He spent a
Choose the word for each blank.
He spent a 1 night, struggling with his health. It was 2 for him to continue with his duties as usual. Despite his determination and eagerness to teach, he was not permitted to 3 class due to his health condition. He was 4 to attend and fulfill his responsibilities, but his illness prevented him from doing so.
Options for each gap (alphabetical)
- 1 cheerful · painful · peaceful · playful
- 2 convenient · difficult · effortless · pleasant
- 3 attach · attain · attempt · attend
- 4 afraid · ashamed · happy · reluctant
Answers
| Gap | Answer | In the text |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | painful | …He spent a painful night, struggling with… Not: cheerful, peaceful, playful |
| 2 | difficult | …his health. It was difficult for him to… Not: effortless, pleasant, convenient |
| 3 | attend | …was not permitted to attend class due to… Not: attain, attach, attempt |
| 4 | happy | …health condition. He was happy to attend and… Not: ashamed, afraid, reluctant |
For each gap, read the words on both sides: the right option fits the grammar (word form, preposition, tense) and the meaning of the sentence.
RealPTE numbers
From RealPTE practice records and students’ “I sat this” reports, counted weekly (last count 2026-10-31). Reports are what students tell us; predictions are not guaranteed.
Questions about this question
What is the answer to PTE Reading FIB (Dropdown) #725009?
The answers in order are: painful, difficult, attend, happy.
How do I get full marks on this Reading FIB (Dropdown) question?
Choose the option that fits both the grammar and the meaning of the sentence. Each correct gap scores one point.
Can I practise #725009 with scoring?
Yes. The practice button on this page opens question #725009 in the RealPTE practice screen, where your answer is scored when you finish.
Opens question #725009 in the RealPTE practice screen.
Reading: Fill in the Blanks (Dropdown) format (Pearson)
| Prompt | Text up to 200 words |
|---|---|
| Time to answer | Not set per question (Part 2 lasts 23–30 minutes) |
| Skills assessed | Reading |
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.