A constellation is an area in the celestial sphere in…
Read the text aloud.
A constellation is an area in the celestial sphere in which a group of stars forms an imaginary outline or pattern, typically representing an animal, mythological person or creature, or an inanimate object. The origins of the earliest constellations likely go back to prehistory.
Opens question #010239 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
A constellation is an area in the celestial sphere|in which a group of stars forms an imaginary outline or pattern,‖typically representing an animal,|mythological person or creature,|or an inanimate object.‖The origins of the earliest constellations|likely go back to prehistory.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Aim for 17–20 seconds.
Words to stress correctly
| mythological | my·tho·LOG·i·cal | /mɪθəˈlɑdʒɪkəl/ |
| imaginary | i·MAG·i·na·ry | /ɪˈmædʒənɛri/ |
| constellations | con·stel·LA·tions | /kɑnstəˈleɪʃənz/ |
| constellation | con·stel·LA·tion | /kɑnstəˈleɪʃən/ |
| representing | rep·re·SENT·ing | /rɛprɪˈzɛntɪŋ/ |
| inanimate | in·AN·i·mate | /ɪˈnænəmət/ |
44 words, aim 17–20 seconds. No numbers. Breathe after pattern and object.
Where marks are usually lost
Stress con·stel·LA·tion, my·tho·LOG·i·cal and rep·re·SENT·ing on the third syllable, i·MAG·i·na·ry and in·AN·i·mate on the second. Hesitating before mythological is the classic stumble—say it in one run. Keep the -s on stars, forms, origins, constellations.
General tip: celestial has a 'ch' sound in the middle ('se-les-chul'), not a hard 't'—practise it twice before you record.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 星座是天球上的一个区域，其中一组恒星构成一个假想的轮廓或图案，通常代表一种动物、神话人物或生物，或一件无生命的物体。最早的星座的起源很可能可以追溯到史前时代。
हिन्दी: तारामंडल खगोलीय गोले का वह क्षेत्र है जिसमें तारों का एक समूह एक काल्पनिक रूपरेखा या आकृति बनाता है, जो आमतौर पर किसी जानवर, पौराणिक व्यक्ति या प्राणी, या किसी निर्जीव वस्तु का प्रतिनिधित्व करता है। सबसे पुराने तारामंडलों की उत्पत्ति संभवतः प्रागैतिहासिक काल तक जाती है।
नेपाली: तारामण्डल खगोलीय गोलाको त्यस्तो क्षेत्र हो जहाँ ताराहरूको समूहले काल्पनिक रूपरेखा वा ढाँचा बनाउँछ, जसले प्रायः कुनै जनावर, पौराणिक व्यक्ति वा प्राणी, वा कुनै निर्जीव वस्तुको प्रतिनिधित्व गर्छ। सबैभन्दा पुराना तारामण्डलहरूको उत्पत्ति सम्भवतः प्रागैतिहासिक कालसम्म पुग्छ।
Tiếng Việt: Chòm sao là một vùng trên thiên cầu, trong đó một nhóm sao tạo thành một đường nét hoặc hình mẫu tưởng tượng, thường tượng trưng cho một con vật, một nhân vật hay sinh vật thần thoại, hoặc một vật vô tri. Nguồn gốc của những chòm sao sớm nhất có lẽ bắt nguồn từ thời tiền sử.
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.