considered nonstandard in academic writing.
Which sentence uses the academic phrase correctly?
- a.The data suggest that the effect is significant.✓
- b.The data suggests to that the effect is significant.
- c.The data is suggesting that the effect is significant.
- d.The data suggest about that the effect is significant.
'Data' is treated as plural in formal writing ('data suggest'), and 'suggest' is followed directly by a 'that' clause. No preposition comes between them.
Which sentence is free of usage errors?
- a.There is a number of factors that affects the outcome.
- b.There is a number of factors that affect the outcome.
- c.There are a number of factors that affects the outcome.
- d.There are a number of factors that affect the outcome.✓
'A number of factors' is plural, so it takes 'are', and the relative clause verb also agrees with the plural 'factors': 'that affect the outcome.'