Fascination with this material stems from its remarkable physical properties…
Choose the word for each blank.
Fascination with this material stems from its remarkable physical properties and the potential applications these properties offer for the future. 1 scientists knew one atom thick, two-dimensional crystal graphene existed, no-one 2 out how to extract it from graphite. That was until it was isolated in 2004 by two researchers at The University of Manchester, Professor Andre Geim and Professor Kostya Novoselov. This is the story of how that stunning scientific feat came about and why Andre and Kostya won the Nobel Prize in Physics for their pioneering work. Andre and Kostya frequently held 'Friday night experiments' - sessions where they would try out experimental science that wasn't 3 linked to their day jobs.
Options for each gap (alphabetical)
- 1 Although · However · Since · Unless
- 2 had worked · work · working · works
- 3 fully · indirectly · necessarily · solely
Answers
| Gap | Answer | In the text |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Although | …offer for the future. Although scientists knew one… Not: Since, Unless, However |
| 2 | had worked | …crystal graphene existed, no-one had worked out how to… Not: work, works, working |
| 3 | necessarily | …experimental science that wasn't necessarily linked to their… Not: fully, solely, indirectly |
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.
Questions about this question
What is the answer to PTE Reading FIB (Dropdown) #825017?
The answers in order are: Although, had worked, necessarily.
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 #825017 with scoring?
Yes. The practice button on this page opens question #825017 in the RealPTE practice screen, where your answer is scored when you finish.
Opens question #825017 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.