Underground houses
Choose the word for each blank.
Underground houses have many advantages over conventional housing. Unlike conventional homes, they can be built on 1 surfaces and can maximize space in small areas by going below the surface. In addition, the materials excavated in construction can be used in the building process. Underground houses have less surface area so fewer building materials are used, and 2 costs are lower. They are also wind, fire, and earthquake resistant, providing a secure and safe environment in extreme weather. One of the greatest benefits of underground living is energy 3. The earth's subsurface temperature remains stable, so underground dwellings benefit from geothermal mass and heat exchange, staying cool in the summer and warm in the winter. This saves around 80 percent in energy costs. By 4 solar design this energy bill can be 5 to zero, providing hot water and heat to the home all year round.
Options for each gap (alphabetical)
- 1 flat · smooth · steep · strict
- 2 maintainable · maintained · maintaining · maintenance
- 3 efficacy · efficiency · resources · sources
- 4 combining · incorporate · incorporating · thinking of
- 5 decreased · improved · increased · reduced
Opens question #120279 in the RealPTE practice screen.
More Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks questions
Reading & Writing: Fill in the Blanks format (Pearson)
Pearson's name: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown)
| Prompt | Text up to 200 words |
|---|---|
| Time to answer | Not set per question (Part 2 lasts 23–30 minutes) |
| Skills assessed | Reading, Writing |
How it is scored
- Partial credit applies: a partly correct response still scores.
Source: Pearson, PTE Academic & UKVI test format, Part 2: Reading, checked 9 October 2026.