PTE Reading Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop)

PTE Reading Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop) 

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Practice Set 1: The Science of Sleep

Sleep is essential for both physical and mental health. During deep sleep, the body (1) ______ damaged tissues and strengthens the immune system. The brain also sorts and stores memories, a process that (2) ______ learning and problem-solving. People who consistently sleep fewer than six hours a night are more likely to (3) ______ from anxiety, depression, and heart disease. Experts recommend maintaining a regular bedtime routine to (4) ______ the quality of sleep.

Word Bank

repairs · suffer · enhances · improve · reduces · ignore · develops

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	repairs
(2)	enhances
(3)	suffer
(4)	improve

Explanations:

• (1) repairs – third-person singular verb; "the body repairs damaged tissues."
• (2) enhances – third-person singular verb; "a process that enhances learning."
• (3) suffer – "suffer from" is the correct collocation after "likely to."
• (4) improve – base verb after "to"; "improve the quality of sleep" is natural.

PTE Reading Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop) – 15 Practice Sets

Note: In each set, the answers are listed in random order — they do not follow the order of the blanks in the passage.

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Practice Set 1: The Importance of Forests

Forests cover roughly one-third of the Earth's land surface and (1) ______ millions of species. They also absorb carbon dioxide, which (2) ______ the pace of climate change. However, deforestation continues at an alarming rate, and many governments have failed to (3) ______ the damage. Scientists warn that unless urgent action is taken, entire ecosystems could (4) ______.

Word Bank:
shelter • slows • reverse • collapse • accelerate • expand • protect

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	collapse
(2)	shelter
(3)	slows
(4)	reverse

Explanations:

• (1) shelter – base verb; "forests shelter millions of species."
• (2) slows – third-person singular verb; "which slows the pace."
• (3) reverse – base verb after "to"; "reverse the damage."
• (4) collapse – base verb after "could"; "ecosystems could collapse."

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Practice Set 2: The Rise of Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular as governments (1) ______ stricter emissions rules. Unlike petrol cars, they produce no tailpipe pollution, which (2) ______ air quality in crowded cities. However, critics point out that the electricity used to charge them may still come from coal. Battery technology must therefore (3) ______ further before electric cars can truly (4) ______ traditional vehicles.

Word Bank:
impose • improves • advance • replace • weaken • delay • remove

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	replace
(2)	impose
(3)	improves
(4)	advance

Explanations:

• (1) impose – base verb; "governments impose stricter rules."
• (2) improves – third-person singular verb; "which improves air quality."
• (3) advance – base verb after "must"; "technology must advance."
• (4) replace – base verb after "can"; "replace traditional vehicles."

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Practice Set 3: Learning a Second Language

Learning a second language offers benefits that (1) ______ far beyond the classroom. Research shows that bilingual people tend to (2) ______ better on tests of memory and attention. Speaking another language also (3) ______ doors to employment in a globalised economy. For these reasons, many schools now (4) ______ language study from primary level.

Word Bank:
extend • perform • opens • require • limit • close • reduce

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	opens
(2)	extend
(3)	require
(4)	perform

Explanations:

• (1) extend – base verb; "benefits that extend far beyond."
• (2) perform – base verb after "tend to"; "perform better on tests."
• (3) opens – third-person singular verb; "opens doors to employment."
• (4) require – base verb; "schools require language study."

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Practice Set 4: The Problem of Food Waste

Roughly one-third of all food produced for human consumption is wasted each year. In wealthy countries, most waste (1) ______ in supermarkets and homes, where perfectly edible items are thrown away. In poorer nations, by contrast, food is lost because of poor storage, which (2) ______ farmers to sell quickly at low prices. Reducing waste could (3) ______ hunger and save money. Simple changes in shopping habits can (4) ______ a real difference.

Word Bank:
occurs • forces • ease • make • increases • worsen • prevent

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	make
(2)	occurs
(3)	forces
(4)	ease

Explanations:

• (1) occurs – third-person singular verb; "most waste occurs."
• (2) forces – third-person singular verb; "which forces farmers to sell."
• (3) ease – base verb after "could"; "ease hunger."
• (4) make – base verb after "can"; "make a real difference."

