Beauty contests, whether it’s Miss Universe or Miss Teen International…
Read the text aloud.
Beauty contests, whether it’s Miss Universe or Miss Teen International, are demeaning to women and out of sync with the times. Opponents say that they are nothing more than symbols of decline. Since Australians Jennifer Hawkins and Lauryn Eagle were crowned Miss Universe and Miss Teen International respectively, there has been a dramatic increase in interest in beauty pageants in this country.
Opens question #010128 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
Beauty contests,|whether it’s Miss Universe or Miss Teen International,|are demeaning to women|and out of sync with the times.‖Opponents say that they are nothing more than symbols of decline.‖Since Australians Jennifer Hawkins and Lauryn Eagle|were crowned Miss Universe and Miss Teen International respectively,‖there has been a dramatic increase in interest|in beauty pageants in this country.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Words to stress correctly
| international | in·ter·NA·tion·al | /ɪntɚˈnæʃənəl/ |
| respectively | re·SPEC·tive·ly | /rɪˈspɛktɪvli/ |
| australians | aus·TRA·lians | /ɔsˈtreɪljənz/ |
| demeaning | de·MEAN·ing | /dɪˈminɪŋ/ |
| opponents | op·PO·nents | /əˈpoʊnənts/ |
| dramatic | dra·MAT·ic | /drəˈmætɪk/ |
62 words, aim for 24–28 seconds. No numbers. Breathe after the times, decline and respectively; say the names Jennifer Hawkins and Lauryn Eagle in one breath, then pause before were crowned.
Where marks are usually lost
international (twice) stresses the third syllable (in·ter·NA·tion·al). demeaning, opponents, Australians, respectively, dramatic all stress the second. Don't stall before Lauryn Eagle — read it like any name. Keep -s on contests, symbols, pageants, Hawkins and -ed on crowned.
General tip: pageants is /ˈpædʒənts/ — two syllables, with the g sounded as /dʒ/, not a hard g.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 选美比赛,无论是环球小姐还是国际青少年小姐,都是对女性的贬低,也与时代脱节。反对者说,它们不过是衰落的象征。自从澳大利亚人詹妮弗·霍金斯和劳伦·伊格尔分别被加冕为环球小姐和国际青少年小姐以来,这个国家对选美比赛的兴趣急剧上升。
हिन्दी: सौंदर्य प्रतियोगिताएँ, चाहे मिस यूनिवर्स हो या मिस टीन इंटरनेशनल, महिलाओं के लिए अपमानजनक हैं और समय से मेल नहीं खातीं। विरोधी कहते हैं कि ये गिरावट के प्रतीक से अधिक कुछ नहीं हैं। जब से ऑस्ट्रेलियाई जेनिफ़र हॉकिन्स और लॉरिन ईगल क्रमशः मिस यूनिवर्स और मिस टीन इंटरनेशनल बनीं, इस देश में सौंदर्य प्रतियोगिताओं में रुचि नाटकीय रूप से बढ़ गई है।
नेपाली: सौन्दर्य प्रतियोगिताहरू, मिस युनिभर्स होस् वा मिस टिन इन्टरनेशनल, महिलाहरूका लागि अपमानजनक छन् र समयसँग मेल खाँदैनन्। विरोधीहरू भन्छन् कि यी पतनका प्रतीकभन्दा बढी केही होइनन्। अस्ट्रेलियाली जेनिफर हकिन्स र लौरिन इगलले क्रमशः मिस युनिभर्स र मिस टिन इन्टरनेशनलको उपाधि जितेपछि यस देशमा सौन्दर्य प्रतियोगिताप्रतिको चासो ह्वात्तै बढेको छ।
Tiếng Việt: Các cuộc thi sắc đẹp, dù là Hoa hậu Hoàn vũ hay Hoa hậu Thiếu niên Quốc tế, đều hạ thấp phụ nữ và lạc hậu so với thời đại. Những người phản đối nói rằng chúng chẳng khác gì biểu tượng của sự suy đồi. Kể từ khi hai người Úc Jennifer Hawkins và Lauryn Eagle lần lượt đăng quang Hoa hậu Hoàn vũ và Hoa hậu Thiếu niên Quốc tế, sự quan tâm đến các cuộc thi sắc đẹp ở nước này đã tăng mạnh.
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.