Global water consumption has increased almost fourfold in the past…
Read the text aloud.
Global water consumption has increased almost fourfold in the past 100 years, and many regions can only meet their water demand thanks to essential contributions from mountain regions. In 30 years, almost a quarter of the world's lowland population will strongly depend on runoff from the mountains. Only sustainable development can ensure the important function of mountain areas as Earth's 'water towers'.
Opens question #010265 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
Global water consumption has increased almost fourfold|in the past 100 years,‖and many regions can only meet their water demand|thanks to essential contributions from mountain regions.‖In 30 years,|almost a quarter of the world's lowland population|will strongly depend on runoff from the mountains.‖Only sustainable development can ensure the important function of mountain areas|as Earth's 'water towers'.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Words to stress correctly
| contributions | con·tri·BU·tions | /kɑntrəˈbjuʃənz/ |
| sustainable | sus·TAIN·a·ble | /səˈsteɪnəbəl/ |
| development | de·VEL·op·ment | /dɪˈvɛləpmənt/ |
| population | pop·u·LA·tion | /pɑpjəˈleɪʃən/ |
| consumption | con·SUMP·tion | /kənˈsʌmpʃən/ |
| essential | es·SEN·tial | /ɛˈsɛnʃəl/ |
62 words, aim for 24–28 seconds. Say 100 as "a hundred" (or "one hundred") and 30 as "thirty". Breathe after years, regions (second one) and mountains; this is long, so keep each breath group steady.
Where marks are usually lost
Stress con·SUMP·tion, sus·TAIN·a·ble and pop·u·LA·tion correctly. Do not slow down before fourfold or the numbers. Keep increased (-ed) and the -s on regions, contributions, mountains, areas, towers.
General tip: Treat 'water towers' as a normal phrase — the quotation marks need no pause or special voice.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 在过去100年里，全球用水量增长了近四倍，许多地区只能依靠山区的重要贡献来满足用水需求。30年后，世界近四分之一的低地人口将高度依赖来自山区的径流。只有可持续发展才能确保山区作为地球“水塔”的重要功能。
हिन्दी: पिछले 100 वर्षों में वैश्विक जल खपत लगभग चार गुना बढ़ी है, और कई क्षेत्र केवल पर्वतीय क्षेत्रों के आवश्यक योगदान के कारण ही अपनी जल माँग पूरी कर पाते हैं। 30 वर्षों में, दुनिया की निचली भूमि की लगभग एक-चौथाई आबादी पहाड़ों से आने वाले बहाव पर बहुत अधिक निर्भर होगी। केवल टिकाऊ विकास ही पृथ्वी के 'जल स्तंभ' के रूप में पर्वतीय क्षेत्रों की महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका सुनिश्चित कर सकता है।
नेपाली: विगत १०० वर्षमा विश्वव्यापी पानीको खपत झन्डै चार गुणा बढेको छ, र धेरै क्षेत्रहरूले हिमाली क्षेत्रको अत्यावश्यक योगदानका कारण मात्र आफ्नो पानीको माग पूरा गर्न सक्छन्। ३० वर्षमा, विश्वको तराई जनसंख्याको झन्डै एक चौथाई हिमालबाट बग्ने पानीमा निकै निर्भर हुनेछ। दिगो विकासले मात्र पृथ्वीको 'पानीको धारा' का रूपमा हिमाली क्षेत्रको महत्त्वपूर्ण भूमिका सुनिश्चित गर्न सक्छ।
Tiếng Việt: Lượng tiêu thụ nước toàn cầu đã tăng gần bốn lần trong 100 năm qua, và nhiều khu vực chỉ đáp ứng được nhu cầu nước nhờ đóng góp thiết yếu từ các vùng núi. Trong 30 năm nữa, gần một phần tư dân số vùng đất thấp trên thế giới sẽ phụ thuộc nhiều vào dòng chảy từ núi. Chỉ có phát triển bền vững mới bảo đảm được chức năng quan trọng của vùng núi như những 'tháp nước' của Trái Đất.
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.