Comprehensive Introduction to Verb/Adjective + Preposition Pairs and Articles
This
comprehensive introduction to Verb/Adjective + Preposition Pairs and Articles
is designed to help you master these concepts for the PTE exam.
Part 1: Verb/Adjective + Preposition Pairs
What Are They?
In
English, certain verbs and adjectives "govern" specific prepositions.
This means they must be followed by a particular preposition to sound natural
and be grammatically correct. You cannot choose a preposition based on logic or
translation; you must memorize the pair.
Why It's Important for PTE
- Fill in the Blanks (Reading
& Writing): You will often see a blank
followed by a space. The correct answer is the preposition that perfectly
pairs with the verb or adjective just before the blank.
- Essay Writing: Using the wrong preposition (e.g., "discuss
about") is a major grammatical error that lowers your score.
- Summarize Written Text: Correct preposition usage ensures your sentence is
clear and concise.
Common Verb + Preposition Pairs (PTE Favorites)
|
Verb |
Preposition |
Example
Sentence |
|
Apply |
for (a position/scholarship) |
He applied for the
scholarship. |
|
Depend /
Rely |
on |
The success of the project depends
on the weather. |
|
Consist |
of (parts) |
The team consists of five
members. |
|
Result |
in (a consequence) |
The heavy rain resulted in
flooding. |
|
Lead |
to |
Poor diet can lead to
health problems. |
|
Belong |
to |
This book belongs to me. |
|
Listen |
to |
Please listen to the
instructions. |
|
Look |
at (stare) |
Look at the board. |
|
Pay |
for |
Did you pay for the
tickets? |
|
Wait |
for |
I am waiting for the bus. |
Common Adjective + Preposition Pairs (PTE Favorites)
|
Adjective |
Preposition |
Example
Sentence |
|
Interested |
in |
Many people are interested in
environmental issues. |
|
Responsible |
for |
The manager is responsible for
the project. |
|
Different |
from |
British English is slightly
different from American English. |
|
Similar |
to |
My experience was similar to
yours. |
|
Satisfied
/ Pleased |
with |
The teacher is satisfied with
the results. |
|
Worried
/ Concerned |
about |
Parents are worried about
their children's health. |
|
Famous |
for |
The city is famous for its
beautiful architecture. |
|
Good /
Bad |
at (skills) |
She is good at math. |
|
Afraid /
Scared |
of |
Many people are afraid of
public speaking. |
PTE Study Tip:
Focus
on context. In the reading "Fill in the
Blanks," look at the word immediately before the blank.
- If it's a verb or adjective
from the list above, look for the matching preposition in the options.
- If the blank is before a noun,
and the options are prepositions, check the preceding word to see what
preposition it pairs with.
Part 2: Articles (A, An, The)
What Are They?
Articles
are small words that come before nouns. They tell the reader if the noun is specific
(known to both the speaker and listener) or general (not specifically
identified).
Why It's Important for PTE
- Reading & Writing: Fill in
the Blanks: You will frequently see blanks
where the correct answer is "a," "an," or
"the." The options might include other words, and you must
choose the article based on the context.
- Essay Writing: Missing or misusing articles is a common mistake that
makes your writing sound unnatural and can lower your grammar score.
The Rules in a Nutshell
1.
'A' and 'An' (Indefinite Articles)
- Used with singular,
countable nouns that are general or introduced for the first
time.
- 'A' is used before consonant sounds (a book, a
university - sounds like 'yoo').
- 'An' is used before vowel sounds (an apple, an hour
- silent 'h').
2.
'The' (Definite Article)
- Used to refer to something specific
that both the speaker and listener know about, or something that has already
been mentioned.
- Used when there is only one
of something (the sun, the government, the internet).
The "First Mention" Rule (Crucial for PTE)
This
is the most common article rule tested in PTE.
- First Mention: The writer introduces a new topic using "a"
or "an."
- Second Mention: Once the topic is known, the writer refers to it again
using "the."
Example:
The
city council built a new bridge near the river. Unfortunately, the
bridge was damaged by a storm.
(First,
we meet a random bridge (a). Later, we know exactly which bridge, so we use
"the.")
