PTE Reading Reorder Paragraphs Practice Questions
Question
1
A. This process, known as photosynthesis, sustains most life on Earth.
B. Plants absorb sunlight and convert it into chemical energy.
C. Oxygen is released as a byproduct of this reaction.
D. Carbon dioxide and water are also required for the process.
E. The energy is stored in the form of glucose.
Correct
order:
B → D → E → C → A
Question
2
A. Therefore, regular exercise is essential for long-term health.
B. Physical activity strengthens the heart and improves blood circulation.
C. For instance, running or swimming can reduce the risk of heart disease.
D. A sedentary lifestyle is linked to obesity and diabetes.
E. Even 30 minutes of daily walking brings significant benefits.
Correct
order:
B → C → D → E → A
Question
3
A. The Industrial Revolution marked a major turning point in history.
B. Before it, most people worked in agriculture.
C. Machines began to replace manual labor in factories.
D. This shift led to rapid urbanization.
E. Consequently, social and economic structures changed forever.
Correct
order:
A → B → C → D → E
Question
4
A. However, too much screen time can harm sleep and concentration.
B. Technology has made information instantly accessible.
C. Students can now learn from online resources anytime.
D. For example, educational videos simplify complex topics.
E. Moderation is key to balancing benefits and risks.
Correct
order:
B → C → D → A → E
Question
5
A. These gas emissions trap heat in the atmosphere.
B. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide and methane.
C. This is the primary cause of global warming.
D. Human activities have accelerated this process since the 1900s.
E. Reducing emissions is critical for future generations.
Correct
order:
B → A → C → D → E
20 PTE Reading Re-order
Paragraphs Practice Questions
Question 1
A. However, this
growth has not been without its challenges, including issues of intermittency
and grid integration.
B. The primary
drivers for this shift have been environmental concerns and falling technology
costs.
C. Consequently,
significant research is now focused on developing better energy storage
solutions.
D. The adoption
of renewable energy sources like wind and solar has expanded rapidly over the
past decade.
E. This
represents a fundamental change in how the world generates electricity.
Correct
order: D → B → A → C →
E
Reasons:
D is the topic
sentence – it introduces the main subject (renewable energy adoption)
independently without reference words.
B follows D –
"this shift" refers back to the adoption mentioned in D, giving the
reasons behind the expansion.
A follows B –
"However" signals contrast; "this growth" refers to the
adoption described in D and B.
C follows A –
"Consequently" shows that research into energy storage is a direct
result of the challenges mentioned in A.
E concludes –
"This represents" summarizes the entire process, making it the
logical closing sentence.
Question 2
A. They used
stone tools to hunt large animals like mammoths and bison.
B. Early humans
lived in small nomadic groups during the Ice Age.
C. This harsh
environment forced them to adapt quickly to survive.
D. Eventually,
they learned to use fire for warmth and cooking.
E. The Ice Age
created extreme conditions that challenged human survival.
Correct
order: B → A → E → C →
D
Reasons:
B is the topic
sentence – introduces early humans and their nomadic lifestyle during the Ice
Age.
A follows B –
"They" refers to the early humans; describes their hunting methods.
E follows A –
Introduces "the Ice Age" as the environmental context, which hasn't
been fully explained yet.
C follows E –
"This harsh environment" refers to the Ice Age conditions in E;
explains adaptation pressure.
D concludes –
"Eventually" signals a later development (fire) that came after
survival challenges were established.
Question 3
A. The hyena-like
animal, Palaeonictis wingi, evolved from the size of a bear to the size of a
coyote.
B. Extinct
carnivorous mammals shrank in size during a global warming event that occurred
55 million years ago.
C. Following this
global warming event, Earth's temperature cooled and the animal evolved to a
larger size.
D. Earth's
average temperature in this period increased about 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
E. The study
describes a new species that evolved to half the size of its ancestors during
this period.
