Day 6

PTE Academic Preparation Course – Day 6

Achieve Your Perfect Score of 90 in PTE Academic

Welcome to Day 6 of your comprehensive PTE Academic preparation journey. Today’s focus is on enhancing your Reading Skills, specifically the “Re-order Paragraphs” and “Fill in the Blanks” tasks. You will learn strategies to improve your understanding of text structure, logical flow, and vocabulary usage to excel in these tasks.

Objectives

  • Understand the “Re-order Paragraphs” and “Fill in the Blanks” Task Formats
  • Develop Techniques for Identifying Logical Connections Between Sentences
  • Practice Reading Comprehension and Text Organization Skills
  • Expand Vocabulary with Contextual Usage
  • Improve Grammar and Collocation Awareness

Estimated Time: 2 Hours

Materials Needed

  • Device: Computer or smartphone with internet access
  • Notebook and Pen
  • Access to Practice Reading Passages
  • Dictionary or Thesaurus
  • Access to PTE Practice Platforms or Websites
  • Highlighter (if printing passages)

Schedule and Activities

1. Understanding “Re-order Paragraphs” and “Fill in the Blanks” Tasks (30 Minutes)

a. Task Formats Overview

Re-order Paragraphs:

  • Instructions:
  • You will be presented with a set of text boxes containing sentences or paragraphs in random order.
  • Your task is to arrange them in the correct logical order.
  • Scoring Criteria:
  • Content: Correct sequence of sentences/paragraphs.
  • Partial Credit: Awarded for each pair of sentences placed in the correct order.

Reading: Fill in the Blanks:

  • Instructions:
  • A text passage appears on the screen with several blanks.
  • You need to drag words from a box below and drop them into the correct blanks.
  • Scoring Criteria:
  • Content: Correct words selected for each blank.

Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks:

  • Instructions:
  • Similar to Reading: Fill in the Blanks, but you select the correct word from a dropdown list for each blank.
  • Scoring Criteria:
  • Content: Correct words selected for each blank.

b. Watch Instructional Videos

  • Re-order Paragraphs:
  • Video Title: “PTE Reading: Re-order Paragraphs Tips and Strategies”
  • Channel: E2 PTE Academic
  • Link: PTE Re-order Paragraphs Strategies
  • Duration: 15 minutes
  • Fill in the Blanks:
  • Video Title: “PTE Reading: Fill in the Blanks Techniques”
  • Channel: E2 PTE Academic
  • Link: PTE Fill in the Blanks Strategies
  • Duration: 15 minutes

Action: Take detailed notes on strategies, such as identifying topic sentences, connectors, pronouns, and logical sequence for Re-order Paragraphs; and using context clues, collocations, and grammar for Fill in the Blanks.

2. Developing Techniques for Re-ordering Paragraphs (40 Minutes)

a. Understanding Logical Flow (20 Minutes)

Instructions:

  1. Learn Key Strategies:
  • Identify the Topic Sentence:
    • Usually introduces the main idea.
    • May not start with a connector (e.g., “However,” “Therefore”).
  • Look for Pronouns and References:
    • Pronouns like “he,” “she,” “it,” “they” refer to nouns mentioned earlier.
  • Identify Sequence Markers:
    • Words like “Firstly,” “Next,” “Finally” indicate order.
  • Look for Connectors:
    • Addition: “Moreover,” “Furthermore”
    • Contrast: “However,” “Nevertheless”
    • Cause and Effect: “Therefore,” “Consequently”
  1. Practice with an Example:
  • Sentences:
    • A. “Furthermore, the new policy aims to reduce environmental impact.”
    • B. “However, many critics argue that it may not be effective.”
    • C. “The government has introduced a new policy on waste management.”
    • D. “It includes measures for recycling and reducing plastic use.”
  • Steps:
    • Identify the Topic Sentence: Likely C (introduces the subject).
    • Find Sentences that Refer Back: D refers to “It” (the policy).
    • Use Connectors:
    • A starts with “Furthermore,” adding information.
    • B starts with “However,” introducing a contrast.
  • Logical Order:
    • C → D → A → B

b. Practice Exercises (20 Minutes)

Instructions:

