Multiple Choice, Single Answer: PTE Reading Practice Questions with Sample Answers (2026)

Coral reefs are often referred to as the “rainforests of the sea” due to their extraordinary biodiversity. They support around 25% of all marine species despite covering less than 1% of the ocean floor. These ecosystems provide essential services such as coastal protection, tourism revenue, and fisheries. However, rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and pollution have led to widespread coral bleaching and reef degradation. Scientists warn that without urgent global action, many reefs could disappear within decades, leading to cascading effects on marine life and coastal communities.

What is the main concern expressed in the text?

Time banking is an alternative economic model where individuals exchange services based on time rather than money. For instance, one hour of tutoring may be exchanged for one hour of gardening. The idea is to value all work equally, regardless of market demand or skill level. Originating in the 1980s, time banks promote community engagement, social equality, and reciprocity. They have been especially effective in low-income or economically strained neighborhoods where monetary exchange is limited. Still, critics question their scalability and efficiency in more complex economies, noting that not all services are of equal quality or urgency. Despite these challenges, time banking continues to thrive in pockets around the world, offering a human-centered approach to value exchange.

What does the passage suggest about time banking?

While the concept of the “Great Man” theory of history—suggesting that individuals with exceptional charisma and intellect shape the course of events—dominated 19th-century thought, modern historians have increasingly shifted toward structural and social explanations. They argue that broad economic, cultural, and institutional forces often set the stage for such individuals to emerge and succeed. For instance, rather than viewing Napoleon or Churchill as solitary architects of history, scholars now examine the societal conditions that enabled their rise and defined their impact. This shift does not entirely discount personal agency but places it within a broader framework of historical causality.

What is the author’s primary argument in the text?

Code-switching—the practice of alternating between two or more languages within a conversation—is common in multilingual communities. This phenomenon occurs not only out of necessity but also for social signaling, identity expression, and contextual emphasis. For instance, bilingual speakers may switch languages to convey intimacy, professionalism, or humor depending on the setting. In some cultures, code-switching is fluid and unremarkable, while in others, it may carry stigma or suggest a lack of fluency. Linguists argue that rather than being a sign of confusion, code-switching demonstrates linguistic competence and cultural adaptability. As societies become increasingly globalized, code-switching serves as a bridge across cultural and linguistic divides, enriching communication rather than diluting it.

What is the author’s main point about code-switching?

Climate change is an increasingly pressing global issue that affects every corner of the world. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and shifting ecosystems are just a few consequences of this phenomenon. Scientists emphasize the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources to mitigate these effects. Furthermore, public awareness and action are crucial in combating climate change and promoting sustainability.

What do scientists emphasize as important in combating climate change?

The notion of time as a linear progression—from past to present to future—is a relatively modern construct, primarily shaped by industrialization and the mechanical clock. In many pre-industrial societies, time was perceived cyclically, governed by natural rhythms such as seasons, lunar phases, or agricultural cycles. Even today, some cultures retain this cyclical view, emphasizing repetition and renewal over progression. Anthropologists argue that these differing perceptions of time influence not only daily routines but also broader concepts like planning, memory, and even identity.

What is the main idea conveyed by the author?

For decades, multitasking was celebrated as a hallmark of productivity. People prided themselves on juggling emails, meetings, and phone calls simultaneously. However, recent cognitive research challenges this perception, indicating that multitasking often reduces efficiency and increases the likelihood of errors. Studies show that the human brain is not designed to perform multiple complex tasks at once; rather, it switches rapidly between them, leading to cognitive overload. As this evidence mounts, the long-held belief in the benefits of multitasking is being reevaluated across workplaces.

What is the writer’s main purpose in this text?

In behavioral economics, the concept of “loss aversion” suggests that people tend to feel the pain of losses more intensely than the pleasure of equivalent gains. For example, losing $50 often feels more distressing than the satisfaction gained from winning the same amount. This psychological bias can lead to irrational decisions, such as holding onto losing investments in the hope of breaking even or avoiding necessary risks in business. While traditional economic theory assumes individuals act rationally, loss aversion highlights the emotional underpinnings that frequently drive financial behavior and decision-making.

What does the text mainly suggest about loss aversion?

Beyond its function as a trade route, the Silk Road was a powerful conduit for cultural, religious, and intellectual exchange between East and West. Spanning thousands of kilometers across Asia and into Europe, it connected diverse civilizations including the Chinese, Persians, Arabs, and Romans. Alongside silk, spices, and precious metals, the route facilitated the spread of ideas, such as Buddhism from India to China and papermaking from China to the Middle East. Art, music, and technology also traveled with merchants and monks. The interactions shaped languages, cuisines, and belief systems across continents. While modern transport has rendered the ancient Silk Road obsolete, its legacy endures as a symbol of early globalization and intercultural dialogue.

What aspect of the Silk Road does the passage emphasize?

Urban areas often experience significantly higher temperatures than surrounding rural regions, a phenomenon known as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect. This is primarily due to the concentration of buildings, asphalt, and reduced vegetation, which trap heat during the day and release it slowly at night. As cities grow, UHIs contribute to increased energy consumption, elevated emissions, and health risks, especially during heatwaves. Strategies to mitigate UHI include green roofs, tree planting, reflective building materials, and urban planning that prioritizes airflow. While these solutions have shown promise, their implementation varies depending on funding, policy support, and public awareness. Addressing UHI is crucial for creating resilient, climate-adaptive urban environments.

What is the main focus of the passage?

Being a living language, English is always changing. New words are invented every day. Many are linked to developments in computer science and other areas of technology. However, technology doesn’t just influence a language by increasing its vocabulary, it also causes language to change more frequently. In the Internet age, we’ve become used to using emails as a quick and convenient means of communication. However, when writing these messages, we’re a bit careless about our use of grammar. Does this mean that the quality of written English is poorer because of emails? In this chapter, it is argued that people’s actual use of language doesn’t prove this to be true.

What is the main issue concerning the writer?

Conglomerations of tower blocks sprung up in suburban Britain in the 1950s. Initially intended to help improve the health of local inhabitants and to house the burgeoning population, the concept seemed as if it would be a resounding success. The revolution was not meant to be. Even though they had replaced neighbourhoods which were squalid and over-polluted, by the end of the following decade, the new tower blocks were being torn down due to the isolation and alienation felt by their residents. These supposed harmonious, community-focused paradises were the antithesis of their architectural expectations.

What can we infer from the writer’s use of the word ‘revolution’?