Correct
order: B → D → E → A →
C
Reasons:
B is the topic
sentence – introduces the main finding about carnivorous mammals shrinking
during global warming.
D follows B –
"this period" refers to the global warming event; provides specific
temperature data.
E follows D –
"This period" again connects; introduces "the study" and
describes the species' size reduction.
A follows E –
Names the specific species (Palaeonictis wingi) as an example of what E
described.
C concludes –
"Following this event" and "evolved to a larger size"
contrasts with the shrinking described earlier, creating a complete sequence.
Question 4
A. But beginning
in the 1990s, foreign aid had begun to slowly improve.
B. Scrutiny by
the news media shamed many developed countries into curbing their bad
practices.
C. Today, the
projects of organizations like the World Bank are meticulously inspected by
watchdog groups.
D. Although the
system is far from perfect, it is certainly more transparent than it was
before.
E. Foreign aid
once routinely helped ruthless dictators stay in power.
Correct
order: E → A → B → C →
D
Reasons:
E is the topic
sentence – introduces the historical problem with foreign aid (helping
dictators).
A follows E –
"But" signals contrast; "beginning in the 1990s" shows a
time shift from the past situation in E.
B follows A –
Explains one reason for the improvement mentioned in A (media scrutiny shaming
countries).
C follows B –
"Today" moves to the present, showing the result of these changes
(watchdog inspections).
D concludes –
"Although" acknowledges imperfections while asserting progress
("more transparent than before"), summarizing the overall
transformation.
Question 5
A. These rails
were too fragile to carry heavy loads, but initial construction costs were
lower.
B. Early rails
were used on horse-drawn wagon ways, originally with wooden rails.
C. However, the
long-term expense involved in frequent maintenance outweighed any savings.
D. These were
superseded by cast iron rails that were flanged, with wagon wheels flat.
E. The first
steel rails were made in 1857 by Robert Forester Mushet.
Correct
order: B → A → C → D →
E
Reasons:
B is the topic
sentence – introduces the historical topic of early rails on wagon ways.
A follows B –
"These rails" refers directly to the rails in B; describes their
characteristics (fragile but cheap).
C follows A –
"However" signals a problem with the cost-saving approach in A;
maintenance costs outweighed savings.
D follows C –
"These were superseded" shows progression to cast iron rails as the
next technological step.
E concludes –
Moves to steel rails (1857), representing the final stage of rail development
mentioned.
Question 6
A. Chimpanzees
cannot speak because their vocal cords are located higher in their throats than
humans'.
B. A simple way
to disprove this hypothesis is to demonstrate that other species have the
capacity to speak.
C. A logical
candidate for such a species is the chimpanzee, which shares 98.4% of the human
genetic code.
D. It does not
follow from their lack of speech, however, that chimpanzees are incapable of
language.
E. The obvious
alternative is sign language, which all primates can learn due to their dexterous
hands.
Correct
order: B → C → A → D →
E
Reasons:
B is the topic
sentence – introduces the hypothesis and the approach to disprove it.
C follows B –
"Such a species" refers to the species needed in B.
A follows C –
Explains why chimpanzees cannot speak.
D follows A –
"However" introduces contrast.
E concludes –
Presents sign language as the logical solution.
Question
7
A. In the late 1900s, food
manufacturers were challenged by the organic community.
B. Over the last half-century,
organic farming has become a driving force in the world's food market.
C. It was a time when managers had
to critically examine every aspect of their production process.
D. Whether these systems have been
maintained seems questionable, particularly given efficiency pressures.
E. As a result, some people believe
it is now time to re-assess many companies' standards.
Correct order: B → A → C → D → E
Reasons:
B is the topic sentence – introduces
organic farming's rise over the last half-century as a broad context.
A follows B – "In the late
1900s" provides a specific timeframe within the half-century; introduces
the challenge to food manufacturers.
C follows A – "It was a time
when" refers to the late 1900s in A; describes the managerial response.