  1. Select Practice Paragraphs:
  • Use practice materials from PTE preparation websites or resources.
  1. For Each Exercise:
  • Read All Sentences Carefully:
    • Understand the content of each sentence.
  • Identify the Topic Sentence:
    • Look for the sentence that introduces the main idea.
  • Look for Clues:
    • Pronouns, connectors, sequence markers.
  • Arrange Sentences:
    • Decide on the logical order based on your analysis.
  1. Practice Exercise Example:
  • Sentences:
    • A. “This innovation led to significant advancements in communication.”
    • B. “The invention of the telegraph revolutionized the 19th century.”
    • C. “As a result, messages could be sent over long distances instantly.”
    • D. “Before its invention, communication was limited to physical means.”
  • Solution:
    • Topic Sentence: D (sets the historical context).
    • Introduction of Innovation: B (introduces the telegraph).
    • Outcome of Innovation: A (led to advancements).
    • Resulting Change: C (messages sent instantly).
  • Order: D → B → A → C
  1. Check Answers and Explanations:
  • Compare your arrangement with the correct one.
  • Understand the rationale behind the correct order.

3. Practicing Fill in the Blanks Tasks (40 Minutes)

a. Reading: Fill in the Blanks Practice (20 Minutes)

Instructions:

  1. Select a Practice Passage:
  • Use a passage with blanks from a PTE practice resource.
  1. Strategies:
  • Context Clues:
    • Read the entire sentence to understand the meaning.
    • Look at the sentences before and after for additional context.
  • Grammar Clues:
    • Identify the part of speech needed (noun, verb, adjective, etc.).
    • Pay attention to subject-verb agreement and verb tenses.
  • Collocations:
    • Common word pairings (e.g., “make a decision,” “strong interest”).
  1. Practice Exercise Example:
  • Passage:
    • “The rapid __ of technology has transformed the way we communicate. Innovations in mobile devices and the internet have made information more accessible than ever before.”
  • Options:
    • A. decline
    • B. advancement
    • C. stagnation
    • D. regression
  • Solution:
    • Correct Answer: B. advancement
  • Explanation:
    • The context talks about transformation and innovations, indicating progress.

b. Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks Practice (20 Minutes)

Instructions:

  1. Select a Practice Passage:
  • Use a passage with dropdown options for each blank.
  1. Strategies:
  • Read the Entire Passage First:
    • Get an overall understanding.
  • Focus on Each Blank:
    • Consider the grammatical structure.
    • Use elimination to narrow down options.
  1. Practice Exercise Example:
  • Passage:
    • “Global warming is a phenomenon that has _ (devastating, fascinating, improving) effects on the environment. Scientists are _ (concerned, indifferent, pleased) about the rising temperatures.”
  • Solutions:
    • First Blank: “devastating”
    • Second Blank: “concerned”
  • Explanation:
    • “Devastating effects” is a common collocation, and “scientists are concerned” fits logically.
  1. Check Answers and Explanations:
  • Ensure your choices make sense both grammatically and contextually.

4. Vocabulary Building (20 Minutes)

a. Words in Context

  1. Identify New Words from Practice Exercises:
  • Write down unfamiliar words encountered during practice.
  1. Word List with Examples:
  • 1. Coherent(adjective)
    • Definition: Logical and consistent.
    • Sentence: “A coherent argument is essential in persuasive writing.”
  • 2. Emphasize(verb)
    • Definition: To give special importance to something.
    • Sentence: “The speaker emphasized the need for immediate action.”
  • 3. Sequential(adjective)
    • Definition: Forming or following a logical order or sequence.
    • Sentence: “The steps must be followed in sequential order.”
  • 4. Contextual(adjective)
    • Definition: Relating to the context or circumstances.
    • Sentence: “Understanding the contextual meaning of a word is crucial.”
  • 5. Ambiguous(adjective)
    • Definition: Open to more than one interpretation.
    • Sentence: “The ambiguous statement caused confusion.”
  • 6. Pertinent(adjective)
    • Definition: Relevant or applicable to a particular matter.
    • Sentence: “Please provide information that is pertinent to the case.”
  • 7. Infer(verb)
    • Definition: Deduce or conclude information from evidence and reasoning.
    • Sentence: “From the data, we can infer that sales are increasing.”
  • 8. Cohesion(noun)
    • Definition: The action or fact of forming a united whole.
    • Sentence: “Paragraphs should have cohesion for better readability.”
  • 9. Collocation(noun)
    • Definition: A combination of words that are often used together.
    • Sentence: “Learning common collocations can enhance your fluency.”
  • 10. Syntax(noun)
    • Definition: The arrangement of words to create well-formed sentences.
    • Sentence: “Proper syntax is essential for clear communication.”

b. Activities

  1. Write Definitions in Your Own Words:
  • Paraphrase each definition.
  1. Create Sentences:
  • Use each word in a sentence related to reading or writing tasks.
  1. Synonyms and Antonyms:
  • Find at least one synonym and one antonym for each word.
  1. Flashcards:
  • Create flashcards for review.

