Sunday, 28 June 2026

Introduction to PTE Answer Short Questions

Introduction to PTE Answer Short Questions

The Answer Short Question (ASQ) task in the PTE Academic exam tests your ability to listen to a question and respond with a single word or a short phrase. It assesses both your Listening and Speaking skills. There are no negative marks for incorrect answers, so it is always best to attempt an answer.

Number of Questions and Scoring

Number of Questions: You can expect 10 to 12 short answer questions in the exam. (Note: Some sources state 5-6, as question numbers can vary slightly between tests).

Score: Each correct answer is worth 1 point. The score from this task contributes to your overall Speaking and Listening scores. Fluency and pronunciation are not scored for this specific task, only the accuracy of your answer.

50 PTE Answer Short Question Samples (With Options)

Here are 50 sample questions. For each, I have provided the question, 3 answer options, and the correct answer.

1. What do we call a person who writes books?

Options: Author, Reader, Publisher


Answer: Author


2. What instrument is used to measure temperature?

Options: Thermometer, Barometer, Speedometer


Answer: Thermometer


3. What gas do plants absorb from the air?

Options: Oxygen, Carbon dioxide, Nitrogen


Answer: Carbon dioxide


4. Which planet is known as the Red Planet?

Options: Venus, Jupiter, Mars


Answer: Mars


5. What is the opposite of 'maximum'?

Options: Minimum, Average, Medium


Answer: Minimum


6. What is the job title for someone who makes meals in a restaurant?

Options: Chef, Waiter, Manager


Answer: Chef


7. How many years are there in a decade?

Options: 5 years, 10 years, 100 years


Answer: 10 years


8. Who sits in the cockpit of an aeroplane?

Options: Pilot, Flight Attendant, Passenger


Answer: Pilot


9. When your bone is injured and broken, what would you say you have?

Options: Fracture, Sprain, Bruise


Answer: Fracture


10. What is the big musical instrument that has 88 black and white keys?

Options: Guitar, Piano, Violin


Answer: Piano


11. What do you call a list in front of a book which outlines the structure of a book?

Options: Index, Bibliography, Table of Contents


Answer: Table of Contents


12. Under which circumstance would you describe the economy as a good one, the one with high unemployment or low unemployment?

Options: High unemployment, Low unemployment, Stable prices


Answer: Low unemployment


13. What do you call the money that citizens must contribute to the government for public use?

Options: Tax, Fine, Donation


Answer: Tax


14. A newspaper is published every day, and a journal is published every month. What do you call the publication that is published four times a year?

Options: Monthly, Quarterly, Annually


Answer: Quarterly


15. What is a painting of a person's head usually called?

Options: Landscape, Portrait, Still life


Answer: Portrait


16. What is the solid form of water?

Options: Steam, Ice, Vapor


Answer: Ice


17. What is the pointing device of a computer?

Options: Keyboard, Monitor, Mouse


Answer: Mouse


18. What term is used for animals such as humans that usually give birth to live young; Mammals or reptiles?

Options: Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians


Answer: Mammals


19. What is the fastest way to get from the 20th floor to the 1st floor?

Options: Stairs, Elevator, Escalator


Answer: Elevator


20. What is the study of the stars and planets called?

Options: Astronomy, Geology, Meteorology


Answer: Astronomy


21. What do we call the piece of paper that proves that you have bought an item?

Options: Receipt, Invoice, Bill


Answer: Receipt


22. What word describes moving a program or other material from a website to your computer?

Options: Upload, Download, Install


Answer: Download(ing)


23. If someone is feeling a little ill, they may say they are feeling under the what?

Options: Weather, Cloud, Rain


Answer: Weather


24. What is the general term for paintings of countryside or natural views?

Options: Portrait, Landscape, Abstract


Answer: Landscape


25. One who plans and draws the design of buildings and superintends their erection?

Options: Architect, Engineer, Civil Planner


Answer: Architect


26. What do we call the meeting where the employer asks the potential employee questions about their work experience?

Options: Meeting, Interview, Conference


Answer: Interview


27. What point of the compass is directly opposite east?

Options: North, South, West


Answer: West


28. What feature do pianos and computers have in common?

Options: Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard


Answer: Keyboard


29. A specialist who repairs leaking water pipes is called a?

Options: Plumber, Electrician, Carpenter


Answer: Plumber


30. If you sold your house for more money than you bought, did you make a profit or loss?

Options: Profit, Loss, Break-even


Answer: Profit


31. What is the study of the earth's structure called?

Options: Geology, Biology, Geography


Answer: Geology


32. What is the most important document you have to show if you wanted to hire a car?

Options: Passport, ID card, Driver's license


Answer: Your driver's license


33. What emergency service is usually called when someone is in trouble at sea?

Options: Ambulance, Fire Brigade, Coast Guard


Answer: Coast Guard


34. What do you call a place where dead bodies are kept?

Options: Cemetery, Morgue, Church


Answer: Morgue


35. A business does not want to make a loss, What does it want to make?

Options: Profit, Revenue, Income


Answer: Profit


36. What do you call an apartment that is below ground level?

Options: Penthouse, Basement apartment, Studio


Answer: A basement apartment


37. Where would you most likely go to buy a flower?

Options: Bakery, Florist, Supermarket


Answer: A florist


38. Which of these would probably be found in an office: a printer, a blanket, or a nailbrush?

Options: Printer, Blanket, Nailbrush


Answer: A printer


39. If someone is feeling ill, they will say "I am feeling under the ___."

Options: Weather, Water, Table


Answer: Weather


40. What is the last game in a sports competition that decides the champion?

Options: Semifinal, Final, Quarterfinal


Answer: Final


41. What is a destructive program that spreads from computer to computer?

Options: Virus, Bug, Worm


Answer: Virus


42. What is the name of a system of government in which the people elect their leaders?

Options: Monarchy, Dictatorship, Democracy


Answer: Democracy


43. What crime has someone stealing from a shop committed?

Options: Robbery, Burglary, Shoplifting


Answer: Shoplifting


44. Where would you go to work out on a treadmill?

Options: Gym, Office, Park


Answer: Gym


45. What is the time of a day before noon called?

Options: Morning, Afternoon, Evening


Answer: Morning


46. Some calendars begin the week on Sunday. What is the other day which commonly starts a week?

Options: Saturday, Monday, Friday


Answer: Monday


47. Who is the person in charge of a football match?

Options: Coach, Referee, Player


Answer: The referee


48. Which section of the newspaper gives the editor's opinion?

Options: News, Editorial, Classifieds


Answer: The editorial


49. What instrument will you use to examine very small objects or life forms?

Options: Telescope, Microscope, Binoculars


Answer: Microscope


50. What do you call a system of government in which people vote for the people that will represent them?

Options: Democracy, Oligarchy, Theocracy


Answer: Democracy

 

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100 highly useful collocations for the PTE exam (especially helpful for Writing, Speaking (Describe Image/Retell Lecture), and Reading (Fill in the Blanks)).

100 highly useful collocations for the PTE exam (especially helpful for Writing, Speaking (Describe Image/Retell Lecture), and Reading (Fill...