D follows C – "These
systems" refers to the production systems from C; questions whether
they've been maintained.
E concludes – "As a
result" shows consequence; "re-assess" follows logically from
D's questioning.
Question
8
A. Take an underperforming company.
B. Add generous helpings of debt,
management incentives, and trim all the fat.
C. Leave to cook for five years, and
you have a feast of profits.
D. That has been the recipe for
private-equity groups during the past 200 years.
E. This approach mirrors cooking:
simple ingredients can yield extraordinary results.
Correct order: A → B → C → D → E
Reasons:
A is the topic sentence – Opens with
a command/instruction ("Take..."), beginning the metaphorical recipe.
B follows A – Sequential
instruction: after taking the company, add debt, incentives, and trim fat.
C follows B – "Leave to cook
for five years" continues the cooking metaphor; states the result
(profits).
D follows C – "That has been
the recipe" refers back to A-B-C as a whole; identifies private-equity
groups.
E concludes – Summarizes the
metaphor ("This approach mirrors cooking"), providing a concluding
observation.
Question
9
A. Jean Briggs worked with the Inuit
of the Canadian Arctic and described their views on child development.
B. Young children don't possess
thought and reason; they are easily angered and cry frequently.
C. Because they can't be reasoned
with, parents treat young children with great tolerance and leniency.
D. Only when children are older and
begin to acquire thought do parents attempt to teach or discipline them.
E. Growing up is largely seen as a
process of acquiring ihuma (thought, reason, and understanding).
Correct order: A → E → B → C → D
Reasons:
A is the topic sentence – Introduces
Jean Briggs and her work with the Inuit.
E follows A – Explains the specific Inuit
concept "ihuma" that Briggs described.
B follows E – Describes young
children's lack of the qualities mentioned in E.
C follows B – "Because they
can't be reasoned with" directly follows B's description; explains
parental tolerance.
D concludes – "Only when they
are older" contrasts with the young children in B and C; gives the full
developmental picture.
Question
10
A. Many of us happily drive a car
without understanding what goes on under the bonnet.
B. So is it necessary for children
to learn how to program computers?
C. Developing computational thinking
helps students better understand the world around them.
D. After all, some experts say
coding will become obsolete as artificial intelligence grows.
E. Nevertheless, governments believe
coding is an essential skill for the future workforce.
Correct order: C → A → B → D → E
Reasons:
C is the topic sentence – Introduces
the value of computational thinking for students.
A follows C – Uses an analogy (driving
without mechanical knowledge) to illustrate that deep understanding isn't
always necessary.
B follows A – The analogy naturally
leads to the question: if driving doesn't require mechanical knowledge, why
learn programming?
D follows B – Provides one answer to
the question in B (coding might become obsolete due to AI).
E concludes –
"Nevertheless" contrasts with D; presents the opposing view that
governments still value coding.
Question
11
A. The date line is necessary to
avoid confusion that would otherwise result.
B. International Date Line generally
follows the 180° meridian of longitude.
C. For example, if an airplane
travels westward with the sun, 24 hours elapse but the day remains the same for
those aboard.
D. The same problem would arise if
two travellers journeyed in opposite directions to the opposite side of the
earth.
E. The apparent paradox is resolved
by requiring the traveller crossing the date line to change the date.
Correct order: B → A → C → D → E
Reasons:
B is the topic sentence – Introduces
what the International Date Line is.
A follows B – Explains why the Date
Line exists (to avoid confusion).
C follows A – Provides the first
example of the confusion mentioned in A (westward airplane).
D follows C – "The same
problem" signals an additional example (travellers going opposite
directions).
E concludes – Shows how the paradox
is resolved, directly addressing the problem introduced in C and D.
Question
12
A. In 1992, a retired engineer in
San Diego contracted a rare brain disease that wiped out his memory.
B. Every day he was asked where the
kitchen was, and every day he didn't have any idea.
