Reading: Multiple Choice, Single Answer · Part 2: Reading

Now, it is clear that the decline of…

15 students marked "I sat this"Question #081023

Choose the one correct answer.

Now, it is clear that the decline of a language must ultimately have political and economic causes: it is not due simply to the bad influence of this or that individual writer. But an effect can become a cause, reinforcing the original cause and producing the same effect in an intensified form, and so on indefinitely.A man may take to drink because he feels himself to be a failure, and then fail all the more completely because he drinks. It is rather the same thing that is happening to the English language. It becomes ugly and inaccurate because our thoughts are foolish, but the slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.

The author would most likely agree that

  1. Afailure generally leads to more failure in a downward spiral
  2. Bimprecise use of language is likely to make precise thought more difficult
  3. Cindividual writers can never have a bad influence on the English language
  4. Dall language declines for political reasons
  5. Ethe English language is ugly and inaccurate
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Reading: Multiple Choice, Single Answer format (Pearson)

Pearson's name: Multiple Choice, Single Answer

PromptText up to 110 words
Time to answerNot set per question (Part 2 lasts 23–30 minutes)
Skills assessedReading

How it is scored

  • Scored as either correct or incorrect.

Source: Pearson, PTE Academic & UKVI test format, Part 2: Reading, checked 9 October 2026.