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Practice Set 5: The Benefits of Music Education

Music education is often the first subject to be cut when school budgets (1) ______. Yet research suggests that learning an instrument can (2) ______ academic performance in other subjects. Playing in an orchestra also teaches discipline and teamwork. Parents and teachers therefore argue that music should (3) ______ a central place in the curriculum. Cutting it, they warn, could (4) ______ students of a valuable opportunity.

Word Bank:
tighten • boost • occupy • deprive • expand • lose • provide

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	deprive
(2)	tighten
(3)	boost
(4)	occupy

Explanations:

• (1) tighten – base verb; "budgets tighten" is a common collocation.
• (2) boost – base verb after "can"; "boost academic performance."
• (3) occupy – base verb after "should"; "occupy a central place."
• (4) deprive – base verb after "could"; "deprive students of an opportunity."

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Practice Set 6: Urbanisation in Developing Countries

Across Asia and Africa, millions of people are moving from rural areas to cities in search of work. This rapid urbanisation can (1) ______ economic growth, but it also places enormous strain on housing and transport. Many cities lack the infrastructure to (2) ______ such large populations. As a result, informal settlements (3) ______ on the outskirts, often without clean water or sanitation. Planners must therefore (4) ______ investment in public services.

Word Bank:
stimulate • absorb • spring up • prioritise • slow • destroy • reduce

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	spring up
(2)	stimulate
(3)	prioritise
(4)	absorb

Explanations:

• (1) stimulate – base verb after "can"; "stimulate economic growth."
• (2) absorb – base verb after "to"; "absorb such large populations."
• (3) spring up – phrasal verb; "settlements spring up."
• (4) prioritise – base verb after "must"; "prioritise investment."

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Practice Set 7: The Ethics of Gene Editing

Recent advances in gene editing have (1) ______ scientists to alter human DNA with unprecedented precision. The technology could (2) ______ genetic diseases before a child is born. However, many people are uneasy about the prospect of "designer babies." They argue that editing embryos for non-medical reasons would (3) ______ serious ethical problems. International guidelines are needed to (4) ______ how the technology is used.

Word Bank:
enabled • prevent • raise • govern • caused • allow • ignore

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	govern
(2)	enabled
(3)	prevent
(4)	raise

Explanations:

• (1) enabled – past participle after "have"; "have enabled scientists."
• (2) prevent – base verb after "could"; "prevent genetic diseases."
• (3) raise – base verb after "would"; "raise serious problems."
• (4) govern – base verb after "to"; "govern how the technology is used."

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Practice Set 8: The Decline of Local Newspapers

Local newspapers have been (1) ______ by the rise of online news and social media. Advertising revenue, once their main source of income, has (2) ______ sharply. As a result, many towns no longer have a dedicated reporter covering council meetings or local courts. This loss matters because local journalism (3) ______ politicians accountable. Without it, democracy at the community level may (4) ______.

Word Bank:
undermined • fallen • holds • suffer • supported • risen • help

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	suffer
(2)	undermined
(3)	fallen
(4)	holds

Explanations:

• (1) undermined – past participle in passive; "have been undermined."
• (2) fallen – past participle after "has"; "has fallen sharply."
• (3) holds – third-person singular verb; "holds politicians accountable."
• (4) suffer – base verb after "may"; "democracy may suffer."

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Practice Set 9: Tourism and the Environment

Tourism brings valuable income to many developing regions, but it can also (1) ______ fragile ecosystems. Crowds of visitors may (2) ______ beaches, coral reefs, and ancient sites. Governments often face a difficult choice between protecting the environment and (3) ______ jobs. Some countries have introduced limits on visitor numbers in an attempt to (4) ______ the damage.

Word Bank:
damage • erode • creating • minimise • protect • destroying • increase

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	minimise
(2)	damage
(3)	erode
(4)	creating

Explanations:

• (1) damage – base verb after "can"; "damage fragile ecosystems."
• (2) erode – base verb after "may"; "erode beaches."
• (3) creating – gerund; parallel with "protecting"; "creating jobs."
• (4) minimise – base verb after "to"; "minimise the damage."

