PTE Short Answer Questions 

Set 1 – General Knowledge

1. What is the primary function of red blood cells in the human body?

• A) To fight infection
• B) To transport oxygen
• C) To digest food
• D) To regulate body temperature

2. Which planet is known as the "Red Planet"?

• A) Venus
• B) Jupiter
• C) Mars
• D) Mercury

3. What gas do plants primarily absorb during photosynthesis?

• A) Oxygen
• B) Nitrogen
• C) Carbon dioxide
• D) Hydrogen

4. How many continents are there on Earth?

• A) Five
• B) Six
• C) Seven
• D) Eight

5. What is the chemical symbol for water?

• A) CO₂
• B) H₂O
• C) NaCl
• D) O₂

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Set 2 – Science & Nature

6. Which organ is responsible for pumping blood around the body?

• A) Liver
• B) Lungs
• C) Heart
• D) Kidney

7. What is the largest mammal on Earth?

• A) African elephant
• B) Blue whale
• C) Giraffe
• D) Polar bear

8. Which process do plants use to make food from sunlight?

• A) Respiration
• B) Transpiration
• C) Photosynthesis
• D) Fermentation

9. What force keeps planets in orbit around the Sun?

• A) Magnetism
• B) Friction
• C) Gravity
• D) Electricity

10. What is the boiling point of water at sea level in Celsius?

• A) 50°C
• B) 90°C
• C) 100°C
• D) 120°C

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Set 3 – Geography & Environment

11. Which is the longest river in the world?

• A) Amazon
• B) Nile
• C) Yangtze
• D) Mississippi

12. What is the main cause of global warming?

• A) Volcanic eruptions
• B) Deforestation only
• C) Greenhouse gas emissions
• D) Ocean currents

13. Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?

• A) Troposphere
• B) Stratosphere
• C) Mesosphere
• D) Thermosphere

14. What is the capital city of Australia?

• A) Sydney
• B) Melbourne
• C) Canberra
• D) Perth

15. Which renewable energy source relies on wind?

• A) Solar panels
• B) Wind turbines
• C) Hydroelectric dams
• D) Geothermal plants

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Set 4 – History & Society

16. Who wrote the play "Romeo and Juliet"?

• A) Charles Dickens
• B) William Shakespeare
• C) Jane Austen
• D) Mark Twain

17. Which ancient civilization built the pyramids at Giza?

• A) Romans
• B) Greeks
• C) Egyptians
• D) Persians

18. What does "democracy" literally mean?

• A) Rule by kings
• B) Rule by the people
• C) Rule by the wealthy
• D) Rule by the military

19. In which year did World War II end?

• A) 1918
• B) 1939
• C) 1945
• D) 1950

20. What is the primary purpose of the United Nations?

• A) To regulate global trade
• B) To maintain international peace and security
• C) To standardise currencies
• D) To manage global sports

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Set 5 – Language, Math & Technology

21. What is the plural form of "crisis"?

• A) Crisises
• B) Crises
• C) Crisis
• D) Crisi

22. Which of the following is a prime number?

• A) 9
• B) 15
• C) 17
• D) 21

23. What does "CPU" stand for in computing?

• A) Central Processing Unit
• B) Computer Power Unit
• C) Central Program Utility
• D) Core Processing Usage

24. What is 25% of 200?

• A) 25
• B) 40
• C) 50
• D) 75

25. Which word is a synonym for "abundant"?

• A) Scarce
• B) Plentiful
• C) Limited
• D) Rare

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Set 6 – Academic & Abstract

26. What is the main purpose of a thesis statement in an essay?

• A) To summarise the conclusion
• B) To present the central argument
• C) To list references
• D) To provide background statistics

27. Which term describes a word with the opposite meaning to another?

• A) Synonym
• B) Antonym
• C) Homonym
• D) Acronym

28. What is the primary role of an enzyme in biological reactions?

• A) To provide energy
• B) To act as a catalyst
• C) To store genetic information
• D) To transport oxygen

29. Which economic term describes a general rise in prices over time?

• A) Deflation
• B) Recession
• C) Inflation
• D) Depreciation

30. What does the prefix "bio-" mean in words like "biology" and "biography"?

• A) Earth
• B) Life
• C) Water
• D) Mind

 

PTE Short Answer Questions – Answers with Short Reasons

Set 1 – General Knowledge

1. Answer: B) Transport oxygen
Reason: Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to body tissues.

2. Answer: C) Mars
Reason: Mars is called the Red Planet because of iron oxide on its surface.

3. Answer: C) Carbon dioxide
Reason: Plants absorb carbon dioxide during photosynthesis to make food.

4. Answer: C) Seven
Reason: There are seven commonly recognized continents.

5. Answer: B) H₂O
Reason: A water molecule contains two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

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Set 2 – Science & Nature

6. Answer: C) Heart
Reason: The heart pumps blood throughout the body.

7. Answer: B) Blue whale
Reason: The blue whale is the largest known mammal.

8. Answer: C) Photosynthesis
Reason: Plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce food through photosynthesis.

