PTE Short Answer Questions
Set 1 – General Knowledge
1. What is the primary function of red
blood cells in the human body?
- A) To fight
infection
- B) To
transport oxygen
- C) To digest
food
- D) To
regulate body temperature
2. Which planet is known as the
"Red Planet"?
- A) Venus
- B) Jupiter
- C) Mars
- D) Mercury
3. What gas do plants primarily absorb
during photosynthesis?
- A) Oxygen
- B) Nitrogen
- C) Carbon
dioxide
- D) Hydrogen
4. How many continents are there on
Earth?
- A) Five
- B) Six
- C) Seven
- D) Eight
5. What is the chemical symbol for
water?
- A) CO₂
- B) H₂O
- C) NaCl
- D) O₂
Set 2 – Science & Nature
6. Which organ is responsible for
pumping blood around the body?
- A) Liver
- B) Lungs
- C) Heart
- D) Kidney
7. What is the largest mammal on Earth?
- A) African
elephant
- B) Blue
whale
- C) Giraffe
- D) Polar
bear
8. Which process do plants use to make
food from sunlight?
- A)
Respiration
- B)
Transpiration
- C)
Photosynthesis
- D)
Fermentation
9. What force keeps planets in orbit
around the Sun?
- A) Magnetism
- B) Friction
- C) Gravity
- D)
Electricity
10. What is the boiling point of water at
sea level in Celsius?
- A) 50°C
- B) 90°C
- C) 100°C
- D) 120°C
Set 3 – Geography & Environment
11. Which is the longest river in the
world?
- A) Amazon
- B) Nile
- C) Yangtze
- D)
Mississippi
12. What is the main cause of global
warming?
- A) Volcanic
eruptions
- B)
Deforestation only
- C)
Greenhouse gas emissions
- D) Ocean
currents
13. Which layer of the atmosphere
contains the ozone layer?
- A)
Troposphere
- B)
Stratosphere
- C)
Mesosphere
- D)
Thermosphere
14. What is the capital city of
Australia?
- A) Sydney
- B) Melbourne
- C) Canberra
- D) Perth
15. Which renewable energy source relies
on wind?
- A) Solar
panels
- B) Wind
turbines
- C)
Hydroelectric dams
- D)
Geothermal plants
Set 4 – History & Society
16. Who wrote the play "Romeo and
Juliet"?
- A) Charles
Dickens
- B) William
Shakespeare
- C) Jane
Austen
- D) Mark
Twain
17. Which ancient civilization built the
pyramids at Giza?
- A) Romans
- B) Greeks
- C) Egyptians
- D) Persians
18. What does "democracy"
literally mean?
- A) Rule by
kings
- B) Rule by
the people
- C) Rule by
the wealthy
- D) Rule by
the military
19. In which year did World War II end?
- A) 1918
- B) 1939
- C) 1945
- D) 1950
20. What is the primary purpose of the
United Nations?
- A) To
regulate global trade
- B) To
maintain international peace and security
- C) To
standardise currencies
- D) To manage
global sports
Set 5 – Language, Math & Technology
21. What is the plural form of
"crisis"?
- A) Crisises
- B) Crises
- C) Crisis
- D) Crisi
22. Which of the following is a prime
number?
- A) 9
- B) 15
- C) 17
- D) 21
23. What does "CPU" stand for
in computing?
- A) Central
Processing Unit
- B) Computer
Power Unit
- C) Central
Program Utility
- D) Core
Processing Usage
24. What is 25% of 200?
- A) 25
- B) 40
- C) 50
- D) 75
25. Which word is a synonym for
"abundant"?
- A) Scarce
- B) Plentiful
- C) Limited
- D) Rare
Set 6 – Academic & Abstract
26. What is the main purpose of a thesis
statement in an essay?
- A) To
summarise the conclusion
- B) To
present the central argument
- C) To list
references
- D) To
provide background statistics
27. Which term describes a word with the
opposite meaning to another?
