The networks of roots that plants used to absorb water…
Read the text aloud.
The networks of roots that plants used to absorb water and nutrients can encompass a space larger than the part of the plant visible above ground. The nature of these roots systems can help plants adapt to challenging environments such as deserts.
Opens question #010475 in the RealPTE practice screen.
How to read it
The networks of roots that plants use to absorb water and nutrients|can encompass a space larger than the part of the plant visible above ground.‖The nature of these root systems|can help plants adapt to challenging environments such as deserts.
| short pause ‖ breathe
Aim for 16–19 seconds.
Words to stress correctly
| environments | en·VI·ron·ments | /ɪnˈvaɪrənmənts/ |
| encompass | en·COM·pass | /ɛnˈkʌmpəs/ |
| challenging | CHAL·len·ging | /ˈtʃæləndʒɪŋ/ |
| nutrients | NU·tri·ents | /ˈnutriənts/ |
| visible | VIS·i·ble | /ˈvɪzəbəl/ |
| absorb | ab·SORB | /əbˈzɔrb/ |
42 words, aim 16–19 seconds. No numbers. Breathe once after ground.; short pauses after nutrients and systems. Keep an even pace through the second sentence rather than rushing to deserts.
Where marks are usually lost
Stressing the first syllable of ab·SORB, en·COM·pass or en·VI·ron·ments. Dropping the final clusters in roots, plants, nutrients, environments, deserts. Pausing before encompass.
General tip: plants and plant both appear—make the plural -s audible the first two times and keep the singular clean in the part of the plant.
What it means: 中文 · हिन्दी · नेपाली · Tiếng Việt
中文: 植物用来吸收水分和养分的根系网络所占据的空间，可能比植物露出地面的部分还要大。这些根系的特性可以帮助植物适应沙漠等严酷的环境。
हिन्दी: पौधे पानी और पोषक तत्व सोखने के लिए जड़ों के जिन जालों का उपयोग करते हैं, वे ज़मीन के ऊपर दिखने वाले पौधे के हिस्से से भी बड़ी जगह घेर सकते हैं। इन जड़ प्रणालियों की प्रकृति पौधों को मरुस्थल जैसे कठिन वातावरण में अनुकूल होने में मदद कर सकती है।
नेपाली: बिरुवाहरूले पानी र पोषक तत्व सोस्न प्रयोग गर्ने जराका सञ्जालले जमिनमाथि देखिने बिरुवाको भागभन्दा ठूलो ठाउँ ओगट्न सक्छन्। यी जरा प्रणालीको प्रकृतिले बिरुवाहरूलाई मरुभूमि जस्ता चुनौतीपूर्ण वातावरणमा अनुकूल हुन मद्दत गर्न सक्छ।
Tiếng Việt: Mạng lưới rễ mà cây dùng để hấp thụ nước và chất dinh dưỡng có thể chiếm một không gian lớn hơn phần cây nhìn thấy trên mặt đất. Bản chất của các hệ rễ này có thể giúp cây thích nghi với những môi trường khắc nghiệt như sa mạc.
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.