9. Answer: C) Gravity
Reason: Gravity keeps planets moving in their orbits around the Sun.

10. Answer: C) 100°C
Reason: Water boils at 100°C at standard atmospheric pressure at sea level.

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Set 3 – Geography & Environment

11. Answer: B) Nile
Reason: The Nile is traditionally recognized as the world's longest river, although the Nile–Amazon comparison is debated.

12. Answer: C) Greenhouse gas emissions
Reason: Human-produced greenhouse gases are the main cause of current global warming.

13. Answer: B) Stratosphere
Reason: The ozone layer is mainly located in the stratosphere.

14. Answer: C) Canberra
Reason: Canberra is the capital city of Australia.

15. Answer: B) Wind turbines
Reason: Wind turbines convert the energy of moving air into electricity.

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Set 4 – History & Society

16. Answer: B) Shakespeare
Reason: William Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet.

17. Answer: C) Egyptians
Reason: The pyramids at Giza were built by ancient Egyptians.

18. Answer: B) People
Reason: Democracy comes from Greek words meaning rule by the people.

19. Answer: C) 1945
Reason: World War II ended in 1945.

20. Answer: B) Maintain international peace and security
Reason: One of the UN's primary purposes is maintaining international peace and security.

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Set 5 – Language, Math & Technology

21. Answer: B) Crises
Reason: Crises is the correct plural form of crisis.

22. Answer: C) 17
Reason: 17 is divisible only by 1 and itself, so it is a prime number.

23. Answer: A) Central Processing Unit
Reason: CPU stands for Central Processing Unit, the main processor of a computer.

24. Answer: C) 50
Reason: 25% of 200 = 200 × 0.25 = 50.

25. Answer: B) Plentiful
Reason: Plentiful means existing in large quantities, which is similar to abundant.

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Set 6 – Academic & Abstract

26. Answer: B) Central argument
Reason: A thesis statement presents the main argument or position of an academic text.

27. Answer: B) Antonym
Reason: An antonym is a word with the opposite meaning.

28. Answer: B) Catalyst
Reason: An enzyme is a biological catalyst that speeds up chemical reactions.

29. Answer: C) Inflation
Reason: Inflation refers to a general increase in the prices of goods and services.

30. Answer: B) Life
Reason: The prefix bio- comes from Greek bios, meaning “life.”

 

