Here are Top 3 frequently asked Fill in the Blanks (Reading) questions in recent PTE Academic test (June 2020). 

1.A mini Helicopter

A mini helicopter modeled on flying three seeds could soon be flying overhead. Evan Ulrich and colleagues at the University of Maryland in College Park turned to the biological world for inspiration to build a scaled-down helicopter that could mimic the properties of full-size aircraft.

The complex design of full-size helicopters gets less efficient when shrunk, meaning that standard mini helicopters expend most of their power simply fighting to stay stable in the air. The researchers realised that a simpler aircraft designed to stay stable passively would use much less power and reduce manufacturing costs to boot.

It turns out that nature had beaten them to it. The seeds of trees such as the maple have a single-blade structure that allows them to fly far away and drift safely to the ground. These seeds, known as samaras, need no engine to spin through the air, thanks to a process called autorotation. By analysing the behaviour of the samara with high-speed cameras, Ulrich and his team were able to copy its design.

The samara copter is not the first single-winged helicopter – one was flown in 1952, and others have been attempted since – but it is the first to take advantage of the samara’s autorotation. This allows Ulrich’s vehicle to perform some neat tricks, such as falling safely to the ground if its motor fails or using vertical columns of air to stay aloft indefinitely. “We can turn off the motor and autorotate, which requires no power to sustain,” says Ulrich.

2.Underground Houses

Underground houses have many advantages over conventional housing. Unlike conventional homes, they can be built on steep 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 maintenance 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 efficiency. 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% in energy costs. By incorporating solar design this energy bill can be reduced to zero, providing hot water and heat to the home all year round.

3.Suez Canal

Britain became the largest shareholder in the canal in 1875, purchasing its interest from the Egyptian khedive. The Convention of Constantinople signed by the major European powers in 1888 keeps it open for free passage to all nations in time of peace or war. Britain became the guarantor of the canal’s neutrality and management was left to the Paris-based Suez Canal Co.

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