- A) Synonym
- B) Antonym
- C) Homonym
- D) Acronym
28. What is the primary role of an enzyme
in biological reactions?
- A) To
provide energy
- B) To act as
a catalyst
- C) To store
genetic information
- D) To
transport oxygen
29. Which economic term describes a
general rise in prices over time?
- A) Deflation
- B) Recession
- C) Inflation
- D)
Depreciation
30. What does the prefix "bio-"
mean in words like "biology" and "biography"?
- A) Earth
- B) Life
- C) Water
- D) Mind
PTE Short Answer Questions – Answers with
Short Reasons
Set 1 – General Knowledge
1.
Answer: B) Transport oxygen
Reason: Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to body tissues.
2.
Answer: C) Mars
Reason: Mars is called the Red Planet because of iron oxide on its
surface.
3.
Answer: C) Carbon dioxide
Reason: Plants absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis to make food.
4.
Answer: C) Seven
Reason: There are seven commonly recognized continents.
5.
Answer: B) H₂O
Reason: A water molecule contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen
atom.
Set 2 – Science & Nature
6.
Answer: C) Heart
Reason: The heart pumps blood throughout the body.
7.
Answer: B) Blue whale
Reason: The blue whale is the largest known mammal.
8.
Answer: C) Photosynthesis
Reason: Plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce food
through photosynthesis.
9.
Answer: C) Gravity
Reason: Gravity keeps planets moving in their orbits around the Sun.
10.
Answer: C) 100°C
Reason: Water boils at 100°C at standard atmospheric pressure at sea
level.
Set 3 – Geography & Environment
11.
Answer: B) Nile
Reason: The Nile is traditionally recognized as the world's longest
river, although the Nile–Amazon comparison is debated.
12.
Answer: C) Greenhouse gas emissions
Reason: Human-produced greenhouse gases are the main cause of current
global warming.
13.
Answer: B) Stratosphere
Reason: The ozone layer is mainly located in the stratosphere.
14.
Answer: C) Canberra
Reason: Canberra is the capital city of Australia.
15.
Answer: B) Wind turbines
Reason: Wind turbines convert the energy of moving air into electricity.
Set 4 – History & Society
16.
Answer: B) Shakespeare
Reason: William Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet.
17.
Answer: C) Egyptians
Reason: The pyramids at Giza were built by ancient Egyptians.
18.
Answer: B) People
Reason: Democracy comes from Greek words meaning rule by the people.
19.
Answer: C) 1945
Reason: World War II ended in 1945.
20.
Answer: B) Maintain international peace and security
Reason: One of the UN's primary purposes is maintaining international
peace and security.
Set 5 – Language, Math & Technology
21.
Answer: B) Crises
Reason: Crises is the correct plural form of crisis.
22.
Answer: C) 17
Reason: 17 is divisible only by 1 and itself, so it is a prime number.
23.
Answer: A) Central Processing Unit
Reason: CPU stands for Central Processing Unit, the main processor of a
computer.
24.
Answer: C) 50
Reason: 25% of 200 = 200 × 0.25 = 50.
25.
Answer: B) Plentiful
Reason: Plentiful means existing in large quantities, which is
similar to abundant.
Set 6 – Academic & Abstract
26.
Answer: B) Central argument
Reason: A thesis statement presents the main argument or position of an
academic text.
27.
Answer: B) Antonym
Reason: An antonym is a word with the opposite meaning.
28.
Answer: B) Catalyst
Reason: An enzyme is a biological catalyst that speeds up chemical
reactions.
29.
Answer: C) Inflation
Reason: Inflation refers to a general increase in the prices of goods
and services.
30.
Answer: B) Life
Reason: The prefix bio- comes from Greek bios, meaning
“life.”
PTE Short Answer Questions
Set 7 – General Knowledge & Everyday Science
1.
What is the main function of the lungs?
A)
To filter blood
B)
To exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide
C)
To produce hormones
D)
To digest nutrients
2.
