Nell says that, in order to seek protecting from their…
Read the text aloud.
Nell says that, in order to seek protecting from their furry foes, birds actually prefer to build their nests in plots of swamp with a resident alligator. In fact, in one study a graduate student planted fake alligators. The birds seemed to prefer to build nests close to them. “Where there’s a water source, there are alligators, so it’s sort of this moat of protection around these colonies.”
Opens question #010339 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
Nell says that,|in order to seek protection from their furry foes,‖birds actually prefer to build their nests|in plots of swamp with a resident alligator.‖In fact,|in one study a graduate student planted fake alligators.‖The birds seemed to prefer to build nests close to them.‖“Where there’s a water source,|there are alligators,‖so it’s sort of this moat of protection|around these colonies.”
| short pause ‖ breathe
Aim for 26–31 seconds.
Words to stress correctly
| protection | pro·TEC·tion | /prəˈtɛkʃən/ |
| alligators | AL·li·ga·tors | /ˈæləɡeɪtɚz/ |
| alligator | AL·li·ga·tor | /ˈæləɡeɪtɚ/ |
| actually | AC·tu·al·ly | /ˈæktʃuəli/ |
| resident | RES·i·dent | /ˈrɛzɪdənt/ |
| graduate | GRAD·u·ate | /ˈɡrædʒəwət/ |
68 words, aim 26–31 seconds. No numbers. Breathe after foes, alligator, alligators, them and the second alligators, inside the quote; short pauses after that,, In fact, and source,.
Where marks are usually lost
First-syllable stress: AL·li·ga·tor, AL·li·ga·tors, AC·tu·al·ly, RES·i·dent, GRAD·u·ate; only pro·TEC·tion stresses the second. Keep -ed in planted, seemed and -s in foes, nests, plots, colonies. Don't hesitate before furry foes.
General tip: graduate here describes the student — three syllables with a weak final "-ate" (/ət/), not the verb's /eɪt/.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 内尔说，为了躲避毛茸茸的天敌，鸟类其实更愿意把巢筑在有一条常驻短吻鳄的沼泽地块里。事实上，在一项研究中，一名研究生放置了假鳄鱼，鸟类似乎更愿意在它们附近筑巢。"哪里有水源，哪里就有鳄鱼，所以这就像是围绕这些鸟群的一道保护护城河。"
हिन्दी: नेल कहती हैं कि अपने रोएँदार दुश्मनों से सुरक्षा पाने के लिए, पक्षी वास्तव में दलदल के उन हिस्सों में घोंसला बनाना पसंद करते हैं जहाँ एक स्थायी मगरमच्छ रहता हो। दरअसल, एक अध्ययन में एक स्नातक छात्र ने नकली मगरमच्छ रखे। पक्षी उनके पास घोंसला बनाना पसंद करते दिखे। "जहाँ पानी का स्रोत है, वहाँ मगरमच्छ हैं, तो यह इन कॉलोनियों के चारों ओर सुरक्षा की एक खाई जैसी है।"
नेपाली: नेल भन्छिन्, आफ्ना रौँदार शत्रुबाट सुरक्षा खोज्न चराहरू वास्तवमा स्थायी गोही बसेको दलदलको टुक्रामा गुँड बनाउन रुचाउँछन्। वास्तवमा, एक अध्ययनमा एक स्नातक विद्यार्थीले नक्कली गोही राखे। चराहरूले तिनका नजिकै गुँड बनाउन रुचाएजस्तो देखियो। "जहाँ पानीको स्रोत छ, त्यहाँ गोही छन्, त्यसैले यो यी बस्तीहरू वरिपरिको सुरक्षाको खाडल जस्तै हो।"
Tiếng Việt: Nell nói rằng, để tìm sự bảo vệ khỏi những kẻ thù lông lá, loài chim thực ra thích xây tổ ở những khoảnh đầm lầy có một con cá sấu thường trú. Thực tế, trong một nghiên cứu, một sinh viên sau đại học đã đặt những con cá sấu giả. Lũ chim dường như thích làm tổ gần chúng. "Ở đâu có nguồn nước, ở đó có cá sấu, nên nó giống như một con hào bảo vệ quanh những đàn chim 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.