PSLE Reading Aloud 1: The Lost Puppy
This passage helps you practise reading a personal story aloud in a warm voice. Read the situation first, then the passage, then check yourself against the notes.
The situation
You are telling a friend about how you helped find a lost puppy in your neighbourhood. Read the passage aloud.
You are telling a story to a friend. Sound warm and lively. Let your voice show relief and happiness at the end.
The passage
It was a quiet Sunday morning when I heard a soft whimpering coming from the bushes near my block. Curious, I peered inside and found a tiny brown puppy, shivering and alone. Its big eyes looked up at me, full of fear. "Where did you come from?" I whispered gently, scooping it into my arms. Its fur was damp from the morning dew, and I could feel its little heart racing against my hands.
My neighbour, Mr Tan, helped me put up posters around the estate and even asked the shopkeepers nearby if anyone recognised the puppy. For two long days, we waited anxiously, hoping that someone would come forward to claim it. Then, on Tuesday evening, a worried family knocked on our door. The moment their little girl saw the puppy, she burst into tears of joy and hugged it tightly. "Thank you so much!" she cried. My heart swelled with happiness, and I had never felt so proud to have helped.
How it is marked
Examiners listen for clear pronunciation, a natural pace, expression, and a tone that suits the situation.
| What to do | How to do it |
|---|---|
| Match the tone | Start gentle and curious. End happy and proud. One flat voice loses expression marks. |
| Use the punctuation | Pause at full stops. Take a short breath at commas. |
| Show the question and the exclamation | Lift your voice at "Where did you come from?" and "Thank you so much!" |
| Voice the speech | Say the whispered line softly. Make the girl's thank-you sound emotional. |
| Slow down | Nerves make you rush. A calm pace keeps every word clear. |
Hard words
Practise these before you read the whole passage.
| Word | Say it | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| whimpering | WIM-per-ing | The "wh" is a soft "w". |
| peered | peerd | It is 1 syllable, not "pee-red". |
| anxiously | ANK-shus-lee | |
| swelled | swelld | Say the "sw". Do not say "welled". |
Practise
- Read the situation. Say out loud who you are and how you will sound.
- Read the passage once for accuracy.
- Read it again for expression.
- Record yourself on a phone. Can you hear the gentle part and the happy part?
Next: Reading Aloud Passage 2: A Message to a Friend · Back to PSLE Oral Practice