Conservation scientists have long tried to map how much of…
Read the text aloud.
Conservation scientists have long tried to map how much of the planet remains undegraded by human activity. Previous estimates using satellite imagery or raw demographic data found anywhere from 20 to 40 percent of the globe was free from obvious human incursions, such as roads, light pollution or the gaping scars of deforestation. But an intact forest canopy can hide an emptied-out ecosystem below.
Opens question #010308 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
Conservation scientists have long tried to map|how much of the planet remains undegraded|by human activity.‖Previous estimates using satellite imagery|or raw demographic data‖found anywhere from 20 to 40 percent of the globe|was free from obvious human incursions,‖such as roads, light pollution|or the gaping scars of deforestation.‖But an intact forest canopy|can hide an emptied-out ecosystem below.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Words to stress correctly
| deforestation | de·for·es·TA·tion | /dɪfɔrɪˈsteɪʃən/ |
| conservation | con·ser·VA·tion | /kɑnsɚˈveɪʃən/ |
| demographic | dem·o·GRAPH·ic | /dɛməˈɡræfɪk/ |
| activity | ac·TIV·i·ty | /ækˈtɪvəti/ |
| incursions | in·CUR·sions | /ɪnˈkɝʒənz/ |
| pollution | pol·LU·tion | /pəˈluʃən/ |
64 words, aim for 25–29 seconds. Say 20 as "twenty" and 40 as "forty". Breathe after activity, data, incursions and deforestation; short pauses after map, undegraded, imagery, globe, pollution, canopy.
Where marks are usually lost
Stress: con·ser·VA·tion, ac·TIV·i·ty, dem·o·GRAPH·ic, in·CUR·sions, pol·LU·tion, de·for·es·TA·tion. Don't hesitate before undegraded or emptied-out. Keep -s on scientists, remains, estimates, incursions, roads, scars and -ed on tried, undegraded.
General tip: from 20 to 40 percent is one unit; say the two numbers with the same weight and keep percent attached, not as an afterthought.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 保护科学家长期以来一直试图绘制地球上有多少地方仍未被人类活动破坏。以往利用卫星图像或原始人口数据的估算发现，全球约 20% 至 40% 的区域没有明显的人类侵入，例如道路、光污染或森林砍伐留下的巨大伤痕。但一片完整的森林树冠之下，可能隐藏着一个已被掏空的生态系统。
हिन्दी: संरक्षण वैज्ञानिक लंबे समय से यह मानचित्रित करने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं कि पृथ्वी का कितना हिस्सा मानवीय गतिविधि से अब भी अप्रभावित है। उपग्रह चित्रों या कच्चे जनसांख्यिकीय आँकड़ों पर आधारित पिछले अनुमानों में पाया गया कि विश्व का 20 से 40 प्रतिशत भाग सड़कों, प्रकाश प्रदूषण या वनों की कटाई के गहरे घावों जैसे स्पष्ट मानवीय हस्तक्षेप से मुक्त था। लेकिन एक अखंड वन-छत्र अपने नीचे एक खाली हो चुके पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र को छिपा सकता है।
नेपाली: संरक्षण वैज्ञानिकहरूले पृथ्वीको कति भाग मानवीय क्रियाकलापले अझै बिग्रिएको छैन भनी नक्सा बनाउन लामो समयदेखि प्रयास गरिरहेका छन्। उपग्रह तस्बिर वा कच्चा जनसांख्यिक तथ्याङ्क प्रयोग गरेका अघिल्ला अनुमानहरूले विश्वको 20 देखि 40 प्रतिशत भाग सडक, प्रकाश प्रदूषण वा वन फँडानीका गहिरा घाउजस्ता स्पष्ट मानवीय हस्तक्षेपबाट मुक्त रहेको पाएका थिए। तर एउटा अखण्ड वन-छत्रले आफ्नो तल खाली भइसकेको पारिस्थितिक प्रणाली लुकाउन सक्छ।
Tiếng Việt: Các nhà khoa học bảo tồn từ lâu đã cố lập bản đồ xem bao nhiêu phần của hành tinh còn chưa bị suy thoái do hoạt động của con người. Những ước tính trước đây dựa trên ảnh vệ tinh hoặc dữ liệu nhân khẩu thô cho thấy khoảng 20 đến 40 phần trăm diện tích địa cầu không có dấu vết xâm lấn rõ ràng của con người, như đường sá, ô nhiễm ánh sáng hay những vết sẹo lớn do phá rừng. Nhưng một tán rừng còn nguyên vẹn có thể che giấu một hệ sinh thái đã bị rút rỗng bên dưới.
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.