The uniquely scented flavor of vanilla is second only to…
Read the text aloud.
The uniquely scented flavor of vanilla is second only to chocolate in popularity on the world’s palate. It’s also the second most expensive spice after saffron. But highly labor intensive cultivation methods and the plant’s temperamental life cycle and propagation mean production on a global scale is struggling to keep up with the increasing demand for the product.
Opens question #010162 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
The uniquely scented flavor of vanilla|is second only to chocolate in popularity|on the world’s palate.‖It’s also the second most expensive spice|after saffron.‖But highly labor intensive cultivation methods|and the plant’s temperamental life cycle and propagation‖mean production on a global scale|is struggling to keep up|with the increasing demand for the product.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Aim for 22–26 seconds.
Words to stress correctly
| popularity | pop·u·LAR·i·ty | /pɑpjəˈlɛrəti/ |
| temperamental | tem·pera·MEN·tal | /tɛmprəˈmɛntəl/ |
| cultivation | cul·ti·VA·tion | /kʌltɪˈveɪʃən/ |
| propagation | prop·a·GA·tion | /prɑpəˈɡeɪʃən/ |
| production | pro·DUC·tion | /prəˈdʌkʃən/ |
| increasing | in·CREAS·ing | /ɪnˈkrisɪŋ/ |
58 words, aim 22–26 seconds. No numbers; second is already a word. Breathe after palate, saffron and propagation. The last sentence is long, so keep a steady pace through mean production on a global scale.
Where marks are usually lost
Stress: pop·u·LAR·i·ty, tem·pera·MEN·tal, cul·ti·VA·tion, prop·a·GA·tion, pro·DUC·tion, in·CREAS·ing. Keep the -ed on scented, the -s on methods and world’s, plant’s. Don't hesitate before temperamental.
General tip: palate is /ˈpælət/, two syllables, not “pa-late”; and saffron ends in a weak /rən/.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 香草独特的芬芳味道在全球口味中的受欢迎程度仅次于巧克力。它也是仅次于藏红花的第二昂贵香料。但高度劳动密集的种植方法，以及这种植物喜怒无常的生命周期和繁殖方式，意味着全球范围的生产难以跟上对该产品不断增长的需求。
हिन्दी: वनीला का अनोखा सुगंधित स्वाद दुनिया की पसंद में लोकप्रियता के मामले में केवल चॉकलेट से पीछे है। यह केसर के बाद दूसरा सबसे महँगा मसाला भी है। लेकिन अत्यधिक श्रम-प्रधान खेती के तरीके और इस पौधे के मनमौजी जीवन-चक्र व प्रजनन का मतलब है कि वैश्विक स्तर पर उत्पादन इस उत्पाद की बढ़ती माँग के साथ तालमेल बिठाने में संघर्ष कर रहा है।
नेपाली: भनिलाको अनौठो सुगन्धित स्वाद संसारको रुचिमा लोकप्रियताको हिसाबले चकलेटपछि दोस्रो छ। यो केसरपछिको दोस्रो सबैभन्दा महँगो मसला पनि हो। तर अत्यन्त श्रमप्रधान खेती विधि र यस बिरुवाको अस्थिर जीवनचक्र तथा प्रजननका कारण विश्वव्यापी स्तरमा उत्पादनले यस उत्पादनको बढ्दो मागलाई धान्न सङ्घर्ष गरिरहेको छ।
Tiếng Việt: Hương vị thơm độc đáo của vani chỉ đứng sau sô-cô-la về mức độ phổ biến trong khẩu vị thế giới. Nó cũng là loại gia vị đắt thứ hai sau nghệ tây. Nhưng phương pháp canh tác đòi hỏi nhiều lao động cùng vòng đời và cách nhân giống thất thường của cây này khiến sản lượng toàn cầu đang chật vật theo kịp nhu cầu ngày càng tăng đối với sản phẩm.
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.