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Practice Set 10: The Psychology of Habits

Habits are formed through repetition, and they can be surprisingly difficult to (1) ______. Psychologists suggest that each habit consists of a cue, a routine, and a reward. To break a bad habit, it helps to (2) ______ the cue that triggers it. Replacing the routine with a healthier behaviour is often more effective than simply trying to (3) ______ it altogether. With patience and consistency, most people can (4) ______ lasting change.

Word Bank:
break • identify • remove • achieve • create • ignore • prevent

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	achieve
(2)	break
(3)	identify
(4)	remove

Explanations:

• (1) break – base verb after "to"; "break a habit."
• (2) identify – base verb after "to"; "identify the cue."
• (3) remove – base verb after "to"; "remove it altogether."
• (4) achieve – base verb after "can"; "achieve lasting change."

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Practice Set 11: The Future of Renewable Energy

Solar and wind power are now the cheapest sources of electricity in many parts of the world. Their rapid growth has (1) ______ the cost of renewable technology. However, because the sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow, storing energy remains a major (2) ______. Engineers are developing giant batteries that can (3) ______ surplus power for use at night. If these efforts succeed, fossil fuels could eventually be (4) ______ entirely.

Word Bank:
reduced • challenge • store • replaced • increased • ignore • destroy

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	replaced
(2)	reduced
(3)	challenge
(4)	store

Explanations:

• (1) reduced – past participle after "has"; "has reduced the cost."
• (2) challenge – noun after "major"; "a major challenge."
• (3) store – base verb after "can"; "store surplus power."
• (4) replaced – past participle in passive; "could be replaced."

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Practice Set 12: The Value of Public Libraries

Public libraries are sometimes dismissed as outdated in the digital age. In reality, they (1) ______ a vital service to communities. They provide free internet access, which helps job seekers and students who cannot (2) ______ a computer at home. Libraries also (3) ______ reading programmes for children, encouraging habits that last a lifetime. Far from becoming obsolete, they have (4) ______ to new technology and changing needs.

Word Bank:
offer • afford • run • adapted • remove • refuse • stopped

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	adapted
(2)	offer
(3)	afford
(4)	run

Explanations:

• (1) offer – base verb; "they offer a vital service."
• (2) afford – base verb after "cannot"; "afford a computer."
• (3) run – base verb; "run reading programmes."
• (4) adapted – past participle after "have"; "have adapted to new technology."

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Practice Set 13: Water Scarcity

Fresh water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource. Population growth and climate change have (1) ______ demand while reducing supply. In many arid regions, farmers are forced to (2) ______ crops with treated wastewater. Desalination plants can (3) ______ seawater into drinking water, but they consume enormous amounts of energy. Ultimately, the most effective solution may be to (4) ______ water use through better technology and education.

Word Bank:
increased • irrigate • convert • reduce • decreased • waste • expand

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	reduce
(2)	increased
(3)	irrigate
(4)	convert

Explanations:

• (1) increased – past participle after "have"; "have increased demand."
• (2) irrigate – base verb after "to"; "irrigate crops."
• (3) convert – base verb after "can"; "convert seawater."
• (4) reduce – base verb after "to"; "reduce water use."

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Practice Set 14: The Impact of Fast Fashion

Fast fashion has made trendy clothing affordable, but at a considerable cost to the planet. The industry (1) ______ huge quantities of water and produces toxic dyes that pollute rivers. Garments are often worn only a few times before being (2) ______. Consumers are being urged to buy less and choose better quality. Some brands have also (3) ______ to use recycled materials. These steps, however, must be (4) ______ by stronger government regulation.

Word Bank:
consumes • discarded • pledged • matched • saves • repaired • ignored

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	matched
(2)	consumes
(3)	discarded
(4)	pledged

Explanations:

• (1) consumes – third-person singular verb; "the industry consumes water."
• (2) discarded – past participle in passive; "before being discarded."
• (3) pledged – past participle after "have"; "have pledged to use."
• (4) matched – past participle in passive; "must be matched by regulation."

