Although Botswana's economic outlook remains strong, the devastation that AIDS…
Read the text aloud.
Although Botswana's economic outlook remains strong, the devastation that AIDS has caused threatens to destroy the country's future. In 2001, Botswana has the highest rates of HIV infection in the world. With the help of international donors, it launched an ambitious national campaign that provided free antiviral drugs to anyone who need them, and by March 2004, Botswana's infection rate has dropped significantly.
Opens question #010010 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
Although Botswana's economic outlook remains strong,|the devastation that AIDS has caused|threatens to destroy the country's future.‖In 2001,|Botswana has the highest rates of HIV infection in the world.‖With the help of international donors,|it launched an ambitious national campaign|that provided free antiviral drugs to anyone who need them,‖and by March 2004,|Botswana's infection rate has dropped significantly.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Words to stress correctly
| international | in·ter·NA·tion·al | /ɪntɚˈnæʃənəl/ |
| significantly | sig·NIF·i·cant·ly | /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkəntli/ |
| devastation | dev·a·STA·tion | /dɛvəˈsteɪʃən/ |
| antiviral | an·ti·VI·ral | /æntiˈvaɪrəl/ |
| economic | e·co·NOM·ic | /ɛkəˈnɑmɪk/ |
| infection | in·FEC·tion | /ɪnˈfɛkʃən/ |
63 words, aim for 24–29 seconds. Say 2001 as 'two thousand and one' and 2004 as 'two thousand and four'; AIDS is one word ('aids'), HIV is three letters ('H-I-V'). Breathe after future, after world and after them.
Where marks are usually lost
Third-syllable stress on in·ter·NA·tion·al, dev·a·STA·tion, an·ti·VI·ral, e·co·NOM·ic, but second-syllable on sig·NIF·i·cant·ly and in·FEC·tion. Hesitating before 2001, 2004 or Botswana's. Dropping endings in remains, threatens, rates, donors, launched, dropped.
General tip: Read the text exactly as printed, even where the grammar looks odd ('has the highest', 'who need them'); don't fix it as you go.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 尽管博茨瓦纳的经济前景依然强劲，但艾滋病造成的破坏有可能摧毁这个国家的未来。2001年，博茨瓦纳的艾滋病毒感染率是世界最高的。在国际捐助者的帮助下，该国发起了一场雄心勃勃的全国运动，向所有需要的人免费提供抗病毒药物；到2004年3月，博茨瓦纳的感染率已显著下降。
हिन्दी: हालाँकि बोत्सवाना का आर्थिक परिदृश्य मजबूत बना हुआ है, एड्स से हुई तबाही देश के भविष्य को नष्ट करने की धमकी देती है। 2001 में बोत्सवाना में HIV संक्रमण की दर दुनिया में सबसे अधिक थी। अंतर्राष्ट्रीय दानदाताओं की मदद से उसने एक महत्वाकांक्षी राष्ट्रीय अभियान शुरू किया जिसने ज़रूरतमंद हर व्यक्ति को मुफ़्त एंटीवायरल दवाएँ दीं, और मार्च 2004 तक बोत्सवाना की संक्रमण दर में काफ़ी गिरावट आई।
नेपाली: बोत्स्वानाको आर्थिक दृष्टिकोण सबल रहे पनि एड्सले गरेको विनाशले देशको भविष्य नष्ट गर्ने खतरा छ। सन् 2001 मा बोत्स्वानामा HIV संक्रमणको दर विश्वमै सबैभन्दा उच्च थियो। अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय दाताहरूको सहयोगमा त्यसले आवश्यक पर्ने जोसुकैलाई निःशुल्क एन्टिभाइरल औषधि दिने महत्त्वाकांक्षी राष्ट्रिय अभियान सुरु गर्यो, र मार्च 2004 सम्म बोत्स्वानाको संक्रमण दर उल्लेख्य रूपमा घट्यो।
Tiếng Việt: Mặc dù triển vọng kinh tế của Botswana vẫn vững mạnh, sự tàn phá do AIDS gây ra đe dọa hủy hoại tương lai của đất nước. Năm 2001, Botswana có tỷ lệ nhiễm HIV cao nhất thế giới. Với sự giúp đỡ của các nhà tài trợ quốc tế, nước này phát động một chiến dịch quốc gia đầy tham vọng cung cấp thuốc kháng vi-rút miễn phí cho bất kỳ ai cần, và đến tháng 3 năm 2004, tỷ lệ nhiễm của Botswana đã giảm đáng kể.
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.