Tesla actually worked for Edison in his early career. Edison…
Read the text aloud.
Tesla actually worked for Edison in his early career. Edison offered to pay him the modern equivalent of a million dollars to fix the problems he was having with his DC generators and motors. Tesla fixed Edison's machines and when he asked for the money he was promised, Edison laughed him off and had this to say:" Tesla, you don't understand our American humor".The pair becomes arch rivals.
Opens question #010021 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
Tesla actually worked for Edison in his early career.‖Edison offered to pay him the modern equivalent of a million dollars‖to fix the problems he was having with his DC generators and motors.‖Tesla fixed Edison's machines|and when he asked for the money he was promised,‖Edison laughed him off and had this to say:"|Tesla, you don't understand our American humor".The pair becomes arch rivals.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Aim for 26–31 seconds.
Words to stress correctly
| equivalent | e·QUI·va·lent | /ɪˈkwɪvələnt/ |
| american | a·ME·ri·can | /əˈmɛrəkən/ |
| generators | GE·ne·ra·tors | /ˈdʒɛnɚeɪtɚz/ |
| understand | un·der·STAND | /ʌndɚˈstænd/ |
| actually | AC·tu·al·ly | /ˈæktʃuəli/ |
| edison's | E·di·son's | /ˈɛdɪsənz/ |
68 words, aim 26–31 seconds. No figures to read; say 'a million dollars' as written. Breathe after career, dollars, motors and promised, then run the quote and 'The pair becomes arch rivals' at a steady pace.
Where marks are usually lost
Stress AC·tu·al·ly, GE·ne·ra·tors, E·di·son's on the first syllable, e·QUI·va·lent and a·ME·ri·can on the second, un·der·STAND on the last. Don't stall at the odd punctuation around the quote. Keep the endings in worked, laughed, machines, becomes, rivals.
General tip: The stray space and missing space around the quote are typos; read straight through 'say: Tesla, you don't understand our American humor. The pair becomes arch rivals' without hunting for them.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 特斯拉早年确实为爱迪生工作过。爱迪生提出付给他相当于今天一百万美元的报酬，让他解决直流发电机和电动机的问题。特斯拉修好了爱迪生的机器，当他索要承诺的报酬时，爱迪生一笑置之，说道：“特斯拉，你不懂我们美国人的幽默。”两人从此成为死对头。
हिन्दी: टेस्ला ने अपने शुरुआती करियर में सचमुच एडिसन के लिए काम किया था। एडिसन ने अपने DC जनरेटरों और मोटरों की समस्याएँ ठीक करने के लिए उन्हें आज के हिसाब से दस लाख डॉलर के बराबर रकम देने की पेशकश की। टेस्ला ने एडिसन की मशीनें ठीक कीं और जब वादे का पैसा माँगा, तो एडिसन ने हँसकर टाल दिया और कहा: “टेस्ला, तुम हमारा अमेरिकी हास्य नहीं समझते।” दोनों कट्टर प्रतिद्वंद्वी बन गए।
नेपाली: टेस्लाले आफ्नो सुरुको करियरमा साँच्चै एडिसनका लागि काम गरेका थिए। एडिसनले आफ्ना DC जेनेरेटर र मोटरका समस्या समाधान गर्न अहिलेको हिसाबले दस लाख डलर बराबरको रकम दिने प्रस्ताव गरे। टेस्लाले एडिसनका मेसिन बनाइदिए, तर वाचा गरिएको पैसा माग्दा एडिसनले हाँसेर टारिदिए र भने: “टेस्ला, तिमी हाम्रो अमेरिकी हास्य बुझ्दैनौ।” दुवै कट्टर प्रतिद्वन्द्वी बने।
Tiếng Việt: Tesla thực sự từng làm việc cho Edison thời đầu sự nghiệp. Edison đề nghị trả ông số tiền tương đương một triệu đô la ngày nay để sửa các trục trặc của máy phát và động cơ điện một chiều. Tesla sửa xong máy của Edison, nhưng khi đòi số tiền đã hứa, Edison cười trừ và nói: “Tesla, anh không hiểu kiểu hài hước Mỹ của chúng tôi.” Hai người trở thành kình địch.
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.