PTE Reading Multiple Choice Practice (Single & Multiple Answers)

Urban heat islands form when cities replace natural land cover with dense concentrations of pavement, buildings and other surfaces that absorb and retain heat. As a result, city centres can be several degrees warmer than surrounding rural areas, especially at night. Researchers have found that planting street trees, installing reflective or 'cool' roofs and creating more parks can reduce surface temperatures. These measures also bring additional benefits, such as lower energy use for air conditioning and improved air quality, although they require long-term investment and careful maintenance.

Although electric cars produce no exhaust emissions while driving, their overall environmental impact depends partly on how the electricity that charges them is generated. In regions where most power comes from coal, the benefits are smaller than in regions powered largely by renewable sources.

In the nineteenth century, many shipping routes to Australia followed the 'great circle' path, curving far south towards Antarctica. The route was shorter in distance, but ships faced icebergs and freezing storms, so captains had to balance speed against safety.