PTE Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks practice

The development of standardised shipping containers in the 1950s {} the cost of transporting goods across oceans. Before this {}, dockworkers loaded cargo by hand, a process that was both slow and {}. The metal boxes could be stacked, sealed, and moved directly onto trucks or trains. As a {}, global trade expanded rapidly and reshaped the world economy within a few decades.

Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks

Sleep plays a {} role in how the brain stores new memories. During deep sleep, the connections formed while learning are strengthened and {} into long-term storage. Studies show that students who sleep well after studying tend to {} information more accurately than those who stay awake. Researchers therefore {} that regular rest is as important to learning as the study itself.

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Coffee was first cultivated in the highlands of Ethiopia before {} across the Arabian Peninsula. Traders carried the beans to ports where merchants {} their value for both flavour and energy. By the seventeenth century, coffee houses had {} throughout Europe, becoming lively centres of conversation and debate. Some governments even tried to {} these gatherings, fearing that they encouraged political unrest.

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Volcanic eruptions can have a surprising {} on the global climate. When a large volcano erupts, it releases ash and gases that rise high into the atmosphere. These particles {} sunlight back into space, causing temperatures at the surface to fall for months. Although the effect is {}, historical records show that major eruptions have occasionally led to poor harvests and widespread {} in distant regions.

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The invention of the bicycle in the nineteenth century gave ordinary people a new sense of {}. For the first time, individuals could travel several miles without {} on horses or public transport. This freedom was especially {} for women, who gained greater independence in their daily lives. Some historians {} that the bicycle quietly contributed to wider social change across Europe and North America.

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Bees are essential to agriculture because they {} the flowers of many food crops. As a bee moves from plant to plant collecting nectar, pollen sticks to its body and is {} to the next flower. Without this service, the yields of fruits and vegetables would {} sharply. For this reason, scientists are deeply {} about recent declines in bee populations around the world.

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The ancient city of Petra was carved directly into rose-coloured rock by the Nabataean people. Its location along busy trade routes allowed the city to {} from the exchange of spices and silk. Clever engineers built channels to {} scarce water across the dry landscape, supporting thousands of residents. After the trade routes shifted, however, Petra was gradually {} and remained largely {} to outsiders for centuries.

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Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power are becoming an increasingly {} part of the electricity supply. Because their output {} with the weather, engineers must find ways to store surplus energy for later use. Large batteries and pumped-water systems can {} this stored power during periods of high demand. Many governments now offer financial {} to encourage households to adopt cleaner technologies.

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Languages are constantly changing as speakers borrow words and invent new expressions. When a language is no longer taught to children, however, it can slowly {} until no fluent speakers remain. Linguists estimate that a significant {} of the world's languages may disappear within this century. To {} this loss, communities are recording elders, publishing dictionaries, and creating apps that make learning more {}.

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Urban planners are redesigning cities to make them more {} for pedestrians and cyclists. By widening footpaths and adding protected bike lanes, they hope to {} the number of short car journeys. Such changes can lower air pollution and give residents more opportunities for healthy {}. Critics warn, however, that these projects must be planned carefully to avoid {} traffic onto neighbouring streets.

Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks