New research identifies a process that might have been key…
Read the text aloud.
New research identifies a process that might have been key in producing the first organic molecules on Earth about 4 billion years ago, before the origin of life. The process, which is similar to what might have occurred in some ancient underwater hydrothermal vents, may also have relevance to the search for life elsewhere in the universe.
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How to read it
New research identifies a process|that might have been key in producing the first organic molecules on Earth‖about 4 billion years ago,|before the origin of life.‖The process,|which is similar to what might have occurred in some ancient underwater hydrothermal vents,‖may also have relevance to the search for life|elsewhere in the universe.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Aim for 22–26 seconds.
Words to stress correctly
| hydrothermal | hy·dro·THER·mal | /haɪdroʊˈθɝməl/ |
| identifies | i·DEN·ti·fies | /aɪˈdɛntəfaɪz/ |
| producing | pro·DU·cing | /prəˈdusɪŋ/ |
| organic | or·GA·nic | /ɔrˈɡænɪk/ |
| molecules | MO·le·cules | /ˈmɑləkjulz/ |
57 words in 22–26 seconds. Say 4 billion as “four billion”. Breathe after Earth, life and vents. Pause briefly after The process so the long which clause sits inside its commas, then land on universe.
Where marks are usually lost
Stress i·DEN·ti·fies, pro·DU·cing, or·GA·nic on the second syllable, hy·dro·THER·mal on the third, MO·le·cules on the first. Don't stall before 4 billion or hydrothermal. Keep -s in identifies, molecules, years, vents and -ed in occurred.
General tip: occurred is two syllables with a long stressed vowel—don't add a third syllable for -ed.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 新研究发现了一个过程，它可能是大约40亿年前、生命起源之前地球上产生第一批有机分子的关键。这一过程与某些远古海底热液喷口中可能发生的情形相似，也可能对在宇宙其他地方寻找生命有重要意义。
हिन्दी: नए शोध ने एक ऐसी प्रक्रिया की पहचान की है जो लगभग 4 अरब वर्ष पहले, जीवन की उत्पत्ति से पूर्व, पृथ्वी पर पहले कार्बनिक अणु बनाने में महत्वपूर्ण रही हो सकती है। यह प्रक्रिया, जो कुछ प्राचीन समुद्री जलतापीय छिद्रों में हुई संभावित घटनाओं जैसी है, ब्रह्मांड में अन्यत्र जीवन की खोज के लिए भी प्रासंगिक हो सकती है।
नेपाली: नयाँ अनुसन्धानले एउटा प्रक्रिया पहिचान गरेको छ जुन करिब 4 अर्ब वर्षअघि, जीवनको उत्पत्तिभन्दा पहिले, पृथ्वीमा पहिलो जैविक अणुहरू बन्नमा महत्त्वपूर्ण भएको हुन सक्छ। केही प्राचीन समुद्रमुनिका जलतापीय छिद्रहरूमा भएको हुन सक्ने घटनासँग मिल्दोजुल्दो यो प्रक्रिया, ब्रह्माण्डको अन्यत्र जीवनको खोजीका लागि पनि सान्दर्भिक हुन सक्छ।
Tiếng Việt: Nghiên cứu mới xác định một quá trình có thể đã đóng vai trò then chốt trong việc tạo ra các phân tử hữu cơ đầu tiên trên Trái Đất khoảng 4 tỷ năm trước, trước khi sự sống xuất hiện. Quá trình này, tương tự những gì có thể đã xảy ra ở một số miệng phun thủy nhiệt cổ xưa dưới đáy biển, cũng có thể có ý nghĩa đối với việc tìm kiếm sự sống ở nơi khác trong vũ trụ.
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.