Which vitamin is primarily obtained from sunlight?
A)
Vitamin A
B)
Vitamin B12
C)
Vitamin C
D)
Vitamin D
3.
What instrument is used to measure temperature?
A)
Barometer
B)
Thermometer
C)
Hygrometer
D)
Anemometer
4.
Which animal is known as the "ship of the desert"?
A)
Horse
B)
Camel
C)
Donkey
D)
Elephant
5.
What is the hardest natural substance on Earth?
A)
Gold
B)
Iron
C)
Diamond
D)
Quartz
6.
How many bones are there in the adult human body?
A)
106
B)
206
C)
306
D)
406
7.
Which part of the plant absorbs water and nutrients from the soil?
A)
Leaf
B)
Stem
C)
Root
D)
Flower
8.
What is the study of weather called?
A)
Geology
B)
Meteorology
C)
Astronomy
D)
Botany
9.
Which blood type is known as the universal donor?
A)
A
B)
B
C)
AB
D)
O negative
10.
What is the primary source of energy for Earth?
A)
The Moon
B)
The Sun
C)
Wind
D)
Geothermal heat
Set 8 – Geography & Places
11.
Which is the largest ocean on Earth?
A)
Atlantic Ocean
B)
Indian Ocean
C)
Arctic Ocean
D)
Pacific Ocean
12.
Which country has the largest population in the world?
A)
United States
B)
India
C)
China
D)
Indonesia
13.
What is the capital of Canada?
A)
Toronto
B)
Vancouver
C)
Ottawa
D)
Montreal
14.
Which desert is the largest hot desert in the world?
A)
Gobi
B)
Sahara
C)
Kalahari
D)
Arabian
15.
Mount Everest is located in which mountain range?
A)
Andes
B)
Alps
C)
Himalayas
D)
Rockies
16.
Which continent is the Amazon rainforest primarily located in?
A)
Africa
B)
Asia
C)
South America
D)
Australia
17.
What is the smallest country in the world by area?
A)
Monaco
B)
Vatican City
C)
Malta
D)
Singapore
18.
Which sea is the saltiest body of water in the world?
A)
Red Sea
B)
Dead Sea
C)
Black Sea
D)
Caspian Sea
19.
Which country is known as the "Land of the Rising Sun"?
A)
China
B)
Korea
C)
Japan
D)
Thailand
20.
What is the longest mountain range in the world?
A)
Himalayas
B)
Andes
C)
Alps
D)
Urals
Set 9 – History & Culture
21.
Who was the first person to walk on the Moon?
A)
Yuri Gagarin
B)
Buzz Aldrin
C)
Neil Armstrong
D)
Michael Collins
22.
The Great Wall was built in which country?
A)
Japan
B)
India
C)
China
D)
Mongolia
23.
Who painted the "Mona Lisa"?
A)
Michelangelo
B)
Vincent van Gogh
C)
Leonardo da Vinci
D)
Pablo Picasso
24.
Which ancient civilization developed the first known writing system?
A)
Egyptians
B)
Sumerians
C)
Greeks
D)
Romans
25.
In which year did the Berlin Wall fall?
A)
1985
B)
1989
C)
1991
D)
1993
26.
Who was the first President of the United States?
A)
Thomas Jefferson
B)
Abraham Lincoln
C)
George Washington
D)
John Adams
27.
The Renaissance began in which country?
A)
France
B)
Italy
C)
England
D)
Spain
28.
Which empire was ruled by Julius Caesar?
A)
Greek Empire
B)
Ottoman Empire
C)
Roman Empire
D)
Persian Empire
29.
What was the main purpose of the Silk Road?
A)
Military conquest
B)
Trade between East and West
C)
Religious pilgrimage
D)
Scientific exploration
30.
Who wrote the novel "Pride and Prejudice"?
A)
Charlotte Brontë
B)
Emily Brontë
C)
Jane Austen
D)
Virginia Woolf
Set 10 – Language & Vocabulary
31.
