You survived the Mayan apocalypse, or at least…
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You survived the Mayan apocalypse, or at least transitioned to the next baktun, number 14 according to the Mayan calendar. What real lessons does this national culture hold? First and foremost, the Maya are a case study in prediction. Their complex civilization of powerful city-states collapsed, and the jungle retook those urban centers. But the Mayan people endured, today being the principle ethnic population of parts of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. European invaders did not end the era of the Mayan city-state. Although it was descendants of those Europeans who bottomed up with this apocalypse mumbo-jumbo. Research shows that what laid low Mayan society was something more indigenous: climate change. A subtle shift in weather patterns brought less rain and the Mayan civilization was simply unable to cope with a prolonged dry period punctuated by several severe droughts. Given that our highly complex nationalization is also facing climate change, it might make sense to look back to the Maya for a glimpse of our future. Today much of the former Mayan city-states are nature preserves, dotted by ruins. Will we do better when faced with crippling and long-lasting bought in this, the 14th baktun?
Opens question #191075 in the RealPTE practice screen.
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Highlight Incorrect Words format (Pearson)
| Prompt | Recording of 15–50 seconds |
|---|---|
| Time to answer | Not set per question (Part 3 lasts 31–39 minutes) |
| Skills assessed | Listening, Reading |
How it is scored
- Each correctly clicked word earns 1 point; each wrong click loses 1 point.
- The recording plays only once.
Source: Pearson, PTE Academic & UKVI test format, Part 3: Listening, checked 9 October 2026.