C. Yet whenever he was hungry, he
got up and walked straight to the kitchen to get food.
D. Studies of this man led
scientists to a breakthrough about where habits are stored in the brain.
E. It offered proof that humans
"are mere walking bundles of habits," as William James noticed a
century ago.
Correct order: A → B → C → D → E
Reasons:
A is the topic sentence – Introduces
the case study (the engineer with memory loss).
B follows A – Describes the man's
inability to locate the kitchen when asked (showing memory failure).
C follows B – "Yet"
signals a surprising contrast: despite memory loss, he could walk to the
kitchen when hungry.
D follows C – Explains the
scientific breakthrough resulting from studying this contradiction.
E concludes – Offers the proof that
habits don't require memory, quoting William James as the concluding authority.
Question
13
A. Education scholars generally
agree that mayors can help failing school districts.
B. Last summer, the Harvard
Educational Review warned that mayoral control can reduce parents' influence.
C. They pointed to Mr. Bloomberg's
aggressive style as an example of what not to do.
D. All this must be weighed up by
the New York state legislature when mayoral control is up for renewal.
E. However, these same scholars are
now starting to utter warnings about the potential downsides.
Correct order: A → E → B → C → D
Reasons:
A is the topic sentence – Introduces
scholars' general agreement that mayors can help.
E follows A – "However"
signals a shift; "these same scholars" shows this is connected to A.
B follows E – Provides a specific
example of a warning (Harvard Educational Review's concern).
C follows B – "They"
refers to the Harvard editors; "Mr. Bloomberg's style" gives a
concrete negative example.
D concludes – "All this"
refers to all the preceding arguments; identifies who must consider these
factors (NY legislature).
Question
14
A. International Date Line,
imaginary line generally following the 180° meridian.
B. The date line is necessary to
avoid confusion that would otherwise result.
C. For example, if an airplane were
to travel westward with the sun, 24 hours would elapse as it circled the globe.
D. It would still be the same day
for those in the airplane while it would be one day later for those on the ground.
E. The apparent paradox is resolved
by requiring the traveller crossing the date line to change his date.
Correct order: A → B → C → D → E
Reasons:
A is the topic sentence – Defines
what the International Date Line is.
B follows A – Explains its purpose
(to avoid confusion).
C follows B – "For
example" introduces a scenario to illustrate the confusion.
D follows C – Completes the example
by stating the paradoxical situation (different days for airplane vs. ground).
E concludes – Shows how the date
line resolves the paradox described in C and D.
Question
15
A. George Marshall argues in his
book that people are not persuaded by information alone.
B. Our views are formed by the views
of the people with whom we mix.
C. Of the narratives that might
penetrate these circles, we prefer those offering some reward.
D. He proposes that instead of
arguing for sacrifice, environmentalists should show where rewards might lie.
E. We should emphasise uniting in
the face of a crisis, resourcefulness, and community action.
Correct order: A → B → C → D → E
Reasons:
A is the topic sentence – Introduces
Marshall's argument about information not persuading people.
B follows A – Explains the
alternative mechanism: views come from social circles.
C follows B – "These
circles" refers to social groups in B; discusses what narratives penetrate
them.
D follows C – "He
proposes" refers to Marshall; recommends showing rewards instead of
sacrifice.
E concludes – Provides specific
examples of the virtues to emphasise (uniting, resourcefulness, community
action).
Question
16
A. In the 1960s and 1970s,
corporations were in denial regarding their impact on the environment.
B. The environmental revolution has
been almost three decades in the making.
C. Then a series of highly visible
ecological problems created support for strict government regulation.
D. In the United States, Lake Erie
was dead. In Europe, the Rhine was on fire.
E. Today, many companies have
accepted their responsibility to do no harm to the environment.
Correct order: B → A → C → D → E
Reasons:
B is the topic sentence – Introduces
the environmental revolution as a long-term process (three decades).