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Practice Set 15: The Role of Museums

Museums are no longer simply places where objects are stored and displayed. Modern museums (1) ______ to educate and inspire a wide public. Many now use interactive technology to (2) ______ visitors in new ways. They also play a role in preserving cultural heritage that might otherwise be (3) ______. To remain relevant, museums must (4) ______ to the changing expectations of their audiences.

Word Bank:
aim • engage • lost • adapt • refuse • found • ignore

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	adapt
(2)	aim
(3)	engage
(4)	lost

Explanations:

• (1) aim – base verb; "museums aim to educate."
• (2) engage – base verb after "to"; "engage visitors."
• (3) lost – past participle in passive; "might otherwise be lost."
• (4) adapt – base verb after "must"; "adapt to changing expectations."

 

PTE Reading Fill in the Blanks (Drag and Drop) – 20 Practice Sets

Note: In each set, the answers are listed in random order — they do not follow the order of the blanks in the passage.

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Practice Set 1: The Science of Ageing

Ageing is a natural process that affects every living organism, but scientists are only now beginning to understand its underlying mechanisms. As cells divide repeatedly over time, they gradually (1) _______ their ability to repair damage, and errors accumulate in their DNA. This cellular decline is thought to (2) _______ many of the diseases associated with old age, including dementia and certain cancers. Researchers have identified several genes that appear to (3) _______ the rate at which we age, and some experiments in animals have managed to extend lifespan significantly. Whether such findings can be (4) _______ to humans, however, remains an open question.

Word Bank:
lose • underlie • influence • applied • improve • prevent • speed • translated

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	applied
(2)	lose
(3)	underlie
(4)	influence

Explanations:

• (1) lose – base verb; "they gradually lose their ability to repair damage."
• (2) underlie – base verb; "underlie many of the diseases."
• (3) influence – base verb after "appear to"; "influence the rate at which we age."
• (4) applied – past participle in passive; "can be applied to humans."

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Practice Set 2: The Global Water Crisis

Access to clean drinking water is something that many people in developed countries take for granted, yet billions of people around the world still lack this basic necessity. Rapid population growth has (1) _______ the demand for fresh water, while climate change has altered rainfall patterns and caused severe droughts in many regions. In some areas, groundwater is being pumped out faster than it can be (2) _______, leading to permanently depleted aquifers. International organisations warn that unless governments (3) _______ water use more effectively, conflicts over this precious resource may become increasingly common. Investment in desalination and water recycling could help to (4) _______ the pressure, but these technologies remain expensive.

Word Bank:
increased • replenished • manage • relieve • reduced • ignore • create • worsen

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	manage
(2)	increased
(3)	replenished
(4)	relieve

Explanations:

• (1) increased – past participle after "has"; "has increased the demand."
• (2) replenished – past participle in passive; "before it can be replenished."
• (3) manage – base verb; "unless governments manage water use."
• (4) relieve – base verb after "to"; "relieve the pressure."

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Practice Set 3: The Rise of Online Education

Online education has grown dramatically over the past decade, and the COVID-19 pandemic (1) _______ its adoption even further. Millions of students now attend virtual classes, submit assignments digitally, and interact with teachers through video conferencing platforms. Supporters argue that online learning can (2) _______ education to people who live in remote areas or have disabilities that make attending traditional schools difficult. Critics, however, warn that it may (3) _______ social skills and reduce the personal connection between students and teachers. Ultimately, the most effective approach may be a blended model that (4) _______ the best features of both online and face-to-face instruction.

Word Bank:
accelerated • extend • weaken • combines • reduced • improve • separate • delay

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	weaken
(2)	accelerated
(3)	extend
(4)	combines

Explanations:

• (1) accelerated – past tense verb; "the pandemic accelerated its adoption."
• (2) extend – base verb after "can"; "extend education to people."
• (3) weaken – base verb after "may"; "weaken social skills."
• (4) combines – third-person singular verb; "a blended model that combines."