Other Key Rules for PTE:
- No Article (Ø) is used with:
- Plural general nouns: Ø Dogs are loyal. (All dogs in general)
- Uncountable general nouns: Ø Water is essential. (Water in general)
- Most proper nouns: Ø John is here. Ø France is a country.
(Exceptions: The United States, The UK)
PTE Study Tip (Comparing the concepts):
Look
at how these two grammar points can interact in a text:
Example
Passage:
Scientists
recently discovered a (1) new planet orbiting a distant star.
Astronomers are particularly interested in (2) this planet because it
has water. They are now analyzing the (3) data collected from their
telescopes.
- Blank 1: A (First mention of a general planet).
- Blank 2: in (The adjective "interested" is always
followed by "in").
- Blank 3: the (The data is specific—it's the data from their
telescopes).
Practice Set: Mixed Fill in the Blanks
Instructions: Read the passage. Choose the correct word to fill in each
blank from the options provided in parentheses.
Passage:
Climate
change is a global issue that many people are concerned (1) ______ (of / about
/ on). Scientists have conducted extensive research to understand its causes.
They have found that the increase in greenhouse gases is largely responsible
(2) ______ (for / to / with) the rising global temperatures. To combat this,
governments must invest (3) ______ (for / in / on) renewable energy sources.
Recently, (4) ______ (A / An / The) international agreement was signed in
Paris. Since then, (5) ______ (a / an / the) agreement has been ratified by
over 190 countries, demonstrating a collective effort to address this critical
challenge.
Answer
Key & Explanations:
1.
about - The adjective "concerned" is always paired with
the preposition "about."
2.
for - The adjective "responsible" is always paired
with the preposition "for."
3.
in - The verb "invest" is always paired with the
preposition "in" when referring to an area or sector.
4.
An - This is the first mention of a general agreement. The
word "international" starts with a vowel sound, so we use
"An."
5.
the - This is the second mention. Now we are referring to the specific
Paris agreement, so we use "the."
10 Additional Practice Sets: Verb/Adjective +
Preposition Pairs and Articles
I have structured these to mimic the PTE Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks
style. Each set has 4 blanks with
dropdown-style options in parentheses.
Crucial PTE Strategy
Before you look at the options, read the sentence and
ask yourself:
1.
Is the blank
before a noun? Check if you need a/an/the or no article.
2.
Does the word
right before the blank (a verb/adjective) require a specific preposition?
Set 1
Passage:
Effective time management is crucial for academic
success. Students often rely (1) ______ (on / for / at) digital calendars to
organize their schedules. However, simply owning a planner is not enough; one
must also be disciplined (2) ______ (with / about / for) sticking to the plan.
(3) ______ (A / An / The) recent study found that students who plan their week
in advance are less stressed. Researchers emphasized that (4) ______ (a / an /
the) findings of this study could change how universities teach study skills.
Answers: 1. on
| 2. about | 3. A | 4. the
Set 2
Passage:
Urban farming is becoming increasingly popular in
major cities. Many residents are looking (1) ______ (after / for / at) ways to
grow their own vegetables on rooftops. This practice is especially beneficial
(2) ______ (for / to / with) communities that lack access to fresh grocery
stores. (3) ______ (A / An / The) innovative project in New York City has
inspired other metropolises. As a result, (4) ______ (a / the / an) project has
received significant funding from environmental groups.
Answers: 1. for
| 2. for | 3. An | 4. the
Set 3
Passage:
Companies often struggle to retain talented employees.
High turnover usually results (1) ______ (from / in / by) poor management and a
lack of career progression. To solve this, businesses should invest more (2)
______ (on / for / in) professional development programs for their staff. (3)
______ (A / The / An) excellent example of this is Google's employee training
initiatives. However, implementing (4) ______ (a / the / an) same strategies
may not work for every industry.
Answers: 1. from
| 2. in | 3. An | 4. the
Set 4
Passage:
Renewable energy technologies have advanced rapidly
over the last decade. Solar power, for instance, is very different (1) ______
(than / from / to) traditional coal-based energy. Many homeowners are now
interested (2) ______ (for / in / on) installing solar panels to reduce their
electricity bills. (3) ______ (A / An / The) recent drop in solar panel prices
has accelerated this trend. Consequently, (4) ______ (an / a / the) demand for
qualified solar installers has increased dramatically.
