In comparing material with non-material culture - the first being…
Read the text aloud.
In comparing material with non-material culture - the first being the objects and technologies we create, and the second our customs, beliefs and attitudes - the speaker gives greater emphasis to the material culture. He gives the example of the development of genetic science and the benefits it has brought to mankind, despite a fair amount of opposition.
Opens question #010126 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
In comparing material with non-material culture -|the first being the objects and technologies we create,|and the second our customs, beliefs and attitudes -‖the speaker gives greater emphasis to the material culture.‖He gives the example of the development of genetic science|and the benefits it has brought to mankind,|despite a fair amount of opposition.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Words to stress correctly
| technologies | tech·NOL·o·gies | /tɛkˈnɑlədʒiz/ |
| development | de·VEL·op·ment | /dɪˈvɛləpmənt/ |
| opposition | op·po·SI·tion | /ɑpəˈzɪʃən/ |
| material | ma·TE·ri·al | /məˈtɪriəl/ |
| comparing | com·PAR·ing | /kəmˈpɛrɪŋ/ |
| example | ex·AM·ple | /ɪɡˈzæmpəl/ |
58 words, aim for 22–26 seconds. No numbers. The dashes mark an aside: drop your pitch slightly inside it, breathe after attitudes -, then come back up for the speaker. Breathe again after material culture at the full stop.
Where marks are usually lost
material (three times), comparing, technologies, development and example all stress the second syllable; opposition stresses the third (op·po·SI·tion). Don't hesitate at non-material. Keep the -s on objects, technologies, customs, beliefs, attitudes, benefits.
General tip: beliefs ends in /fs/, not /vz/ — it is the noun, so keep the ending voiceless and short.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 在比较物质文化与非物质文化时——前者是我们创造的物品和技术，后者是我们的习俗、信仰和态度——演讲者更强调物质文化。他举了遗传科学发展的例子，以及它给人类带来的好处，尽管也遭到了不少反对。
हिन्दी: भौतिक और अभौतिक संस्कृति की तुलना करते हुए - पहली यानी हमारे द्वारा बनाई गई वस्तुएँ और तकनीकें, और दूसरी यानी हमारे रीति-रिवाज, विश्वास और दृष्टिकोण - वक्ता भौतिक संस्कृति पर अधिक ज़ोर देता है। वह आनुवंशिक विज्ञान के विकास और मानव जाति को उससे मिले लाभों का उदाहरण देता है, हालाँकि इसका काफ़ी विरोध भी हुआ।
नेपाली: भौतिक र अभौतिक संस्कृतिको तुलना गर्दा - पहिलो भनेको हामीले बनाउने वस्तु र प्रविधि, र दोस्रो भनेको हाम्रा रीतिरिवाज, विश्वास र दृष्टिकोण - वक्ताले भौतिक संस्कृतिलाई बढी जोड दिन्छन्। उनले आनुवंशिक विज्ञानको विकास र त्यसले मानवजातिलाई ल्याएका फाइदाहरूको उदाहरण दिन्छन्, यद्यपि यसको निकै विरोध पनि भएको थियो।
Tiếng Việt: Khi so sánh văn hóa vật chất với văn hóa phi vật chất - thứ nhất là các đồ vật và công nghệ chúng ta tạo ra, thứ hai là phong tục, tín ngưỡng và thái độ của chúng ta - diễn giả nhấn mạnh hơn vào văn hóa vật chất. Ông đưa ra ví dụ về sự phát triển của khoa học di truyền và những lợi ích nó mang lại cho nhân loại, dù gặp không ít sự phản đối.
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.