In 1861, Matthew Brady, a well- known portrait photographer, approached…
Read the text aloud.
In 1861, Matthew Brady, a well- known portrait photographer, approached President Lincoln requesting permission to move freely about the country photographing the Civil War. Lincoln granted him permission to travel anywhere with the Union armies, and his record of this conflict brought home to millions the horrors of war.
Opens question #010334 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
In 1861,|Matthew Brady,|a well-known portrait photographer,‖approached President Lincoln|requesting permission to move freely about the country|photographing the Civil War.‖Lincoln granted him permission|to travel anywhere with the Union armies,‖and his record of this conflict|brought home to millions|the horrors of war.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Aim for 18–22 seconds.
Words to stress correctly
| photographer | pho·TOG·ra·pher | /fəˈtɑɡrəfɚ/ |
| photographing | PHO·to·graph·ing | /ˈfoʊtəɡræfɪŋ/ |
| requesting | re·QUEST·ing | /rɪˈkwɛstɪŋ/ |
| permission | per·MIS·sion | /pɚˈmɪʃən/ |
| approached | ap·PROACHED | /əˈproʊtʃt/ |
| president | PRES·i·dent | /ˈprɛzədɛnt/ |
48 words, aim 18–22 seconds. Say 1861 as "eighteen sixty-one". Breathe after photographer, War and armies; short pauses at the commas.
Where marks are usually lost
Stress shifts: pho·TOG·ra·pher but PHO·to·graph·ing — say both correctly. Keep the final -ed on approached and granted, and -s on armies, millions, horrors. Don't hesitate before 1861; practise it as one unit.
General tip: Read Matthew Brady, a well-known portrait photographer, as one smooth appositive, slightly lower in pitch, then lift your voice on approached.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 1861年，著名肖像摄影师马修·布雷迪找到林肯总统，请求允许他在全国自由行动，拍摄南北战争。林肯准许他随联邦军队前往任何地方，他对这场冲突的记录让数百万人切身感受到战争的恐怖。
हिन्दी: 1861 में, प्रसिद्ध पोर्ट्रेट फोटोग्राफर मैथ्यू ब्रैडी ने राष्ट्रपति लिंकन से संपर्क कर गृहयुद्ध की तस्वीरें लेने के लिए देश भर में स्वतंत्र रूप से घूमने की अनुमति मांगी। लिंकन ने उन्हें संघीय सेनाओं के साथ कहीं भी जाने की अनुमति दी, और इस संघर्ष के उनके रिकॉर्ड ने लाखों लोगों तक युद्ध की भयावहता पहुँचाई।
नेपाली: सन् १८६१ मा, प्रसिद्ध पोर्ट्रेट फोटोग्राफर म्याथ्यु ब्राडीले राष्ट्रपति लिंकनकहाँ गई गृहयुद्धको फोटो खिच्न देशभर स्वतन्त्र रूपमा हिँड्ने अनुमति मागे। लिंकनले उनलाई युनियन सेनासँग जहाँ पनि जान अनुमति दिए, र यस द्वन्द्वको उनको अभिलेखले लाखौं मानिसलाई युद्धको भयावहता महसुस गरायो।
Tiếng Việt: Năm 1861, Matthew Brady, một nhiếp ảnh gia chân dung nổi tiếng, đã đến gặp Tổng thống Lincoln xin phép được đi lại tự do khắp đất nước để chụp ảnh Nội chiến. Lincoln cho phép ông đi bất cứ đâu cùng quân đội Liên bang, và những ghi chép của ông về cuộc xung đột này đã đưa nỗi kinh hoàng của chiến tranh đến với hàng triệu người.
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.