[2026] PTE Academic Reading - Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers

The ozone layer is a thin part of the Earth's atmosphere that absorbs the vast majority of the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.Without this protective shield, life on Earth would be exposed to levels of radiation that could damage DNA and increase the risk of skin cancer.In the 1980s, scientists discovered that human-made chemicals, particularly chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), were causing a significant depletion of the ozone layer.International cooperation led to the Montreal Protocol, a global agreement to phase out the use of these ozone-depleting substances.Due to these collective efforts, the ozone layer is now showing signs of gradual recovery, demonstrating the effectiveness of unified global environmental policy.