Killer cosmic rays from nearby supernovae could be the culprit…
Read the text aloud.
Killer cosmic rays from nearby supernovae could be the culprit behind at least one mass extinction event, researchers said, and finding certain radioactive isotopes in Earth’s rock record could confirm this scenario.
Opens question #010276 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
Killer cosmic rays from nearby supernovae|could be the culprit behind at least one mass extinction event,|researchers said,‖and finding certain radioactive isotopes in Earth’s rock record|could confirm this scenario.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Aim for 12–15 seconds.
Words to stress correctly
| radioactive | ra·di·o·AC·tive | /reɪdioʊˈæktɪv/ |
| scenario | sce·NAR·i·o | /sɪˈnɛrioʊ/ |
| extinction | ex·TINC·tion | /ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən/ |
| isotopes | I·so·topes | /ˈaɪsətoʊps/ |
| confirm | con·FIRM | /kənˈfɝm/ |
32 words in 12–15 seconds, one sentence, no numbers. One breath only, after said; short pauses after supernovae and event.
Where marks are usually lost
Stress: ra·di·o·AC·tive, sce·NAR·i·o, ex·TINC·tion, I·so·topes, con·FIRM. supernovae and culprit are the hesitation points. Keep endings: rays, isotopes, Earth's, said.
General tip: supernovae ends in /-viː/ or /-vaɪ/; either is accepted — pick one and don't stop to think.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 研究人员表示，来自附近超新星的致命宇宙射线可能是至少一次生物大灭绝事件的罪魁祸首，而在地球岩石记录中找到某些放射性同位素可以证实这一设想。
हिन्दी: शोधकर्ताओं ने कहा कि पास के सुपरनोवा से आने वाली घातक कॉस्मिक किरणें कम से कम एक सामूहिक विलोपन घटना की दोषी हो सकती हैं, और पृथ्वी के शैल-अभिलेख में कुछ रेडियोधर्मी समस्थानिक मिलना इस परिदृश्य की पुष्टि कर सकता है।
नेपाली: अनुसन्धानकर्ताहरूले भने, नजिकका सुपरनोभाबाट आएका घातक ब्रह्माण्डीय किरणहरू कम्तीमा एउटा सामूहिक विनाश घटनाका दोषी हुन सक्छन्, र पृथ्वीको चट्टान अभिलेखमा केही रेडियोधर्मी आइसोटोपहरू भेटिनुले यो परिदृश्य पुष्टि गर्न सक्छ।
Tiếng Việt: Các nhà nghiên cứu cho biết tia vũ trụ chết người từ các siêu tân tinh gần đó có thể là thủ phạm gây ra ít nhất một sự kiện tuyệt chủng hàng loạt, và việc tìm thấy một số đồng vị phóng xạ nhất định trong hồ sơ đá của Trái Đất có thể xác nhận kịch bản này.
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.