For the first two or three years after the Second…
Read the text aloud.
For the first two or three years after the Second World War, a new title would often sell out within a few months of publication. However, unless public demand for the book was unusually high, they were rarely able to reprint it. With paper stocks strictly rationed, they could not afford to use up precious paper or tie up their limited capital with a reprint.
Opens question #010249 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
For the first two or three years after the Second World War,‖a new title would often sell out|within a few months of publication.‖However,|unless public demand for the book was unusually high,‖they were rarely able to reprint it.‖With paper stocks strictly rationed,|they could not afford to use up precious paper‖or tie up their limited capital with a reprint.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Aim for 25–30 seconds.
Words to stress correctly
| unusually | un·U·su·al·ly | /əˈnjuʒuəli/ |
| publication | pub·li·CA·tion | /pʌblɪˈkeɪʃən/ |
| however | how·EV·er | /haʊˈɛvɚ/ |
| reprint | re·PRINT | /riˈprɪnt/ |
| limited | LIM·it·ed | /ˈlɪmətəd/ |
| capital | CAP·i·tal | /ˈkæpətəl/ |
65 words in 25–30 seconds—the longest here, so start promptly. The only number words are two or three, already written out. Breathe after War,, publication., high,, it. and paper.
Where marks are usually lost
un·U·su·al·ly has five syllables with stress on the second—don't squash it. pub·li·CA·tion stresses the third; LIM·it·ed and CAP·i·tal the first. Keep the -ed in rationed and limited and the -s in stocks, months, years.
General tip: However, starts a contrast—give it its own short pause and a slight fall, then move on without stopping.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 二战结束后的头两三年里，一本新书往往在出版后几个月内就售罄。然而，除非公众对这本书的需求异常高，否则他们很少能够重印。由于纸张供应受到严格配给，他们无法消耗宝贵的纸张，也不能把有限的资金压在重印上。
हिन्दी: द्वितीय विश्व युद्ध के बाद के पहले दो-तीन वर्षों में, कोई नई किताब अक्सर प्रकाशन के कुछ महीनों के भीतर बिक जाती थी। हालाँकि, जब तक किताब की सार्वजनिक माँग असामान्य रूप से ऊँची न हो, वे उसे शायद ही पुनर्मुद्रित कर पाते थे। कागज़ के भंडार पर सख़्त राशनिंग के कारण, वे कीमती कागज़ खर्च करने या अपनी सीमित पूँजी पुनर्मुद्रण में फँसाने का जोखिम नहीं उठा सकते थे।
नेपाली: दोस्रो विश्वयुद्धपछिका पहिला दुई-तीन वर्षमा, नयाँ पुस्तक प्रायः प्रकाशनको केही महिनाभित्रै बिकेर सकिन्थ्यो। तर, पुस्तकको सार्वजनिक माग असामान्य रूपमा उच्च नभएसम्म, उनीहरू त्यसलाई विरलै पुनर्मुद्रण गर्न सक्थे। कागजको भण्डार कडा रूपमा राशन गरिएकाले, उनीहरूले बहुमूल्य कागज खर्च गर्न वा आफ्नो सीमित पुँजी पुनर्मुद्रणमा अड्काउन सक्दैनथे।
Tiếng Việt: Trong hai hoặc ba năm đầu sau Thế chiến thứ hai, một đầu sách mới thường bán hết trong vài tháng sau khi xuất bản. Tuy nhiên, trừ khi nhu cầu của công chúng với cuốn sách cao bất thường, họ hiếm khi có thể tái bản. Do giấy bị phân phối chặt chẽ, họ không thể dùng hết giấy quý giá hay chôn vốn hạn hẹp của mình vào một lần tái bản.
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.