To reduce pollution, it is essential that the town center…
Read the text aloud.
To reduce pollution, it is essential that the town center becomes a car-free zone. A ring road should be built so that cars are diverted away from the town center. The main shopping streets could be converted into a pedestrianized area. If trees and flowers are planted, the town center will be transformed into a quiet and green space where residents can enjoy shopping and walking in a healthy environment.
Opens question #010368 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
To reduce pollution,|it is essential that the town center|becomes a car-free zone.‖A ring road should be built|so that cars are diverted away from the town center.‖The main shopping streets|could be converted into a pedestrianized area.‖If trees and flowers are planted,|the town center will be transformed|into a quiet and green space‖where residents can enjoy shopping and walking|in a healthy environment.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Aim for 27–32 seconds.
Words to stress correctly
| environment | en·VI·ron·ment | /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/ |
| pollution | pol·LU·tion | /pəˈluʃən/ |
| essential | es·SEN·tial | /ɛˈsɛnʃəl/ |
| converted | con·VERT·ed | /kənˈvɝtɪd/ |
| diverted | di·VERT·ed | /daɪˈvɝtɪd/ |
| transformed | trans·FORMED | /trænsˈfɔrmd/ |
70 words, aim 27–32 seconds, no numbers. Breathe after zone, center (second sentence), area and space; short pauses at the commas after pollution and planted.
Where marks are usually lost
Second-syllable stress throughout: pol·LU·tion, es·SEN·tial, di·VERT·ed, con·VERT·ed, trans·FORMED, en·VI·ron·ment. Don't hesitate before pedestrianized. Keep -ed in diverted, converted, planted, transformed and -s in becomes, cars, streets, trees, flowers, residents.
General tip: 'town center' appears three times – keep it light each time so the new information (car-free, ring road, transformed) stands out.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 为了减少污染，市中心必须成为无车区。应修建一条环路，使汽车绕开市中心。主要的购物街可以改造成步行区。如果种上树木和花草，市中心将变成一个安静、绿色的空间，居民可以在健康的环境中享受购物和散步。
हिन्दी: प्रदूषण कम करने के लिए यह आवश्यक है कि शहर का केंद्र कार-मुक्त क्षेत्र बने। एक रिंग रोड बनाई जानी चाहिए ताकि कारों को शहर के केंद्र से दूर मोड़ा जा सके। मुख्य खरीदारी वाली सड़कों को पैदल क्षेत्र में बदला जा सकता है। यदि पेड़ और फूल लगाए जाएँ, तो शहर का केंद्र एक शांत और हरित स्थान में बदल जाएगा, जहाँ निवासी स्वस्थ वातावरण में खरीदारी और टहलने का आनंद ले सकेंगे।
नेपाली: प्रदूषण घटाउन सहरको केन्द्र कार-रहित क्षेत्र बन्नु अत्यावश्यक छ। कारहरूलाई सहरको केन्द्रबाट अन्यत्र मोड्न एउटा रिङ रोड बनाइनुपर्छ। मुख्य किनमेल गर्ने सडकहरूलाई पैदल क्षेत्रमा परिवर्तन गर्न सकिन्छ। रूख र फूलहरू रोपिए भने सहरको केन्द्र शान्त र हरियो ठाउँमा रूपान्तरण हुनेछ, जहाँ बासिन्दाहरू स्वस्थ वातावरणमा किनमेल र हिँडडुलको आनन्द लिन सक्छन्।
Tiếng Việt: Để giảm ô nhiễm, điều thiết yếu là trung tâm thị trấn phải trở thành khu vực không có xe hơi. Nên xây một đường vành đai để xe hơi được chuyển hướng ra xa trung tâm. Các phố mua sắm chính có thể được chuyển thành khu đi bộ. Nếu cây và hoa được trồng, trung tâm thị trấn sẽ được biến thành một không gian yên tĩnh và xanh, nơi cư dân có thể tận hưởng việc mua sắm và đi dạo trong môi trường lành mạnh.
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.