PTE ACADEMIC

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LISTENING: MULTIPLE CHOICE, CHOOSE MULTIPLE ANSWERS

Multiple-choice, Choose Multiple Answers
Note: There are generally 2–3 questions based on this question type.
This is how the slide looks like in the actual exam.

Which of the following symptoms have been mentioned in context of the third stage of HIV infection?
High production of antibodies
Normally week organisms inducing infections
Flu-like infections
Overt illness
HIV detectable in body fluids

Source: Pearson

Tips for Multiple-choice, Choose Multiple Answers

1. Overview the prompt and take a good look at the options before the recording begins.
2. Listen attentively.
3. Take Notes (clue words) on the Erasable Note Pad (words, not sentences).
4. While listening, concentrate on the main points.
5. Eliminate options with incomplete/irrelevant information.
6. Key points, not the words should decide which options you ultimately choose.
7. This is a negative marking question. Don’t select an answer unless you are confident.

Tips for Maximizing Score

This question type attracts deduction of points in case a wrong answer is selected. Yet, it is very important to note that the
minimum score for the question as a whole is zero. So, simple strategy to maximize score is to choose only the answer(s) you
are sure about and not to neutralize the positive score(s) by earning minus point(s). Pick an answer if you are sure; skip an
answer if you are not.

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Example: (Refer Text given in the screenshot on the previous page)

Track 19

Solution
Clue Words: HIV, three stages, first stage acute viral infection, no symptoms felt, high antibodies count, second stage
asymptomatic, HIV detectable in blood, final stage, overt disease, opportunistic infections
Incomplete/Irrelevant options: Flu-like (first stage), high antibodies (first stage), detectable in body fluids (mentioned for
second stage)
Answer: (2 and 4) Normally weak organisms including infections, and overt illness.

Example:

Track 20

Q. Which of the following are essential steps in the process of starting square foot gardening?
• Divide the land into soil beds and raised surface.
• Keep chicken and livestock to create green waste for manure.
• Make channels for watering.
• Select plant types.
• Make pathways.
Solution
Clue Words: Raise bed of soil, divide into sections, choose plant types, consider compost, create pathways

Strategy to avoid distracters:

• We need to keep in mind that ordinarily a 5-option question will have no more than two options right.
• Also, the wrong answers are meant to be made attractive. For else, why should anybody choose them?
• Such options will use the same words as occurred in the related recording, but will often go beyond what is stated (see
option 1 under Track 10 see the example above – as per the recording, the division is of the raised bed into sections.
• Or they may introduce new characters/ elements (see options 2 and 3 above – chicken and livestock added to compost;
and making channels added to watering).

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PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Directions for Questions 1 –5: Listen to the recording one by one and answer each question by selecting all the correct
responses. You will need to select more than one response for each answer.

Track 39

Q1. Which of the following statements are correct in respect of the tea making process?
(A) Withering of leaves can be done best by air-blowing with blow fans.
(B) Maceration is best done by machine
(C) Bruising of leaves promotes oxidation.
(D) Oozing out of sap enhances flavor of the tea.
(E) Aluminum foil inside the containers helps retain flavor.

Incomplete/Irrelevant options: (blow fans – not mentioned) (maceration by machine – opposite stated) (purple of
aluminum foil – not mentioned)

Track 40

Q2. Which of the following strategies can help a fist-time mother to cope with the stress of bringing up a newborn?
(A) Give the child a feeling of not being alone.
(B) Get another member of your extended family to say with you.
(C) Seek support of the child’s father to provide care to the child.
(D) Be calm and patient at all times.
(E) Consult with other mothers to find ways to ensure the child’s well-being.
(F) Accept support of the people you trust.

Incomplete/ Irrelevant options: Options A and E, don’t answer the question. Options B and D are unstated.

Track 41

Q3. Which of the Visas are specifically meant for students of age 18 years of above?
(A) The Academic Student Visa
(B) The Professional Visitor Visa
(C) The University Student Visa
(D) Adult Visitor Visa
(E) Student Visa
(F) Parent Visa

Incomplete/Irrelevant options: Age is not mentioned in respect of A and F; B is for under-17.

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Track 42

Q4. Which of the following attributes of Vitamin B have been mentioned in the lecture?
(A) Fights infections
(B) Helps growth
(C) Prevents harm to the fetus
(D) Builds immunity
(E) Strengthens bones and teeth
(F) Heals wounds

Incomplete/Irrelevant options: (A) has been mentioned in respect of vitamin A; (E) and (F) have been mentioned in respect
of vitamin C.

Track 43

Q5. Which of the following statements are true in respect of the research conducted so far by the scholar?
(A) The research finds that people had got used to corruption.
(B) People are willing to organize themselves to fight corruption.
(C) Peers were not happy with the way the research had been planned.
(D) Newspapers tend to over-emphasize corruption.
(E) More than two-thirds of the respondents in the survey had actually encountered corrupt officials.

Incomplete/Irrelevant options: A is what newspapers felt, which is very different from what the research found. The
researcher is yet to find out B. Opposite of D is stated in the lecture.

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ANSWER KEY
1. (C, D)
2. (C, F)
3. (C, D, E)
4. (B, C, D)
5. (C and E)

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