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Practice Set 4: The Impact of Social Media on Society

Social media platforms have transformed the way people communicate, share information, and form relationships. On the positive side, they have (1) _______ activists to organise protests and raise awareness of important issues within hours. However, these platforms have also been criticised for (2) _______ the spread of misinformation and for creating echo chambers in which users only encounter opinions they already hold. Many psychologists are concerned that excessive use may (3) _______ mental health, particularly among teenagers. Regulators around the world are now considering laws that would (4) _______ companies to take greater responsibility for the content on their platforms.

Word Bank:
enabled • facilitating • harm • oblige • prevented • improve • encourage • allow

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	oblige
(2)	enabled
(3)	facilitating
(4)	harm

Explanations:

• (1) enabled – past participle after "have"; "have enabled activists to organise."
• (2) facilitating – gerund after "for"; "criticised for facilitating the spread."
• (3) harm – base verb after "may"; "harm mental health."
• (4) oblige – base verb after "would"; "oblige companies to take responsibility."

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Practice Set 5: The Future of Work and Automation

Automation and artificial intelligence are reshaping the labour market at an unprecedented pace. While these technologies can (1) _______ productivity and reduce the cost of goods, they also threaten to displace millions of workers in sectors such as manufacturing, retail, and transport. Economists argue that governments must (2) _______ in education and retraining programmes to help workers adapt. Some have even proposed a universal basic income to (3) _______ those who lose their jobs to machines. The challenge will be to ensure that the benefits of automation are widely (4) _______, rather than concentrated in the hands of a few.

Word Bank:
boost • invest • support • shared • reduce • distribute • harm • ignore

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	shared
(2)	boost
(3)	invest
(4)	support

Explanations:

• (1) boost – base verb after "can"; "boost productivity."
• (2) invest – base verb after "must"; "invest in education."
• (3) support – base verb after "to"; "support those who lose their jobs."
• (4) shared – past participle in passive; "widely shared."

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Practice Set 6: The Importance of Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the enormous variety of life on Earth, from microscopic bacteria to towering rainforest trees. This diversity is essential for the healthy functioning of ecosystems, as different species (1) _______ services that humans depend on, such as pollination, water purification, and climate regulation. Unfortunately, human activities are causing species to (2) _______ at a rate far faster than natural extinction. Habitat destruction, pollution, and overfishing are the main culprits. Scientists warn that unless we (3) _______ these trends, ecosystems may collapse, with devastating consequences for food production. Protecting biodiversity is therefore not merely an environmental concern but an economic and social (4) _______.

Word Bank:
provide • disappear • reverse • necessity • increase • protect • continue • priority

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	priority
(2)	provide
(3)	disappear
(4)	reverse

Explanations:

• (1) provide – base verb; "different species provide services."
• (2) disappear – base verb after "to"; "species to disappear."
• (3) reverse – base verb; "unless we reverse these trends."
• (4) priority – noun; "an economic and social priority."

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Practice Set 7: The History of the Internet

The internet began as a modest research project funded by the US military in the late 1960s. Its original purpose was to (1) _______ communication between computers at different universities, even if part of the network failed. Over the following decades, the development of the World Wide Web by Tim Berners-Lee (2) _______ the internet accessible to ordinary people. Today, more than five billion people use the internet for work, education, and entertainment. Yet this remarkable growth has also (3) _______ new challenges, including cybercrime, privacy violations, and the digital divide between rich and poor nations. Policymakers must now (4) _______ a balance between innovation and regulation.

Word Bank:
enable • made • created • strike • prevent • destroy • find • allow

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	created
(2)	enable
(3)	made
(4)	strike

Explanations:

• (1) enable – base verb after "to"; "to enable communication."
• (2) made – past tense verb; "made the internet accessible."
• (3) created – past participle after "has"; "has created new challenges."
• (4) strike – base verb after "must"; "strike a balance."