5. Grammar and Collocation Practice (20 Minutes)

a. Collocation Exercises

Instructions:

  1. Understand Collocations:
  • Words that frequently go together.
  • Examples:
    • Make a decision, do homework, take a break.
  1. Practice Exercises:
  • Exercise 1:
    • Fill in the blanks with the correct collocations.
    • a. “She __ (made/did) a mistake in the calculations.”
    • Answer: made
    • b. “They plan to __ (take/make) a trip next month.”
    • Answer: take
    • c. “He needs to __ (do/make) his assignments tonight.”
    • Answer: do

b. Grammar Focus: Subject-Verb Agreement

Instructions:

  1. Review Rules:
  • Singular subjects take singular verbs; plural subjects take plural verbs.
  • Examples:
    • “He runs every day.”
    • “They run every day.”
  1. Practice Exercises:
  • Exercise 1:
    • Choose the correct verb form.
    • a. “The data __ (shows/show) a significant trend.”
    • Answer: shows
    • b. “Each of the participants __ (was/were) given a questionnaire.”
    • Answer: was
    • c. “Neither of the options __ (is/are) suitable.”
    • Answer: is

6. Reflection and Goal Setting (15 Minutes)

a. Self-Reflection Questions

  • Which strategies helped you the most in re-ordering paragraphs?
  • What challenges did you face in the fill in the blanks tasks?
  • How can you improve your vocabulary and grammar skills further?

b. Goal Setting for Tomorrow

  • Goal 1: “I will practice more fill in the blanks exercises to enhance my contextual understanding.”
  • Goal 2: “I will learn 10 new academic words to improve my vocabulary.”

c. Journal Entry

  • Write About:
  • Your experiences with today’s reading tasks.
  • Any improvements or breakthroughs.
  • Areas you plan to focus on moving forward.

7. Optional Extension Activity (35 Minutes)

a. Additional Reading Practice

  1. Use Online Resources:
  1. Practice Advanced Exercises:
  • Focus on more challenging re-order paragraphs and fill in the blanks tasks.

b. Read Academic Articles

  • Purpose: Improve reading comprehension and familiarize yourself with complex texts.
  • Sources:
  • Science Daily: www.sciencedaily.com
  • The Economist: www.economist.com
  • Action:
  • Read an article.
  • Summarize the main points.
  • Note any new vocabulary.

Summary of Day 6

Today, you have:

  • Understood the Formats and Requirements of “Re-order Paragraphs” and “Fill in the Blanks” Tasks.
  • Developed Techniques for Identifying Logical Connections Between Sentences and Paragraphs.
  • Practiced Reading Comprehension and Text Organization Skills through Various Exercises.
  • Expanded Your Vocabulary with 10 New Words and Their Contextual Usage.
  • Improved Grammar and Collocation Awareness through Focused Practice.
  • Set Personal Goals for Continuous Improvement.

Preparation for Day 7

Focus: Listening Skills – Highlight Correct Summary and Multiple-choice Questions

Action Items:

  • Familiarize Yourself with Listening Task Types.
  • Prepare to Practice Listening Comprehension and Summary Skills.

Additional Resources

Tips for Success

  • Active Reading: Engage with the text by annotating and questioning as you read.
  • Practice Regularly: Consistency helps reinforce strategies and improve skills.
  • Review Mistakes: Analyze errors to understand and correct misunderstandings.
  • Expand Vocabulary: Regularly learn new words and their usage in context.

Congratulations on Completing Day 6!

By investing time and effort today, you’ve significantly enhanced your reading comprehension and text organization skills, which are crucial for excelling in the PTE Academic test. Keep building on these strategies as you progress toward achieving a perfect score.

Stay Tuned for Day 7!

Note: All external links are provided for educational purposes. Please ensure you have access to the internet to utilize these resources.

Share Your Progress

We encourage you to share your experiences and progress with others:

  • Join Our Community Forum: Connect with fellow learners to exchange tips and resources.
  • Feedback: Let us know how Day 6 went for you and any suggestions you have to improve the course.

Remember: Consistent practice and a proactive approach to learning are keys to success. Keep pushing forward, and don’t hesitate to revisit any sections as needed.

Best of luck on your journey to mastering the PTE Academic!

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