Answers: 1. from
| 2. in | 3. A | 4. the
Set 5
Passage:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the
healthcare industry. AI algorithms are now capable of diagnosing diseases based
(1) ______ (in / on / at) medical imaging data. However, doctors must remain
responsible (2) ______ (for / about / with) the final treatment decisions. (3)
______ (A / An / The) important ethical debate has emerged regarding patient
privacy. Moving forward, (4) ______ (the / a / an) debate will likely shape
future government regulations on AI.
Answers: 1. on
| 2. for | 3. An | 4. the
Set 6
Passage:
A healthy diet consists (1) ______ (in / of / by) a
variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Many people are confused (2)
______ (with / about / at) which foods actually contain high levels of sugar.
(3) ______ (A / An / The) new food labeling system was introduced last year to
help consumers. Unfortunately, (4) ______ (an / a / the) system has not been
widely adopted by all manufacturers yet.
Answers: 1. of
| 2. about | 3. A | 4. the
Set 7
Passage:
Public speaking is a skill that many professionals
worry (1) ______ (for / about / of). Interestingly, being good (2) ______ (for
/ at / in) communication often leads to faster career promotions. (3) ______
(An / A / The) well-known survey revealed that 70% of employees fear presenting
to large groups. However, (4) ______ (a / the / an) survey also showed that
regular practice significantly reduces this anxiety over time.
Answers: 1. about
| 2. at | 3. A | 4. the
Set 8
Passage:
Global tourism has a massive impact on local
economies. Developing nations often depend heavily (1) ______ (to / on / for)
international visitors for their revenue. Unfortunately, mass tourism can also
lead (2) ______ (for / to / with) environmental degradation in fragile
ecosystems. (3) ______ (An / A / The) eco-tourism initiative was launched in
Costa Rica to tackle this. Since its launch, (4) ______ (the / an / a)
initiative has successfully protected several rainforest areas while still
attracting tourists.
Answers: 1. on
| 2. to | 3. An | 4. the
Set 9
Passage:
Online education is very similar (1) ______ (with / to
/ from) traditional classroom learning in terms of curriculum, but different in
delivery. Students must be disciplined enough to pay attention (2) ______ (at /
for / to) recorded video lectures without getting distracted. (3) ______ (A /
An / The) unexpected challenge of online learning is maintaining student
engagement. To address this, (4) ______ (a / the / an) professors at leading
universities are now using interactive quizzes during their live streams.
Answers: 1. to
| 2. to | 3. An | 4. the
Set 10
Passage:
Financial literacy is something every adult should be
familiar (1) ______ (about / with / to). Many people end up paying high fees
simply because they are not aware (2) ______ (for / of / about) the hidden
costs in their bank contracts. (3) ______ (A / An / The) national campaign was
organized last month to educate the public about savings. According to the
organizers, (4) ______ (an / a / the) campaign reached over five million people
through social media.
Answers:
1. with | 2. of | 3. A | 4. the
Advanced Practice Sets: Verb/Adjective + Preposition Pairs and
Articles
Below
are the 15 additional advanced practice sets (Sets 11–25),
followed by the Bonus Set 26 and
the Final Pro-Tip for PTE Fill in the Blanks, kept in
the same format.
Set
11
Passage:
The
modern workplace relies heavily (1) ______ (on / for / to) effective teamwork
to achieve company goals. Managers often complain (2) ______ (about / for / of)
a lack of communication between different departments. (3) ______ (A / An /
The) innovative solution was proposed during the last board meeting. Since
then, (4) ______ (an / a / the) solution has been tested in three branches with
promising results.
Answers: 1. on
| 2. about | 3. An
| 4. the
Set
12
Passage:
Historically,
economic recessions have resulted (1) ______ (to / from / in) a combination of
market crashes and consumer panic. Politicians are frequently blamed (2) ______
(about / for / with) the slow recovery periods that follow. (3) ______ (A / The
/ An) famous economist argued that government spending is the best cure.