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Practice Set 8: Climate Change and Coastal Cities

Coastal cities around the world are facing a growing threat from rising sea levels. As global temperatures (1) _______, polar ice sheets are melting and ocean water is expanding, causing sea levels to rise steadily. Low-lying cities such as Miami, Jakarta, and Mumbai are particularly vulnerable to flooding, especially during storms. Some governments have begun to (2) _______ sea walls and other defences, but these measures are expensive and may only provide temporary protection. In the long term, many communities may be forced to (3) _______ to higher ground, a process known as managed retreat. Wealthy nations will need to (4) _______ poorer ones in adapting to these changes.

Word Bank:
rise • build • relocate • assist • fall • destroy • remain • ignore

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	assist
(2)	rise
(3)	build
(4)	relocate

Explanations:

• (1) rise – base verb; "as global temperatures rise."
• (2) build – base verb after "to"; "build sea walls."
• (3) relocate – base verb after "to"; "relocate to higher ground."
• (4) assist – base verb after "to"; "assist poorer ones."

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Practice Set 9: The Value of Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to analyse information objectively and form reasoned judgements. In an age of information overload, this skill has become more (1) _______ than ever. The internet provides access to vast amounts of knowledge, but it also exposes users to misinformation, propaganda, and fake news. Schools are therefore being encouraged to (2) _______ critical thinking skills from an early age, rather than simply requiring students to memorise facts. Employers, too, value graduates who can (3) _______ complex problems and question assumptions. Without these skills, individuals may become vulnerable to manipulation and may (4) _______ poor decisions.

Word Bank:
important • teach • solve • make • reduce • ignore • create • avoid

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	solve
(2)	important
(3)	teach
(4)	make

Explanations:

• (1) important – adjective after "more"; "more important than ever."
• (2) teach – base verb after "to"; "teach critical thinking skills."
• (3) solve – base verb after "can"; "solve complex problems."
• (4) make – base verb after "may"; "make poor decisions."

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Practice Set 10: The Global Obesity Epidemic

Obesity has become one of the most serious public health challenges of the twenty-first century. In many countries, the widespread availability of cheap, highly processed food has (1) _______ a dramatic rise in average body weight. Sedentary lifestyles, in which people spend hours sitting in front of screens, have (2) _______ the problem. Obesity increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers, placing enormous strain on health systems. Governments are being urged to (3) _______ sugary drinks, restrict advertising of junk food to children, and promote physical activity. Individuals, however, must also take responsibility for their own diets and (4) _______ regular exercise.

Word Bank:
caused • worsened • tax • maintain • reduced • improve • prevent • stop

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	maintain
(2)	caused
(3)	worsened
(4)	tax

Explanations:

• (1) caused – past participle after "has"; "has caused a dramatic rise."
• (2) worsened – past participle after "have"; "have worsened the problem."
• (3) tax – base verb after "to"; "tax sugary drinks."
• (4) maintain – base verb; "maintain regular exercise."

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Practice Set 11: The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to make decisions that affect people's lives, from approving loans to recommending medical treatments. While AI can (1) _______ efficiency and reduce human error, it also raises serious ethical concerns. Algorithms may (2) _______ existing biases if they are trained on biased data. Moreover, it is often difficult to explain how a complex AI system reached a particular decision, which makes accountability problematic. Regulators are therefore calling for greater transparency and for rules that would (3) _______ companies to explain their algorithms. Some experts even argue that certain applications of AI, such as autonomous weapons, should be (4) _______ altogether.

Word Bank:
improve • perpetuate • require • banned • reduce • allow • encourage • permit

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	banned
(2)	improve
(3)	perpetuate
(4)	require

Explanations:

• (1) improve – base verb after "can"; "improve efficiency."
• (2) perpetuate – base verb after "may"; "perpetuate existing biases."
• (3) require – base verb after "would"; "require companies to explain."
• (4) banned – past participle in passive; "should be banned."

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Practice Set 12: The Importance of Early Childhood Education

The first few years of a child's life are crucial for brain development. During this period, neural connections form at an astonishing rate, and the experiences a child has can (1) _______ their future learning and wellbeing. Research shows that children who attend high-quality early education programmes are more likely to (2) _______ at school and less likely to engage in criminal behaviour later in life. Despite this evidence, many governments still (3) _______ to invest adequately in preschool education. Experts argue that spending on early childhood is one of the most cost-effective investments a society can (4) _______.