What is the plural form of "phenomenon"?
A)
Phenomenons
B)
Phenomena
C)
Phenomenae
D)
Phenomeni
32.
Which word is a synonym for "candid"?
A)
Deceptive
B)
Honest
C)
Rude
D)
Shy
33.
What does the prefix "tele-" mean in words like "telephone"
and "television"?
A)
Near
B)
Far
C)
Sound
D)
Light
34.
Which of the following is a conjunction?
A)
Quickly
B)
Beautiful
C)
Because
D)
Under
35.
What is the antonym of "benevolent"?
A)
Kind
B)
Generous
C)
Malevolent
D)
Compassionate
36.
Which sentence uses the correct form of "their/there/they're"?
A)
Their going to the park.
B)
There going to the park.
C)
They're going to the park.
D)
Theyre going to the park.
37.
What is a "metaphor"?
A)
A comparison using "like" or "as"
B)
An exaggeration for effect
C)
A direct comparison without "like" or "as"
D)
A word that imitates a sound
38.
Which word is spelled correctly?
A)
Recieve
B)
Receive
C)
Receeve
D)
Receve
39.
What is the meaning of the idiom "to bite the bullet"?
A)
To eat quickly
B)
To endure a difficult situation
C)
To speak angrily
D)
To make a mistake
40.
Which part of speech is the word "quickly"?
A)
Noun
B)
Verb
C)
Adjective
D)
Adverb
Set 11 – Math & Logic
41.
What is 15% of 400?
A)
45
B)
60
C)
75
D)
90
42.
Which of the following is an even number?
A)
17
B)
23
C)
34
D)
41
43.
What is the square root of 144?
A)
10
B)
11
C)
12
D)
14
44.
If a triangle has angles of 60° and 60°, what is the third angle?
A)
30°
B)
45°
C)
60°
D)
90°
45.
What is 7 × 8?
A)
48
B)
54
C)
56
D)
64
46.
Which number is a prime number?
A)
21
B)
27
C)
29
D)
33
47.
What is 100 divided by 4?
A)
20
B)
25
C)
30
D)
40
48.
What comes next in the sequence: 2, 4, 8, 16, ___?
A)
20
B)
24
C)
32
D)
36
49.
What is the perimeter of a square with side length 5 cm?
A)
10 cm
B)
15 cm
C)
20 cm
D)
25 cm
50.
If a dozen eggs cost $3, how much do 6 eggs cost?
A)
$1.00
B)
$1.50
C)
$2.00
D)
$2.50
PTE Short Answer Questions – Set 7–11
Answers with Short Reasons
Set 7 – General Knowledge & Everyday Science
1.
Answer: B) To exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide
Reason: The lungs take oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the
body.
2.
Answer: D) Vitamin D
Reason: Sunlight helps the skin produce vitamin D.
3.
Answer: B) Thermometer
Reason: A thermometer is used to measure temperature.
4.
Answer: B) Camel
Reason: Camels can survive in hot, dry desert conditions and are called the
“ships of the desert.”
5.
Answer: C) Diamond
Reason: Diamond is the hardest naturally occurring substance on the Mohs
hardness scale.
6.
Answer: B) 206
Reason: An adult human body typically has 206 bones.
7.
Answer: C) Root
Reason: Roots absorb water and minerals from the soil.
8.
Answer: B) Meteorology
Reason: Meteorology is the scientific study of weather and the atmosphere.
9.
Answer: D) O negative
Reason: O-negative red blood cells can generally be transfused to people of any
blood group in emergencies.
10.
Answer: B) The Sun
Reason: The Sun provides most of the energy that drives Earth's climate and
supports life.
Set 8 – Geography & Places
11.
Answer: D) Pacific Ocean
Reason: The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean on Earth.
12.
Answer: B) India
Reason: India has the world's largest population, having surpassed China in
2023.
13.
Answer: C) Ottawa
Reason: Ottawa is the capital city of Canada.
14.
Answer: B) Sahara
Reason: The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world.