However, implementing (4) ______ (a / the / an) economist’s exact
recommendations often proves politically difficult.
Answers: 1. from
| 2. for | 3. A
| 4. the
Set
13
Passage:
Social
media influencers have a huge impact on young consumers. Many teenagers look up
(1) ______ (at / to / for) these influencers as role models, often imitating
their lifestyles. However, parents are growing increasingly worried (2) ______
(with / of / about) the unrealistic beauty standards being promoted. (3) ______
(A / An / The) recent survey showed that 60% of teens feel inadequate after
scrolling through Instagram. Surprisingly, (4) ______ (an / the / a) survey
also found that most teens are aware of this negative effect but cannot stop
the habit.
Answers: 1. to
| 2. about | 3. A
| 4. the
Set
14
Passage:
Effective
leadership is not just about giving orders. A good leader must be sensitive (1)
______ (to / for / with) the needs of their team members. Furthermore, they
must be prepared to deal (2) ______ (about / with / for) conflicts as soon as
they arise. (3) ______ (An / A / The) excellent training program was developed
at Harvard to teach these soft skills. Currently, (4) ______ (the / a / an)
program is being rolled out to multinational corporations worldwide.
Answers: 1. to
| 2. with | 3. An
| 4. the
Set
15
Passage:
Obesity
rates have soared in developed countries over the past thirty years. This
health crisis is largely attributable (1) ______ (to / for / on) the
overconsumption of processed foods. Many governments have tried to cope (2)
______ (to / with / for) this issue by taxing sugary drinks. (3) ______ (A / An
/ The) controversial tax was introduced in Mexico a few years ago. According to
health officials, (4) ______ (an / a / the) tax has reduced soda purchases by
nearly 10%.
Answers: 1. to
| 2. with | 3. A
| 4. the
Set
16
Passage:
Space
exploration is often criticized for its enormous cost. Detractors argue that
the money spent on Mars rovers could be better spent (1) ______ (for / on / to)
solving poverty at home. However, scientists are deeply committed (2) ______
(for / to / in) their research, believing it will benefit future generations.
(3) ______ (An / A / The) historic moon landing in 1969 inspired millions of
children to study science. Even today, (4) ______ (a / the / an) impact of that
single event is still felt in STEM classrooms around the globe.
Answers: 1. on
| 2. to | 3. The
| 4. the
Set
17
Passage:
Learning
a new language requires more than just memorizing vocabulary. Adult learners
often struggle (1) ______ (for / with / about) pronunciation, especially if the
sounds do not exist in their native tongue. Nevertheless, they should not be
discouraged (2) ______ (by / for / of) their initial failures. (3) ______ (A /
An / The) practical strategy is to listen to podcasts in the target language
daily. If learners follow (4) ______ (a / the / an) strategy consistently, they
usually see rapid improvement within months.
Answers: 1. with
| 2. by | 3. A
| 4. the
Set
18
Passage:
Alternative
medicine, such as acupuncture and herbal remedies, is gaining acceptance in
Western countries. Many patients are turning (1) ______ (to / for / on) these
treatments because conventional medicine has failed them. However, medical
professionals warn (2) ______ (about / for / of) the potential dangers of
unregulated supplements. (3) ______ (A / An / The) alarming report was
published by the World Health Organization last year. In response, (4) ______
(an / a / the) report has prompted several nations to tighten their health
regulations.
Answers: 1. to
| 2. about / of (both are
acceptable, but "about" is more common in modern English)
| 3. An | 4. the
Set
19
Passage:
Many
graduates discover that their university degrees do not automatically qualify
them (1) ______ (to / for / with) high-paying jobs. Employers are usually more
interested (2) ______ (on / for / in) relevant work experience rather than
academic grades. (3) ______ (An / A / The) unpaid internship is often the only
way to gain this experience. Unfortunately, (4) ______ (the / an / a)
internship is a luxury that many lower-income students simply cannot afford.