Word Bank:
shape • succeed • fail • make • improve • neglect • refuse • create

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	make
(2)	shape
(3)	succeed
(4)	fail

Explanations:

• (1) shape – base verb after "can"; "shape their future learning."
• (2) succeed – base verb after "to"; "succeed at school."
• (3) fail – base verb; "governments fail to invest."
• (4) make – base verb after "can"; "an investment a society can make."

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Practice Set 13: The Problem of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotics have saved countless lives since their discovery, but their effectiveness is now under threat. The overuse of these drugs in medicine and agriculture has (1) _______ bacteria to evolve resistance, making once-treatable infections dangerous again. Each year, drug-resistant infections kill hundreds of thousands of people worldwide. Doctors are being urged to (2) _______ antibiotics only when absolutely necessary, and patients must be discouraged from demanding them for viral illnesses. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies have (3) _______ to develop new antibiotics because they are not very profitable. Without urgent action, we may (4) _______ a future in which common infections become deadly.

Word Bank:
allowed • prescribe • failed • face • prevented • encourage • avoid • cause

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	face
(2)	allowed
(3)	prescribe
(4)	failed

Explanations:

• (1) allowed – past participle after "has"; "has allowed bacteria to evolve."
• (2) prescribe – base verb after "to"; "prescribe antibiotics."
• (3) failed – past participle after "have"; "have failed to develop."
• (4) face – base verb after "may"; "face a future."

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Practice Set 14: The Rise of Renewable Energy in Developing Nations

Developing countries are increasingly turning to renewable energy to meet their growing electricity needs. Solar panels and wind turbines can (1) _______ power to remote villages that are not connected to the national grid, improving living standards and enabling economic activity. Unlike coal-fired power stations, renewables produce no air pollution, which can (2) _______ public health. However, the initial cost of installation remains high, and many nations lack the technical expertise to (3) _______ these systems. International aid and investment will be essential if developing countries are to (4) _______ their energy transitions successfully.

Word Bank:
bring • improve • maintain • complete • reduce • prevent • destroy • delay

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	complete
(2)	bring
(3)	improve
(4)	maintain

Explanations:

• (1) bring – base verb after "can"; "bring power to remote villages."
• (2) improve – base verb after "can"; "improve public health."
• (3) maintain – base verb after "to"; "maintain these systems."
• (4) complete – base verb; "complete their energy transitions."

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Practice Set 15: The Impact of Globalisation on Culture

Globalisation has connected economies and societies as never before, but its effects on culture are complex and contested. On one hand, the free flow of ideas, music, and art across borders can (1) _______ creativity and foster mutual understanding. On the other hand, the dominance of a few global media companies may (2) _______ local languages and traditions, as young people increasingly consume foreign content. Some countries have introduced quotas to (3) _______ domestic films and music. The challenge is to embrace the benefits of global exchange while (4) _______ cultural diversity.

Word Bank:
stimulate • erode • protect • preserving • destroy • ignore • enhance • reduce

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	preserving
(2)	stimulate
(3)	erode
(4)	protect

Explanations:

• (1) stimulate – base verb after "can"; "stimulate creativity."
• (2) erode – base verb after "may"; "erode local languages."
• (3) protect – base verb after "to"; "protect domestic films."
• (4) preserving – gerund; "while preserving cultural diversity."

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Practice Set 16: The Challenges of Ageing Populations

Many developed countries are facing a demographic crisis as their populations age. Falling birth rates and longer life expectancy mean that the proportion of elderly people is (1) _______ rapidly. This shift places enormous pressure on pension systems and healthcare services, as fewer working-age people must support a growing number of retirees. Some governments have responded by (2) _______ the retirement age, while others encourage immigration to fill labour shortages. However, such measures are often politically unpopular. Economists warn that unless countries (3) _______ productivity and invest in automation, they may struggle to (4) _______ current living standards.

