In the middle Ages, the design and use of flags…
Read the text aloud.
In the middle Ages, the design and use of flags were considered a means of identifying social status. Flags were, therefore, the symbols not of nations, but of the nobility. The design of each flag resembled the “devices” on the noble’s Coat of Arms, and the size of the flag was an indication of how high the owner stood in the nobility.
Opens question #010082 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
In the Middle Ages,|the design and use of flags|were considered a means of identifying social status.‖Flags were, therefore,|the symbols not of nations,|but of the nobility.‖The design of each flag|resembled the “devices” on the noble’s Coat of Arms,‖and the size of the flag|was an indication of how high the owner stood in the nobility.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Aim for 24–28 seconds.
Words to stress correctly
| identifying | i·DEN·ti·fy·ing | /aɪˈdɛntəfaɪɪŋ/ |
| indication | in·di·CA·tion | /ɪndəˈkeɪʃən/ |
| nobility | no·BIL·i·ty | /noʊˈbɪləti/ |
| considered | con·SID·ered | /kənˈsɪdɚd/ |
| resembled | re·SEM·bled | /rɪˈzɛmbəld/ |
| devices | de·VIC·es | /dɪˈvaɪsəz/ |
62 words, aim 24–28 seconds. No numbers. Breathe after status, after the first nobility and after Arms; short pauses at the commas.
Where marks are usually lost
Stress i·DEN·ti·fy·ing, no·BIL·i·ty and in·di·CA·tion on the marked syllable, not the first. Keep the -ed in considered and resembled, and the -s on flags, symbols, nations, devices. Don't hesitate before “devices” or Coat of Arms.
General tip: 'Flags were, therefore, the symbols…' has commas around therefore; pause lightly but keep the pitch up so it still sounds like one sentence.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 在中世纪，旗帜的设计和使用被视为一种标识社会地位的手段。因此，旗帜不是国家的象征，而是贵族的象征。每面旗帜的图案都模仿贵族纹章上的“图记”，而旗帜的大小则表明旗帜主人在贵族中的地位有多高。
हिन्दी: मध्य युग में झंडों का डिज़ाइन और उपयोग सामाजिक स्थिति की पहचान का साधन माना जाता था। इसलिए झंडे राष्ट्रों के नहीं, बल्कि कुलीन वर्ग के प्रतीक थे। हर झंडे का डिज़ाइन कुलीन के कुल-चिह्न (Coat of Arms) पर बने “चिह्नों” जैसा होता था, और झंडे का आकार बताता था कि उसका मालिक कुलीन वर्ग में कितना ऊँचा है।
नेपाली: मध्य युगमा झन्डाको डिजाइन र प्रयोगलाई सामाजिक हैसियत चिनाउने माध्यम मानिन्थ्यो। त्यसैले झन्डा राष्ट्रका होइन, कुलीन वर्गका प्रतीक थिए। हरेक झन्डाको डिजाइन कुलीनको कुलचिह्न (Coat of Arms) मा भएका “चिह्नहरू” जस्तै हुन्थ्यो, र झन्डाको आकारले त्यसको मालिक कुलीन वर्गमा कति माथि छ भन्ने देखाउँथ्यो।
Tiếng Việt: Vào thời Trung cổ, việc thiết kế và sử dụng cờ được xem là một cách để xác định địa vị xã hội. Vì vậy, cờ là biểu tượng không phải của các quốc gia mà của giới quý tộc. Thiết kế của mỗi lá cờ giống với các “biểu hiệu” trên huy hiệu gia tộc của nhà quý tộc, và kích thước lá cờ cho thấy chủ nhân đứng ở vị trí cao đến đâu trong giới quý tộc.
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.