PTE Short Answer Questions 

Set 7 – General Knowledge & Everyday Science

1. What is the main function of the lungs?

A) To filter blood

B) To exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide

C) To produce hormones

D) To digest nutrients

2. Which vitamin is primarily obtained from sunlight?

A) Vitamin A

B) Vitamin B12

C) Vitamin C

D) Vitamin D

3. What instrument is used to measure temperature?

A) Barometer

B) Thermometer

C) Hygrometer

D) Anemometer

4. Which animal is known as the "ship of the desert"?

A) Horse

B) Camel

C) Donkey

D) Elephant

5. What is the hardest natural substance on Earth?

A) Gold

B) Iron

C) Diamond

D) Quartz

6. How many bones are there in the adult human body?

A) 106

B) 206

C) 306

D) 406

7. Which part of the plant absorbs water and nutrients from the soil?

A) Leaf

B) Stem

C) Root

D) Flower

8. What is the study of weather called?

A) Geology

B) Meteorology

C) Astronomy

D) Botany

9. Which blood type is known as the universal donor?

A) A

B) B

C) AB

D) O negative

10. What is the primary source of energy for Earth?

A) The Moon

B) The Sun

C) Wind

D) Geothermal heat

Set 8 – Geography & Places

11. Which is the largest ocean on Earth?

A) Atlantic Ocean

B) Indian Ocean

C) Arctic Ocean

D) Pacific Ocean

12. Which country has the largest population in the world?

A) United States

B) India

C) China

D) Indonesia

13. What is the capital of Canada?

A) Toronto

B) Vancouver

C) Ottawa

D) Montreal

14. Which desert is the largest hot desert in the world?

A) Gobi

B) Sahara

C) Kalahari

D) Arabian

15. Mount Everest is located in which mountain range?

A) Andes

B) Alps

C) Himalayas

D) Rockies

16. Which continent is the Amazon rainforest primarily located in?

A) Africa

B) Asia

C) South America

D) Australia

17. What is the smallest country in the world by area?

A) Monaco

B) Vatican City

C) Malta

D) Singapore

18. Which sea is the saltiest body of water in the world?

A) Red Sea

B) Dead Sea

C) Black Sea

D) Caspian Sea

19. Which country is known as the "Land of the Rising Sun"?

A) China

B) Korea

C) Japan

D) Thailand

20. What is the longest mountain range in the world?

A) Himalayas

B) Andes

C) Alps

D) Urals

Set 9 – History & Culture

21. Who was the first person to walk on the Moon?

A) Yuri Gagarin

B) Buzz Aldrin

C) Neil Armstrong

D) Michael Collins

22. The Great Wall was built in which country?

A) Japan

B) India

C) China

D) Mongolia

23. Who painted the "Mona Lisa"?

A) Michelangelo

B) Vincent van Gogh

C) Leonardo da Vinci

D) Pablo Picasso

24. Which ancient civilization developed the first known writing system?

A) Egyptians

B) Sumerians

C) Greeks

D) Romans

25. In which year did the Berlin Wall fall?

A) 1985

B) 1989

C) 1991

D) 1993

26. Who was the first President of the United States?

A) Thomas Jefferson

B) Abraham Lincoln

C) George Washington

D) John Adams

27. The Renaissance began in which country?

A) France

B) Italy

C) England

D) Spain

28. Which empire was ruled by Julius Caesar?

A) Greek Empire

B) Ottoman Empire

C) Roman Empire

D) Persian Empire

29. What was the main purpose of the Silk Road?

A) Military conquest

B) Trade between East and West

C) Religious pilgrimage

D) Scientific exploration

30. Who wrote the novel "Pride and Prejudice"?

A) Charlotte Brontë

B) Emily Brontë

C) Jane Austen

D) Virginia Woolf

Set 10 – Language & Vocabulary

31. What is the plural form of "phenomenon"?

A) Phenomenons

B) Phenomena

C) Phenomenae

D) Phenomeni

32. Which word is a synonym for "candid"?

A) Deceptive

B) Honest

C) Rude

D) Shy

33. What does the prefix "tele-" mean in words like "telephone" and "television"?

A) Near

B) Far

C) Sound

D) Light

34. Which of the following is a conjunction?

A) Quickly

B) Beautiful

C) Because

D) Under

35. What is the antonym of "benevolent"?

A) Kind

B) Generous

C) Malevolent

D) Compassionate

36. Which sentence uses the correct form of "their/there/they're"?

A) Their going to the park.

B) There going to the park.

C) They're going to the park.

D) Theyre going to the park.

37. What is a "metaphor"?

A) A comparison using "like" or "as"

B) An exaggeration for effect

C) A direct comparison without "like" or "as"

D) A word that imitates a sound

38. Which word is spelled correctly?

A) Recieve

B) Receive

C) Receeve

D) Receve

39. What is the meaning of the idiom "to bite the bullet"?

A) To eat quickly

B) To endure a difficult situation

C) To speak angrily

D) To make a mistake

40. Which part of speech is the word "quickly"?

A) Noun

B) Verb

C) Adjective

D) Adverb

Set 11 – Math & Logic

41. What is 15% of 400?

A) 45

B) 60

C) 75

D) 90

42. Which of the following is an even number?

A) 17

B) 23

C) 34

D) 41

43. What is the square root of 144?

A) 10

B) 11

C) 12

D) 14

44. If a triangle has angles of 60° and 60°, what is the third angle?

A) 30°

B) 45°

C) 60°

D) 90°

45. What is 7 × 8?

A) 48

B) 54

C) 56

D) 64

46. Which number is a prime number?

A) 21

B) 27

C) 29

D) 33

47. What is 100 divided by 4?

A) 20

B) 25

C) 30

D) 40

48. What comes next in the sequence: 2, 4, 8, 16, ___?

A) 20

B) 24

C) 32

D) 36

49. What is the perimeter of a square with side length 5 cm?

A) 10 cm

B) 15 cm

C) 20 cm

D) 25 cm

50. If a dozen eggs cost $3, how much do 6 eggs cost?

A) $1.00

B) $1.50

C) $2.00

D) $2.50

 

PTE Short Answer Questions – Set 7–11

Answers with Short Reasons

Set 7 – General Knowledge & Everyday Science

1. Answer: B) To exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide
Reason: The lungs take oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the body.