Answers: 1. for
| 2. in | 3. An
| 4. the
Set
20
Passage:
Virtual
reality (VR) technology is no longer limited to gaming. Architects now use VR
to present their designs (1) ______ (for / to / with) clients before any
physical construction begins. This process protects them (2) ______ (from /
about / of) making costly design errors later on. (3) ______ (A / An / The)
major construction firm in Dubai recently adopted this technology. Since
adopting it, (4) ______ (an / a / the) firm has reduced its project revision
costs by 30%.
Answers: 1. to
| 2. from | 3. A
| 4. the
Set
21
Passage:
Remote
work has changed how employees interact with each other. Many workers complain
(1) ______ (for / about / of) feeling isolated when they are not physically
present in an office. Managers, on the other hand, are concerned (2) ______
(with / about / for) maintaining team cohesion across time zones. (3) ______
(An / A / The) interesting study from Stanford University found that
productivity actually increases at home. However, (4) ______ (a / an / the) study
warned that this productivity boost often comes at the cost of longer working
hours.
Answers: 1. about
| 2. about | 3. An
| 4. the
Set
22
Passage:
Water
scarcity is a pressing issue that affects nearly every continent. Agricultural
practices are the primary reason that many regions suffer (1) ______ (by / from
/ for) severe droughts. Experts agree that we must shift (2) ______ (from / to
/ for) water-intensive crops to more sustainable alternatives. (3) ______ (A /
The / An) pioneering technique called drip irrigation has shown great promise.
To implement (4) ______ (a / the / an) technique effectively, however,
governments must subsidize the high initial equipment costs.
Answers: 1. from
| 2. from | 3. The
| 4. the
Set
23
Passage:
Customer
satisfaction is directly linked to a company's profitability. Dissatisfied
customers are likely to switch (1) ______ (to / with / for) competitors without
any prior warning. Therefore, businesses must focus (2) ______ (on / at / for)
improving their after-sales support services. (3) ______ (A / An / The) global
survey of 5,000 consumers revealed that fast response times are the top
priority. Interestingly, (4) ______ (an / a / the) survey participants ranked
price as only the third most important factor.
Answers: 1. to
| 2. on | 3. A
| 4. the
Set
24
Passage:
Genetically
modified (GM) foods remain a highly debated topic. Many environmentalists
object strongly (1) ______ (against / to / for) the widespread cultivation of
GM crops. Conversely, large agricultural corporations argue (2) ______ (for /
about / in) the necessity of GM foods to feed a growing global population. (3)
______ (An / A / The) recent decision by the European Union to relax its
regulations has angered activists. As a result, (4) ______ (the / an / a)
activists are now planning mass protests across several member states.
Answers: 1. to
| 2. for | 3. A
| 4. the
Set
25
Passage:
Mindfulness
meditation has been scientifically proven to reduce stress. Individuals who
engage (1) ______ (in / with / on) daily meditation often report better sleep
quality. However, beginners often ask (2) ______ (for / about / after) guidance
on how to start their practice. (3) ______ (A / An / The) excellent mobile
application offers free guided meditations for novices. According to the
developers, (4) ______ (an / a / the) application has been downloaded over ten
million times worldwide.
Answers: 1. in
| 2. for | 3. An
| 4. the
Extra Challenge: Tricky Pronouns — Set 26
Bonus set to teach you that articles come before adjectives too!
Passage:
Artificial
intelligence is rapidly replacing routine administrative tasks. Many workers
are afraid (1) ______ (of / from / about) losing their jobs to automation.
However, history shows that technological revolutions usually result (2) ______
(to / in / from) the creation of entirely new job categories. (3) ______ (An /
A / The) optimistic report from the World Economic Forum predicts that AI will
create 97 million new jobs by 2025. Despite this, (4) ______ (an / the / a)
report cautions that most of these new roles will require advanced digital
skills, leaving low-skilled workers vulnerable.
Answers: 1. of
| 2. in | 3. An
| 4. the
Final Pro-Tip for PTE "Fill in the Blanks"
When
you are stuck between two prepositions (e.g., argue
for vs. argue about), look at
the noun that comes after the
blank.
- If the noun is a positive
goal (e.g., change,
justice, funding) → use "for".
- If the noun is a topic
(e.g., politics, money, the decision)
→ use "about".
