Pluto lost its official status when the International Astronomical Union…
Read the text aloud.
Pluto lost its official status when the International Astronomical Union downsized the solar system from nine to eight planets. Although there had been passionate debate at the IAU General Assembly Meeting in Prague about the definition of a planet – and whether Pluto met the specifications - the audience greeted the decision to exclude it with applause.
Opens question #010008 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
Pluto lost its official status|when the International Astronomical Union|downsized the solar system from nine to eight planets.‖Although there had been passionate debate|at the IAU General Assembly Meeting in Prague|about the definition of a planet‖– and whether Pluto met the specifications -|the audience greeted the decision to exclude it|with applause.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Aim for 22–26 seconds.
Words to stress correctly
| specifications | spec·i·fi·CA·tions | /spɛsəfəˈkeɪʃənz/ |
| international | in·ter·NA·tion·al | /ɪntɚˈnæʃənəl/ |
| astronomical | as·tro·NOM·i·cal | /æstrəˈnɑmɪkəl/ |
| definition | def·i·NI·tion | /dɛfəˈnɪʃən/ |
| official | of·FI·cial | /əˈfɪʃəl/ |
| assembly | as·SEM·bly | /əˈsɛmbli/ |
57 words, aim 22–26 seconds. nine and eight are already words; say IAU as the letters “I-A-U”. Breathe after planets and after planet (before the dash); short pauses after status, Union, debate, Prague, specifications - and it.
Where marks are usually lost
Stress in·ter·NA·tion·al, as·tro·NOM·i·cal, spec·i·fi·CA·tions, def·i·NI·tion, of·FI·cial, as·SEM·bly. Don’t stall before Astronomical or specifications. Keep the -s in planets, specifications, and the -ed in downsized, greeted.
General tip: the two dashes mark an aside – drop your voice slightly for “and whether Pluto met the specifications”, then lift it again on the audience.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 当国际天文学联合会把太阳系从九颗行星缩减为八颗时，冥王星失去了它的正式地位。尽管在布拉格举行的国际天文学联合会大会上，关于行星的定义——以及冥王星是否符合这些标准——曾有过激烈的争论，但听众还是以掌声迎接了将其排除在外的决定。
हिन्दी: प्लूटो ने अपनी आधिकारिक स्थिति तब खो दी जब अंतर्राष्ट्रीय खगोलीय संघ ने सौरमंडल को नौ से घटाकर आठ ग्रहों का कर दिया। हालाँकि प्राग में IAU की महासभा बैठक में ग्रह की परिभाषा – और प्लूटो उन विनिर्देशों पर खरा उतरता है या नहीं – इस पर ज़ोरदार बहस हुई थी, फिर भी श्रोताओं ने उसे बाहर करने के फ़ैसले का तालियों से स्वागत किया।
नेपाली: अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय खगोल सङ्घले सौर्यमण्डललाई नौबाट आठ ग्रहमा घटाउँदा प्लुटोले आफ्नो आधिकारिक हैसियत गुमायो। प्रागमा भएको IAU महासभा बैठकमा ग्रहको परिभाषा – र प्लुटो ती मापदण्ड पूरा गर्छ कि गर्दैन – भन्नेबारे चर्को बहस भए पनि, श्रोताहरूले त्यसलाई बाहिर निकाल्ने निर्णयलाई ताली बजाएर स्वागत गरे।
Tiếng Việt: Sao Diêm Vương mất vị thế chính thức khi Hiệp hội Thiên văn Quốc tế thu hẹp hệ Mặt Trời từ chín xuống còn tám hành tinh. Dù đã có tranh luận gay gắt tại Đại hội IAU ở Praha về định nghĩa hành tinh – và liệu Sao Diêm Vương có đáp ứng các tiêu chí đó không – cử tọa vẫn vỗ tay chào đón quyết định loại nó ra.
More Read Aloud questions
Read Aloud format (Pearson)
| Prompt | Text up to 60 words |
|---|---|
| Preparation | 30–40 seconds |
| Time to answer | Depends on the length of the text |
| Skills assessed | Speaking |
| Scored on | Content; Pronunciation; Oral fluency |
How it is scored
- Content is scored by counting the correct words in your response.
- If you stay silent for more than 3 seconds, the recording stops.
- You can record your response only once.
Source: Pearson, PTE Academic & UKVI test format, Part 1: Speaking & Writing, checked 9 October 2026.