PTE Speaking & Writing Practice Test 5

"The research team published their findings in a peer-reviewed journal last spring."

"Let's look today at how bridges are engineered to cope with temperature changes throughout the year. Materials like steel and concrete expand slightly when heated and contract when cooled, and across a large structure like a bridge, even small changes in length per metre can add up to several centimetres of total movement between summer and winter. If a bridge were built as one completely rigid, continuous structure with no allowance for this movement, the resulting internal stress could eventually crack the concrete or buckle the steel supports. To prevent this, engineers install expansion joints, specially designed gaps at intervals along a bridge deck that allow sections to expand and contract independently without damaging the overall structure. These joints are typically covered with flexible metal fingers or rubber seals that keep the road surface smooth for vehicles while still permitting the underlying structure to move freely. Engineers also carefully consider the specific climate of a bridge's location when designing joint spacing and size, since a bridge in a region with extreme temperature swings requires more generous expansion capacity than one in a milder, more stable climate. Regular inspection and maintenance of these joints is essential, since a jammed or damaged expansion joint can eventually transfer dangerous stress to other parts of the structure."

"A thermometer." — one word is enough; a full sentence is not required.

Speaker A: "I think cities should ban private cars from their downtown cores entirely, since reduced traffic would cut air pollution and make streets far safer and more pleasant for pedestrians."

Speaker B: "That sounds appealing in theory, but a full ban could seriously harm small downtown businesses that depend on customers who currently drive in, especially people with mobility issues or those carrying heavy purchases."

Speaker A: "That's a valid concern, though cities could pair the ban with expanded, affordable public transit and dedicated accessible transport options for people who genuinely cannot use public transport."

Speaker B: "That would help, but building out that transit infrastructure takes years and significant investment, so a sudden full ban before alternatives exist could simply push traffic and business elsewhere instead of solving the problem."

Moderator: "So our panel sees value in reducing downtown car traffic, but disagrees on whether an immediate full ban or a more gradual, transit-supported transition is the better approach."

শক্তিশালী: উভয় দৃষ্টিভঙ্গি বিস্তারিত, বাস্তবসম্মত ও সুষম মতামত, জটিল বাক্য গঠনে লেখা।

মধ্যম: মূল ধারণা সঠিক কিন্তু সহজ বাক্য, সীমিত শব্দভান্ডার।

দুর্বল: ব্যাকরণ ভুল অনেক, খুব কম শব্দ, স্পষ্ট গঠন নেই।