An economic depression is a period of sustained, long-term downturn…
Read the text aloud.
An economic depression is a period of sustained, long-term downturn in economic activity in one or more economies. It is more severe than a recession, which is a slowdown in economic activity over the course of a normal business cycle. Economic depressions are characterized by their length, and by abnormally large increases in unemployment rate.
Opens question #010341 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
An economic depression|is a period of sustained, long-term downturn|in economic activity‖in one or more economies.‖It is more severe than a recession,|which is a slowdown in economic activity‖over the course of a normal business cycle.‖Economic depressions are characterized by their length,‖and by abnormally large increases|in unemployment rate.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Aim for 21–25 seconds.
Words to stress correctly
| unemployment | un·em·PLOY·ment | /ʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt/ |
| abnormally | ab·NOR·mal·ly | /æbˈnɔrməli/ |
| economies | e·CON·o·mies | /ɪˈkɑnəmiz/ |
| economic | ec·o·NOM·ic | /ɛkəˈnɑmɪk/ |
| activity | ac·TIV·i·ty | /ækˈtɪvəti/ |
| characterized | CHAR·ac·ter·ized | /ˈkɛrəktɚaɪzd/ |
55 words, aim 21–25 seconds. No numbers. Breathe after the first activity, economies, the second activity, cycle and length; short pauses at the commas.
Where marks are usually lost
Stress contrast: ec·o·NOM·ic (third) but e·CON·o·mies (second); also ac·TIV·i·ty, ab·NOR·mal·ly on the second, un·em·PLOY·ment on the third, CHAR·ac·ter·ized on the first. Keep -ed in sustained, characterized and -s in economies, depressions, increases. economic appears four times — say it the same way each time.
General tip: increases is a plural noun here: the -es is an extra syllable /ɪz/ — don't swallow it before in unemployment.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 经济萧条是指一个或多个经济体中经济活动持续、长期下滑的时期。它比衰退更严重，衰退是在正常商业周期内经济活动的放缓。经济萧条的特点是持续时间长，以及失业率异常大幅上升。
हिन्दी: आर्थिक मंदी (डिप्रेशन) एक या अधिक अर्थव्यवस्थाओं में आर्थिक गतिविधि में निरंतर, दीर्घकालिक गिरावट की अवधि है। यह रिसेशन से अधिक गंभीर है, जो सामान्य व्यापार चक्र के दौरान आर्थिक गतिविधि में सुस्ती है। आर्थिक मंदियों की पहचान उनकी लंबाई और बेरोज़गारी दर में असामान्य रूप से बड़ी वृद्धि से होती है।
नेपाली: आर्थिक महामन्दी भनेको एक वा बढी अर्थतन्त्रमा आर्थिक गतिविधिमा निरन्तर, दीर्घकालीन गिरावट आउने अवधि हो। यो मन्दीभन्दा गम्भीर हुन्छ; मन्दी भनेको सामान्य व्यापार चक्रभित्र आर्थिक गतिविधि सुस्त हुनु हो। आर्थिक महामन्दीहरूको पहिचान तिनको लम्बाइ र बेरोजगारी दरमा असामान्य रूपले ठूलो वृद्धिबाट हुन्छ।
Tiếng Việt: Đại suy thoái kinh tế là một giai đoạn sụt giảm kéo dài, dài hạn trong hoạt động kinh tế ở một hoặc nhiều nền kinh tế. Nó nghiêm trọng hơn suy thoái thông thường, vốn là sự chậm lại của hoạt động kinh tế trong một chu kỳ kinh doanh bình thường. Đại suy thoái được đặc trưng bởi độ dài của nó và bởi mức tăng lớn bất thường của tỷ lệ thất nghiệp.
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.