A follows B – Provides the starting
condition (1960s-70s denial), fitting within the three-decade timeframe.
C follows A – "Then" shows
progression from denial to problems creating support for regulation.
D follows C – Gives specific examples
of the "visible ecological problems" mentioned in C (dead lake, river
on fire).
E concludes – "Today"
contrasts with the past; shows the final outcome (acceptance of
responsibility).
Question
17
A. The hyena-like animal,
Palaeonictis wingi, evolved from bear-size to coyote-size during a 200,000-year
period.
B. A new University of Florida study
describes how extinct carnivorous mammals shrank during a global warming event.
C. Earth's temperature increased
about 15 degrees Fahrenheit during this period.
D. Following this warming, Earth's
temperature cooled and the animal evolved to a larger size.
E. The study found that a new
species evolved to half the size of its ancestors during global warming.
Correct order: B → C → E → A → D
Reasons:
B is the topic sentence – Introduces
the study and its main finding (mammals shrank during warming).
C follows B – "this
period" refers to the global warming event in B; provides specific
temperature data.
E follows C – Restates the study's
finding with more detail (half the size of ancestors).
A follows E – Names the specific
species as an example of what E described.
D concludes – "Following this
warming" shows the subsequent cooling and re-growth in size.
Question
18
A. In most countries, only the
government is permitted to issue currency through central banks.
B. But in Scotland, three banks are
still allowed to issue banknotes.
C. When this bank was founded in
1695, Scots coinage was in short supply compared to other European currencies.
D. To face the growth of trade, it
was deemed necessary to remedy this lack of adequate currency.
E. The first Scottish bank to do
this was the Bank of Scotland.
Correct order: A → B → E → C → D
Reasons:
A is the topic sentence – States the
general rule (only governments issue currency).
B follows A – "But"
signals a contrast/exception; introduces Scotland's three banks.
E follows B – "To do this"
refers to issuing banknotes; identifies the first Scottish bank.
C follows E – "When this bank
was founded" refers to the Bank of Scotland in E; provides historical
context.
D concludes – Explains why the bank
was needed ("to face growth of trade" and remedy the currency lack
from C).
Question
19
A. The two traditions eventually
merged.
B. Another historical connection to
Halloween comes from the 8th Century when Pope Gregory proclaimed November 1st
as All Saints Day.
C. Halloween is a holiday celebrated
each year on October 31.
D. It is related to an ancient
Celtic festival of the dead called Samhain.
E. Thus, Halloween evolved into an
event incorporating saints as well as ghosts and scary costumes.
Correct order: C → D → B → A → E
Reasons:
C is the topic sentence – Introduces
what Halloween is (independent, no references).
D follows C – "It" refers
to Halloween; provides the first historical connection (Celtic festival
Samhain).
B follows D – "Another
historical connection" signals this is the second link (8th Century, All
Saints Day).
A follows B – "The two
traditions" refers to the Celtic festival (D) and All Saints Day (B);
states they merged.
E concludes – "Thus" shows
the result of the merger described in A; "evolved into" completes the
historical sequence.
Question
20
A. Wolf decided to investigate the
unusual death certificates in the small town.
B. They gathered death certificates
from residents, going back as many years as they could.
C. He enlisted the support of his
students and colleagues from Oklahoma.
D. The certificates revealed a
pattern that suggested environmental contamination.
E. This discovery led to a major
public health intervention in the community.
Correct order: A → C → B → D → E
Reasons:
A is the topic sentence – Introduces
Wolf and his decision to investigate (no pronouns pointing backward).
C follows A – "He" refers
to Wolf; describes him getting support from students and colleagues.
B follows C – "They"
refers to Wolf and his team (from A and C); describes the action of gathering
certificates.
D follows B – "The
certificates" refers directly to the certificates in B; reveals what they
found (pattern).
E concludes – "This
discovery" refers to the pattern in D; shows the final outcome (public
health intervention).
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