2. Answer: D) Vitamin D
Reason: Sunlight helps the skin produce vitamin D.

3. Answer: B) Thermometer
Reason: A thermometer is used to measure temperature.

4. Answer: B) Camel
Reason: Camels can survive in hot, dry desert conditions and are called the “ships of the desert.”

5. Answer: C) Diamond
Reason: Diamond is the hardest naturally occurring substance on the Mohs hardness scale.

6. Answer: B) 206
Reason: An adult human body typically has 206 bones.

7. Answer: C) Root
Reason: Roots absorb water and minerals from the soil.

8. Answer: B) Meteorology
Reason: Meteorology is the scientific study of weather and the atmosphere.

9. Answer: D) O negative
Reason: O-negative red blood cells can generally be transfused to people of any blood group in emergencies.

10. Answer: B) The Sun
Reason: The Sun provides most of the energy that drives Earth's climate and supports life.

Set 8 – Geography & Places

11. Answer: D) Pacific Ocean
Reason: The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean on Earth.

12. Answer: B) India
Reason: India has the world's largest population, having surpassed China in 2023.

13. Answer: C) Ottawa
Reason: Ottawa is the capital city of Canada.

14. Answer: B) Sahara
Reason: The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world.

15. Answer: C) Himalayas
Reason: Mount Everest is located in the Himalayan mountain range.

16. Answer: C) South America
Reason: Most of the Amazon rainforest lies in South America, especially Brazil.

17. Answer: B) Vatican City
Reason: Vatican City is the world's smallest independent country by area.

18. Answer: B) Dead Sea
Reason: The Dead Sea is famous for its extremely high salinity compared with ordinary seawater.

19. Answer: C) Japan
Reason: Japan is traditionally known as the “Land of the Rising Sun.”

20. Answer: B) Andes
Reason: The Andes are the longest continental mountain range in the world.

Set 9 – History & Culture

21. Answer: C) Neil Armstrong
Reason: Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon in 1969.

22. Answer: C) China
Reason: The Great Wall was built across northern China over many centuries.

23. Answer: C) Leonardo da Vinci
Reason: Leonardo da Vinci painted the famous Mona Lisa.

24. Answer: B) Sumerians
Reason: The Sumerians of ancient Mesopotamia developed the earliest known writing system, cuneiform.

25. Answer: B) 1989
Reason: The Berlin Wall fell in November 1989.

26. Answer: C) George Washington
Reason: George Washington was the first President of the United States.

27. Answer: B) Italy
Reason: The Renaissance began in Italy before spreading across Europe.

28. Answer: C) Roman Empire
Reason: Julius Caesar was a Roman military leader and political figure during the late Roman Republic.

29. Answer: B) Trade between East and West
Reason: The Silk Road connected regions of Asia, Europe, and beyond through trade and cultural exchange.

30. Answer: C) Jane Austen
Reason: Jane Austen wrote the novel Pride and Prejudice, published in 1813.

Set 10 – Language & Vocabulary

31. Answer: B) Phenomena
Reason: Phenomena is the plural form of phenomenon.

32. Answer: B) Honest
Reason: Candid means honest, open, and direct.

33. Answer: B) Far
Reason: The prefix tele- means “far” or “at a distance.”

34. Answer: C) Because
Reason: Because is a conjunction that introduces a reason or cause.

35. Answer: C) Malevolent
Reason: Benevolent means kind or well-meaning, whereas malevolent means wishing harm to others.

36. Answer: C) They're going to the park.
Reason: They're is the contraction of they are.

37. Answer: C) A direct comparison without "like" or "as"
Reason: A metaphor describes one thing as another to suggest a similarity.

38. Answer: B) Receive
Reason: Receive is the correct spelling; remember the spelling rule “i before e except after c” as a useful general guide.

39. Answer: B) To endure a difficult situation
Reason: “To bite the bullet” means to face a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage.

40. Answer: D) Adverb
Reason: Quickly is an adverb because it can describe how an action is performed.

Set 11 – Math & Logic

41. Answer: B) 60
Reason: \(15\% \text{ of } 400 = 0.15 \times 400 = 60\).

42. Answer: C) 34
Reason: An even number is divisible by 2 without a remainder.

43. Answer: C) 12
Reason: The square root of 144 is 12 because \(12 \times 12 = 144\).

44. Answer: C) 60°
Reason: The angles of a triangle total 180°, so \(180° - 60° - 60° = 60°\).

45. Answer: C) 56
Reason: \(7 \times 8 = 56\).

46. Answer: C) 29
Reason: 29 is divisible only by 1 and 29, making it a prime number.

47. Answer: B) 25
Reason: \(100 \div 4 = 25\).

48. Answer: C) 32
Reason: Each number doubles: \(2, 4, 8, 16, 32\).

49. Answer: C) 20 cm
Reason: The perimeter of a square is four times its side length: \(4 \times 5 = 20\) cm.

50. Answer: B) $1.50
Reason: Six eggs are half a dozen, so they cost half of $3, which is $1.50.