Thus language acquisition might be like other biological functions. The…
Read the text aloud.
Thus language acquisition might be like other biological functions. The linguistic clumsiness of tourists and students might be the price we pay for the linguistic genius we displayed as babies, just as the decrepitude of age is the price we pay for the vigor of youth.
Opens question #010284 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
Thus language acquisition might be like other biological functions.‖The linguistic clumsiness of tourists and students|might be the price we pay for the linguistic genius we displayed as babies,‖just as the decrepitude of age|is the price we pay for the vigor of youth.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Words to stress correctly
| biological | bi·o·LOG·i·cal | /baɪəˈlɑdʒɪkəl/ |
| acquisition | ac·qui·SI·tion | /ækwəˈzɪʃən/ |
| linguistic | lin·GUIS·tic | /lɪŋˈɡwɪstɪk/ |
| clumsiness | CLUM·si·ness | /ˈklʌmzinəs/ |
| displayed | dis·PLAYED | /dɪsˈpleɪd/ |
46 words, aim for 18–21 seconds, no numbers. Breathe after biological functions and after as babies; short pauses after students and after age.
Where marks are usually lost
Stress bi·o·LOG·i·cal and ac·qui·SI·tion on the third syllable, lin·GUIS·tic (twice) on the second, CLUM·si·ness on the first, dis·PLAYED on the last. Don't stall at decrepitude—say it smoothly. Keep -s on functions, tourists, students, babies and -ed on displayed.
General tip: the two 'price we pay' clauses are parallel—match their rhythm so the comparison is clear to the listener.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 因此，语言习得可能和其他生物功能一样。游客和学生在语言上的笨拙，也许正是我们为婴儿时期展现的语言天才所付出的代价，就像年老的衰朽是我们为青春活力所付出的代价一样。
हिन्दी: इस प्रकार भाषा-अर्जन भी अन्य जैविक कार्यों जैसा हो सकता है। पर्यटकों और छात्रों का भाषाई अनाड़ीपन शायद वह कीमत है जो हम शिशु-अवस्था में दिखाई गई भाषाई प्रतिभा के लिए चुकाते हैं, ठीक वैसे ही जैसे वृद्धावस्था की जर्जरता वह कीमत है जो हम यौवन की ऊर्जा के लिए चुकाते हैं।
नेपाली: त्यसैले भाषा सिकाइ पनि अन्य जैविक कार्यहरूजस्तै हुन सक्छ। पर्यटक र विद्यार्थीहरूको भाषिक अनाडीपन सायद त्यो मूल्य हो जुन हामी शिशु अवस्थामा देखाएको भाषिक प्रतिभाका लागि चुकाउँछौँ, ठीक त्यसरी नै जसरी वृद्धावस्थाको जीर्णता हामीले युवावस्थाको जोसका लागि चुकाउने मूल्य हो।
Tiếng Việt: Như vậy, việc tiếp thu ngôn ngữ có thể giống các chức năng sinh học khác. Sự vụng về ngôn ngữ của du khách và sinh viên có lẽ là cái giá chúng ta trả cho thiên tài ngôn ngữ mà ta đã bộc lộ khi còn là trẻ sơ sinh, cũng như sự già yếu của tuổi tác là cái giá ta trả cho sức sống của tuổi trẻ.
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.