Word Bank:
rising • raising • increase • maintain • falling • reduce • improve • lower

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	maintain
(2)	rising
(3)	raising
(4)	increase

Explanations:

• (1) rising – present participle; "is rising rapidly."
• (2) raising – gerund after "by"; "by raising the retirement age."
• (3) increase – base verb; "unless countries increase productivity."
• (4) maintain – base verb after "to"; "maintain current living standards."

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Practice Set 17: The Importance of Sleep for Students

Sleep is often the first thing students sacrifice when exams approach, yet this strategy may be counterproductive. During sleep, the brain consolidates memories and processes what has been learned during the day. Students who consistently (1) _______ fewer than seven hours a night are more likely to struggle with concentration and to (2) _______ poor academic results. Caffeine and late-night screen use can (3) _______ the problem by disrupting natural sleep cycles. Schools and universities should therefore educate students about sleep hygiene and (4) _______ later start times for classes.

Word Bank:
get • achieve • worsen • consider • improve • ignore • sleep • avoid

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	worsen
(2)	get
(3)	achieve
(4)	consider

Explanations:

• (1) get – base verb; "students who get fewer than seven hours."
• (2) achieve – base verb after "to"; "achieve poor academic results."
• (3) worsen – base verb after "can"; "worsen the problem."
• (4) consider – base verb; "consider later start times."

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Practice Set 18: The Problem of Plastic Pollution in the Oceans

Plastic pollution has become one of the most visible environmental problems of our time. Each year, millions of tonnes of plastic waste (1) _______ into the ocean, where it breaks down into tiny particles known as microplastics. These particles are consumed by fish and other marine animals, and they can eventually (2) _______ the human food chain. Cleaning up the oceans is extremely difficult and expensive, so most experts agree that the priority should be to (3) _______ plastic production and improve recycling systems. Consumers can also help by (4) _______ single-use items such as plastic bags and straws.

Word Bank:
enter • contaminate • reduce • avoiding • clean • improve • increase • protect

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	avoiding
(2)	enter
(3)	contaminate
(4)	reduce

Explanations:

• (1) enter – base verb; "millions of tonnes of plastic waste enter the ocean."
• (2) contaminate – base verb after "can"; "contaminate the human food chain."
• (3) reduce – base verb after "to"; "reduce plastic production."
• (4) avoiding – gerund after "by"; "by avoiding single-use items."

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Practice Set 19: The Value of Teamwork in the Workplace

Effective teamwork is one of the strongest predictors of success in modern organisations. When people collaborate, they can (1) _______ a wider range of skills and perspectives than any individual could offer alone. Diverse teams are particularly good at solving complex problems because members can (2) _______ each other's assumptions and suggest alternative approaches. However, teamwork does not happen automatically; it requires clear communication, mutual respect, and strong leadership. Managers must therefore (3) _______ an environment in which employees feel safe to share ideas. Without trust, even talented teams may (4) _______.

Word Bank:
combine • challenge • create • fail • succeed • discourage • destroy • ignore

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	fail
(2)	combine
(3)	challenge
(4)	create

Explanations:

• (1) combine – base verb after "can"; "combine a wider range of skills."
• (2) challenge – base verb after "can"; "challenge each other's assumptions."
• (3) create – base verb after "must"; "create an environment."
• (4) fail – base verb after "may"; "may fail."

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Practice Set 20: The Future of Space Exploration

Humanity's exploration of space has produced enormous scientific and technological benefits. Satellites now (1) _______ communication, navigation, and weather forecasting, while space-based telescopes have revealed the origins of the universe. In the coming decades, governments and private companies hope to (2) _______ humans to Mars and to establish permanent bases on the Moon. Such missions could (3) _______ new industries and inspire a generation of scientists. However, critics argue that the vast sums spent on space travel could be better (4) _______ on solving problems such as poverty and climate change here on Earth.

Word Bank:
enable • send • create • spent • prevent • invest • destroy • use

 

 

Blank	Answer
(1)	spent
(2)	enable
(3)	send
(4)	create

Explanations:

• (1) enable – base verb; "satellites enable communication."
• (2) send – base verb after "to"; "send humans to Mars."
• (3) create – base verb after "could"; "create new industries."
• (4) spent – past participle in passive; "could be better spent."