15.
Answer: C) Himalayas
Reason: Mount Everest is located in the Himalayan mountain range.
16.
Answer: C) South America
Reason: Most of the Amazon rainforest lies in South America, especially Brazil.
17.
Answer: B) Vatican City
Reason: Vatican City is the world's smallest independent country by area.
18.
Answer: B) Dead Sea
Reason: The Dead Sea is famous for its extremely high salinity compared with
ordinary seawater.
19.
Answer: C) Japan
Reason: Japan is traditionally known as the “Land of the Rising Sun.”
20.
Answer: B) Andes
Reason: The Andes are the longest continental mountain range in the world.
Set 9 – History & Culture
21.
Answer: C) Neil Armstrong
Reason: Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon in 1969.
22.
Answer: C) China
Reason: The Great Wall was built across northern China over many centuries.
23.
Answer: C) Leonardo da Vinci
Reason: Leonardo da Vinci painted the famous Mona Lisa.
24.
Answer: B) Sumerians
Reason: The Sumerians of ancient Mesopotamia developed the earliest known
writing system, cuneiform.
25.
Answer: B) 1989
Reason: The Berlin Wall fell in November 1989.
26.
Answer: C) George Washington
Reason: George Washington was the first President of the United States.
27.
Answer: B) Italy
Reason: The Renaissance began in Italy before spreading across Europe.
28.
Answer: C) Roman Empire
Reason: Julius Caesar was a Roman military leader and political figure during
the late Roman Republic.
29.
Answer: B) Trade between East and West
Reason: The Silk Road connected regions of Asia, Europe, and beyond through
trade and cultural exchange.
30.
Answer: C) Jane Austen
Reason: Jane Austen wrote the novel Pride and Prejudice, published in 1813.
Set 10 – Language & Vocabulary
31.
Answer: B) Phenomena
Reason: Phenomena is the plural form of phenomenon.
32.
Answer: B) Honest
Reason: Candid means honest, open, and direct.
33.
Answer: B) Far
Reason: The prefix tele- means “far” or “at a distance.”
34.
Answer: C) Because
Reason: Because is a conjunction that introduces a reason or cause.
35.
Answer: C) Malevolent
Reason: Benevolent means kind or well-meaning, whereas malevolent means wishing
harm to others.
36.
Answer: C) They're going to the park.
Reason: They're is the contraction of they are.
37.
Answer: C) A direct comparison without "like" or "as"
Reason: A metaphor describes one thing as another to suggest a similarity.
38.
Answer: B) Receive
Reason: Receive is the correct spelling; remember the spelling rule “i before e
except after c” as a useful general guide.
39.
Answer: B) To endure a difficult situation
Reason: “To bite the bullet” means to face a difficult or unpleasant situation
with courage.
40.
Answer: D) Adverb
Reason: Quickly is an adverb because it can describe how an action is
performed.
Set 11 – Math & Logic
41.
Answer: B) 60
Reason: \(15\% \text{ of } 400 = 0.15 \times 400 = 60\).
42.
Answer: C) 34
Reason: An even number is divisible by 2 without a remainder.
43.
Answer: C) 12
Reason: The square root of 144 is 12 because \(12 \times 12 = 144\).
44.
Answer: C) 60°
Reason: The angles of a triangle total 180°, so \(180° - 60° - 60° = 60°\).
45.
Answer: C) 56
Reason: \(7
\times 8 = 56\).
46.
Answer: C) 29
Reason: 29 is divisible only by 1 and 29, making it a prime number.
47.
Answer: B) 25
Reason: \(100
\div 4 = 25\).
48.
Answer: C) 32
Reason: Each number doubles: \(2, 4, 8, 16, 32\).
49.
Answer: C) 20 cm
Reason: The perimeter of a square is four times its side length: \(4 \times 5 = 20\)
cm.
50.
Answer: B) $1.50
Reason: Six eggs are half a dozen, so they cost half of $3, which is $1.50.