- This trick works for care/worry/talk as well!
10 More Tough Practice Sets: Verb/Adjective + Preposition Pairs
and Articles
These
sets are designed to push your skills further by including:
1.
Separated
pairs: The verb/adjective and its preposition are
sometimes separated by other words.
2.
Tricky
article choices: The article may come before an
adjective, such as an unusual event, and
you must choose a/an according to
the sound of the immediate next word.
3.
Multiple
valid prepositions: Some verbs take different
prepositions depending on the meaning, such as result
in vs. result from,
so you must read the entire sentence carefully.
Set
27
Passage:
The
rise of e-commerce has profoundly altered consumer behavior. Traditional
brick-and-mortar stores are now competing fiercely (1) ______ (against / for /
with) online giants like Amazon for market share. To survive, they must adapt
quickly to changing trends and cater (2) ______ (for / to / with) younger,
tech-savvy demographics. (3) ______ (A / An / The) unprecedented shift in
shopping habits was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, many analysts
believe that (4) ______ (a / the / an) shift is permanent and will define
retail for the next decade.
Answers: 1. with
| 2. to | 3. An
| 4. the
Set
28
Passage:
Neuroscience
has made remarkable progress in understanding how memories are formed.
Short-term memories are converted into long-term ones during deep sleep, a
process that depends heavily (1) ______ (of / on / for) specific brain wave
patterns. Patients suffering (2) ______ (by / of / from) insomnia often
struggle with memory retention as a result. (3) ______ (A / An / The)
groundbreaking experiment at MIT successfully manipulated these brain waves in
mice. Following (4) ______ (an / the / a) experiment, the mice demonstrated
significantly improved recall abilities.
Answers: 1. on
| 2. from | 3. A
| 4. the
Set
29
Passage:
Global
supply chains remain extremely fragile in the face of geopolitical tensions.
Many multinational corporations are now looking (1) ______ (after / for / into)
alternative suppliers in Southeast Asia to reduce their reliance on a single
region. These companies are aware (2) ______ (about / of / for) the risks
involved in concentrating production in one country. (3) ______ (A / An / The)
recent disruption in the Suez Canal highlighted these vulnerabilities
perfectly. Since that incident, (4) ______ (an / a / the) urgency to diversify
supply routes has become a boardroom priority.
Answers: 1. into
(looking for = searching;
looking into =
investigating/considering) | 2. of
| 3. A | 4. the
Set
30
Passage:
Academic
integrity is a cornerstone of higher education. Universities are extremely
strict (1) ______ (about / with / for) plagiarism and often expel students who
violate their policies. However, many students are unfamiliar (2) ______ (to /
with / of) the proper citation methods required for their assignments. (3)
______ (An / A / The) comprehensive workshop on academic writing was offered to
all freshmen last semester. Unfortunately, attendance at (4) ______ (an / a /
the) workshop was disappointingly low, which has prompted the university to
make it mandatory this year.
Answers: 1. about
(strict about = regarding
rules; strict with = regarding
discipline of a person) | 2. with
| 3. A | 4. the
Set
31
Passage:
Cryptocurrency
has evolved from a niche interest into a mainstream financial asset. Many
institutional investors are now pouring billions (1) ______ (for / into / on)
Bitcoin and Ethereum despite their notorious volatility. Skeptics, however,
warn (2) ______ (about / of / against) the potential for a massive market
bubble that could wipe out retail investors. (3) ______ (A / An / The) alarming
statistic reveals that nearly 20% of all Bitcoins are currently held in digital
wallets that have been inactive for over a decade. If (4) ______ (an / a / the)
owners of those wallets suddenly decided to sell, the market could crash
instantly.
Answers: 1. into
| 2. against (warn against = advise not to do; warn about/of = inform of
a danger) | 3. An
| 4. the
Set
32
Passage:
Biodiversity
loss is occurring at an alarming rate, primarily due to human activity.
Conservationists have long appealed (1) ______ (for / to / on) governments to
enact stricter protections for endangered habitats. Their efforts, however, often
clash (2) ______ (against / with / to) the economic interests of large
agricultural corporations. (3) ______ (A / An / The) historic agreement was
signed at the recent UN Biodiversity Conference. Crucially, (4) ______ (an / a
/ the) agreement includes a legally binding target to protect 30% of the
world's land and oceans by 2030.
Answers: 1. to
(appeal to = request
someone; appeal for = request
something) | 2. with
| 3. A | 4. the
Set
33
Passage:
Artificial
intelligence excels at processing vast amounts of data, but it still struggles
(1) ______ (for / with / at) understanding human nuance and sarcasm.
Researchers are currently working (2) ______ (on / for / at) developing
algorithms that can detect emotional context in text-based communications. (3)
______ (A / An / The) unexpected breakthrough occurred when a team in Japan
used a completely new neural network architecture. Following (4) ______ (an /
the / a) breakthrough, the AI's accuracy in detecting sarcasm jumped from 65%
to 92%.
Answers: 1. with
(struggle with = difficulty
dealing with; struggle for = fight to
achieve) | 2. on
| 3. An | 4. the
Set
34
Passage:
Flexible
working arrangements have become the new norm in many industries. Employees
today are accustomed (1) ______ (to / with / for) hybrid schedules that blend
office and remote work. Surprisingly, this freedom has not led (2) ______ (for
/ to / in) a decline in productivity; in fact, output has often increased. (3)
______ (An / A / The) comprehensive meta-analysis of 1,200 companies confirmed
this positive trend. However, (4) ______ (an / a / the) analysis also noted
that managers require extensive retraining to effectively lead hybrid teams.
Answers: 1. to
(accustomed to)
| 2. to | 3. A
| 4. the
Set
35
Passage:
The
gig economy has provided millions of workers with unprecedented flexibility.
Many drivers and delivery personnel prefer to work independently rather than
commit (1) ______ (for / to / with) a single employer. However, these workers
are often excluded (2) ______ (of / from / to) basic benefits like health
insurance and paid leave. (3) ______ (A / An / The) landmark court case in
California sought to reclassify gig workers as employees. Since that ruling,
(4) ______ (an / a / the) debate over worker classification has intensified
across the entire nation.
Answers: 1. to
(commit to = dedicate
oneself; commit with is
incorrect) | 2. from
(excluded from)
| 3. A | 4. the
Set
36
Passage:
Nanotechnology
is poised to revolutionize the medical field. Scientists are experimenting (1)
______ (on / with / for) microscopic particles that can deliver drugs directly
to cancerous tumors. This targeted approach minimizes damage to healthy cells,
a significant improvement (2) ______ (to / on / for) traditional chemotherapy.
(3) ______ (An / A / The) promising clinical trial is currently underway at a
prestigious hospital in London. If successful, (4) ______ (an / a / the) trial
could pave the way for a new generation of cancer treatments with far fewer
side effects.
Answers: 1. with
(experiment with = test using
something; experiment on = test on
living subjects) | 2. on
(improvement on = making
something better than before; improvement to = adding to
something existing) | 3. A
| 4. the
Pro-Tips for These Tough Sets
1. Watch for "False Friends"
In
Set 29, looking for means "searching," but looking into means "investigating." The
context tells you the company is investigating alternatives, not simply searching
for them. These nuances can be tested in PTE.
2. Prepositions Can Change Meaning
Notice
in Set 31 that warn against is
stronger than warn about.
- warn against something = advise someone not to do something
- warn about something = inform someone about a danger
- warn of something = give a warning about a possible danger
If
several options are grammatically possible, choose the one that best matches
the meaning of the sentence.
3. Article Before Adjectives
In
Set 27, we use An before unprecedented:
An unprecedented shift
The
article is determined by the sound of the
immediate next word, not by the noun that comes later.
Compare:
- a useful idea
- an unusual idea
- a university
- an honest person
- a European country
- an MBA program
4. The "Second Mention" Rule
In most of these sets, the third
blank introduces a new topic using a/an,
while the fourth blank refers back to the same specific topic using the.
For example:
An
unprecedented shift occurred.
The shift changed consumer behavior.
This
is one of the most useful patterns to recognize quickly in PTE Reading &
Writing: Fill in the Blanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment