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Question 2501Question →

During the commission of inquiry, the tribunal chairman stated that he would rather the lead prosecutor _______ the confidential documents with the panel in camera before releasing them to the press. Which option correctly completes the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: reviewed

Answer

The correct verb form is 'reviewed'.
When 'would rather' is followed by a subordinate clause introduced by a separate subject ('the lead prosecutor'), English grammar requires the verb in that clause to be in the past simple tense ('reviewed') to express a preference regarding present or future actions.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the syntactic structure following the modal expression 'would rather'.
The clause contains a separate subject ('the lead prosecutor') distinct from the main subject ('he').
The presence of a secondary subject after 'would rather' requires an unreal past (subjunctive) verb form.
2
Select the appropriate verb inflection for present or future hypothetical preference.
The simple past tense 'reviewed' correctly expresses the preference.
In standard English grammar, 'would rather + subject + past tense verb' expresses how a speaker wants another person to act.

Key Concept

Unreal Past and Subjunctive Mood after 'Would Rather'
Question 2502Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the most grammatically appropriate adverb in the blank space.

Fill in the blanks below

The dedicated research team worked into the night to complete the laboratory analysis before the grant deadline.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct word to fill the blank is 'hard'.
The adverb 'hard' means 'with great effort or energy', which correctly describes how the dedicated research team worked. Unlike many adverbs, 'hard' does not take an '-ly' suffix when expressing manner.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the part of speech required and the intended meaning of the sentence.
The sentence requires an adverb of manner to modify the verb 'worked', expressing intense effort or diligence.
The context describes a team exerting high energy and effort to meet a tight deadline.
2
Distinguish between the adverbs 'hard' and 'hardly'.
'Hard' functions as both an adjective and an adverb meaning 'with great energy, intensity, or effort'. 'Hardly' is an adverb of degree meaning 'scarcely' or 'almost not at all'.
Using 'hardly' would incorrectly change the meaning to state that the team barely worked.
3
Select the correct form.
'hard' correctly completes the sentence to mean working with great effort.
It fits both the grammatical function and the intended contextual meaning.

Key Concept

Adverbial Modifier Forms (Hard vs. Hardly)
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 2503Question →

Fill in the blank with the correct pronoun to complete the sentence according to standard formal English rules.

Fill in the blanks below

Neither the managing director nor the auditors submitted final reports before the financial review deadline.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

their
When compound antecedents are joined by 'neither... nor', the pronoun must agree in number with the antecedent closer to it. Since 'the auditors' is plural and closest to the blank, the plural possessive pronoun 'their' is required.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the compound antecedent and the connecting conjunctions.
The subjects are 'the managing director' (singular) and 'the auditors' (plural), joined by 'neither... nor'.
Correlative conjunctions require applying the proximity rule for pronoun agreement.
2
Determine which antecedent is closer to the pronoun position.
'the auditors' is closest to the blank position.
When subjects of different numbers are connected by 'neither... nor', the pronoun must agree with the nearer antecedent.
3
Select the possessive pronoun matching the plural noun 'auditors'.
The plural possessive pronoun 'their' correctly completes the sentence.
'auditors' is plural, so it requires the plural possessive form.

Key Concept

Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement with Correlative Conjunctions (Proximity Rule)
Question 2504Question →

Match each of the following English words with the correct representation of its primary syllable stress pattern.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

democracy
academic
export (verb)
civilization

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

democracy matches de-MOC-ra-cy; academic matches ac-a-DEM-ic; export (verb) matches ex-PORT; civilization matches civ-i-li-ZA-tion.
Each word is matched to its established primary stress schema based on English stress assignment rules: 'democracy' (de-MOC-ra-cy) has antepenultimate stress; 'academic' (ac-a-DEM-ic) has penultimate stress due to '-ic'; 'export' as a verb (ex-PORT) takes second-syllable stress; and 'civilization' (civ-i-li-ZA-tion) takes stress on the syllable preceding '-tion'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the suffix and grammatical class of each target word.
'democracy' ends in '-cy', 'academic' ends in '-ic', 'export' is a disyllabic verb, and 'civilization' ends in '-tion'.
English primary word stress is largely determined by morphological suffixes and word class.
2
Apply English stress assignment rules for suffixes and word classes.
'-cy' attracts antepenultimate stress (de-MOC-ra-cy); '-ic' attracts penultimate stress (ac-a-DEM-ic); disyllabic verbs take final/second syllable stress (ex-PORT); '-tion' attracts penultimate stress (civ-i-li-ZA-tion).
Matching each pattern correctly yields the standard primary stress placements assessed in JAMB UTME.

Key Concept

Suffix-driven and grammatical class primary stress placement rules
Question 2505Question →

Match each word in the left column with the correct phonetic consonant sound produced by its underlined letter(s) in the right column.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

monarch
chute
choir
schism

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

'monarch' matches /k/, 'chute' matches /ʃ/, 'choir' matches /kw/, and 'schism' matches /s/.
Each word features a distinct phonetic realization of consonant digraphs: 'monarch' utilizes the velar plosive /k/, 'chute' uses the postalveolar fricative /ʃ/, 'choir' is articulated with the cluster /kw/, and 'schism' reduces the initial trigraph to the alveolar fricative /s/.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the phonetic pronunciation of the underlined digraph in 'monarch'.
The final digraph 'ch' sounds like /k/ as in 'cat'.
Greek-derived words ending in '-arch' commonly realize 'ch' as /k/.
2
Determine the sound produced by the underlined digraph in 'chute'.
The initial digraph 'ch' sounds like /ʃ/ as in 'shoe'.
Words of recent French origin retain the /ʃ/ pronunciation for orthographic 'ch'.
3
Identify the sound cluster of 'ch' in 'choir'.
The initial 'ch' produces the phonetic sequence /kw/ as in 'quire'.
The irregular historical evolution of 'choir' results in an initial /kw/ articulation.
4
Determine the sound of the initial trigraph 'sch' in 'schism'.
The 'sch' spelling yields the simple /s/ consonant sound as in 'sister'.
In standard modern Received Pronunciation and English phonetics, 'schism' is pronounced starting with /s/.

Key Concept

Phonetic Realization of Consonant Digraphs and Silent Elements
Question 2506Question →

Which of the following questions is the appropriate query to which the statement below, with emphatic stress on the word in CAPITAL LETTERS, serves as the direct answer?

The diligent surgeon CAREFULLY performed the complex operation yesterday.

Show answer & explanation

Answer: Did the diligent surgeon carelessly perform the complex operation yesterday?

Answer

The question asking if the surgeon performed the operation carelessly is the correct response because emphatic stress on 'CAREFULLY' indicates that the manner of performance is being emphasized and contrasted.
In Oral English, emphatic stress highlights a specific word in a sentence to convey contrastive focus. Because 'CAREFULLY' is capitalized, the speaker is emphasizing the manner in which the action was completed. The appropriate question must dispute ONLY this manner (asking if it was done 'carelessly') while preserving every other detail of the sentence intact.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word bearing emphatic stress in the sentence.
The word 'CAREFULLY' is written in capital letters, indicating emphatic stress.
Emphatic stress is used to highlight or place contrastive focus on a specific piece of information in a statement.
2
Determine the function of the emphasized word and find its direct contradiction.
'CAREFULLY' is an adverb of manner; its contradiction is 'carelessly'.
The correct contrastive question must disagree ONLY with the stressed word, keeping all other elements of the sentence intact.
3
Select the option that questions only the manner of performance.
The question asking if the operation was done carelessly matches the required contrastive focus.
All other options challenge uncapitalized parts of the sentence (the subject's adjective, the object's adjective, or the time adverbial).

Key Concept

Emphatic Stress and Contrastive Focus
Question 2507Question →

Fill in the blank in the sentence below with the appropriate subordinating conjunction that correctly introduces the concessive clause.

Fill in the blanks below

the manager attempted to justify the sudden expenditure, the auditors remained skeptical of the financial report.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

Much as
The conjunction 'Much as' introduces a subordinate clause of concession and is synonymous with 'although' or 'even though'. It correctly precedes the finite subject-verb structure 'the manager attempted'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the relationship between the subordinate clause ('the manager attempted to justify the sudden expenditure') and the main clause ('the auditors remained skeptical...').
The two clauses express a contrast or concession, indicating an outcome contrary to expectations.
Identifying clause relations establishes the category of conjunction required.
2
Determine the conjunction that introduces a finite concessive clause in formal English.
'Much as' functions as a subordinating conjunction meaning 'although' or 'even though'.
'Much as' properly connects a finite subordinate clause (containing subject 'the manager' and verb 'attempted') to the main clause.

Key Concept

Subordinating Conjunctions of Concession
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 2508Question →

Read the statement below in which emphatic stress is placed on the word written in CAPITAL LETTERS. Identify and fill in the missing question that appropriately elicits this emphatic response.

Fill in the blanks below

Statement: The lead investigator DISCREETLY transferred the sensitive files before dawn.
Question:
Show answer & explanation

Answer

Did the lead investigator openly transfer the sensitive files before dawn?
In Oral English, emphatic stress signals contrastive focus. Because the adverb 'DISCREETLY' is emphasized, the speaker is specifically correcting or contrasting the manner of execution. The appropriate question must therefore ask whether the action was done in the opposite manner (such as 'openly' or 'publicly'), while retaining the exact same subject ('the lead investigator'), action ('transferred'), object ('the sensitive files'), and time adjunct ('before dawn').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word carrying emphatic stress in the given statement.
The word 'DISCREETLY' is capitalized, indicating that emphatic stress is placed on the manner in which the action was performed.
Emphatic stress highlights the specific information being asserted or corrected in contrastive focus.
2
Determine the focus of the required contrastive question.
The contrastive question must challenge or inquire about the manner of transfer ('discreetly') using an opposing or contrasting adverb (e.g., 'openly' or 'publicly'), while keeping all other information in the statement unchanged.
An emphatic statement contradicts only the specific element questioned in the preceding query.
3
Formulate the correct question.
'Did the lead investigator openly transfer the sensitive files before dawn?'
This question directly contrasts 'openly' with 'DISCREETLY', making the statement a natural and precise response.

Key Concept

Emphatic Stress and Contrastive Focus
Question 2509Question →

Complete the contrastive question that correctly elicits the emphatic stress in the statement below.

Statement: The experienced MECHANIC repaired the faulty engine before noon.

Fill in the blanks below

Did the experienced repair the faulty engine before noon?
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The contrastive question must substitute the capitalized word 'MECHANIC' with a contrasting profession (such as 'electrician' or 'technician') while keeping all other elements of the statement unchanged.
Placing emphatic stress on 'MECHANIC' indicates that the speaker is giving contrastive emphasis to who performed the repair. Therefore, the appropriate question must question the identity of the person by replacing 'MECHANIC' with a contrasting role while leaving the verb, object, and time adjunct unchanged.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word carrying emphatic stress in the statement.
The word 'MECHANIC' is capitalized, indicating that emphatic stress is placed on the subject performing the action.
Emphatic stress highlights a specific item of information in contrast to alternative possibilities.
2
Formulate the required contrastive question.
The question must introduce a false assumption specifically about the stressed word by replacing 'MECHANIC' with a different profession.
Answering 'No, the experienced MECHANIC repaired the faulty engine before noon' corrects the false noun in the question while affirming the rest of the statement.

Key Concept

Emphatic Stress and Contrastive Focus
Question 2510Question →

In Buchi Emecheta's prescribed novel *Second Class Citizen*, how does the character of Francis Ada primarily function in relation to Adah's quest for independence and personal development?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: He acts as an antagonistic force whose patriarchal mindset and domestic parasitic behavior systematically frustrate Adah's ambition and growth.

Answer

Francis Ada acts as an antagonistic force whose patriarchal mindset and domestic parasitic behavior systematically frustrate Adah's ambition and growth.
In *Second Class Citizen*, Francis Ada represents the chief antagonist in Adah's life. His adherence to traditional male dominance, refusal to work, financial parasite status, emotional abuse, and destruction of her manuscript directly hinder her pursuit of self-actualization and independent identity in London.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the primary thematic conflict between Adah and Francis Ada in London.
Francis opposes Adah's personal autonomy and literary aspirations while relying on her financial earnings as a librarian.
Character role analysis requires identifying how a major character's actions drive or impede the protagonist's development.
2
Evaluate key narrative turning points involving Francis Ada.
Francis destroys Adah's manuscript (*The Bride Price*) and refuses to take responsibility for family upkeep or his own studies.
These crucial actions define his role as the major obstacle (antagonist) in Adah's journey toward self-actualization.
3
Synthesize the character's functional role in the text.
Francis embodies patriarchal oppression and marital parasitism, directly opposing Adah's resilience.
This confirms that the option identifying him as an antagonistic force driving Adah's domestic struggles is correct.

Key Concept

Major Character Identification and Role Analysis
Question 2511Question →

In spoken English, multisyllabic words ending with the suffix '-ical' follow specific phonological accentuation rules. Which pattern correctly indicates the primary stressed syllable for the word geographical?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: ge-o-GRAPH-i-cal

Answer

The correct option is 'ge-o-GRAPH-i-cal', which places primary stress on the third syllable (GRAPH).
Primary stress is correctly assigned to the third syllable 'GRAPH' (ge-o-GRAPH-i-cal) because English phonological rules dictate that words ending in '-ical' carry primary stress on the antepenultimate syllable.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the suffix and morphological structure of the target word 'geographical'.
The word consists of five syllables (ge-o-graph-i-cal) and terminates in the derivational suffix '-ical'.
English stress rules are conditioned by specific derivational suffixes.
2
Apply the English accentuation rule for adjectives ending in '-ical'.
Words ending in '-ical' place primary stress on the antepenultimate syllable (three syllables from the end), corresponding to 'GRAPH'.
The suffix '-ical' forces the stress back to the syllable immediately preceding it.

Key Concept

Suffix-conditioned antepenultimate syllable stress placement for words ending in '-ical'.
Question 2512Question →

In Khadija Abubakar Jalli's prescribed novel *The Life Changer*, match each major character on the left with their corresponding narrative role or key action on the right.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

Ummi
Salma
Talle
Habib

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

Ummi matches with serving as the primary narrator; Salma matches with facing disciplinary proceedings for examination malpractice; Talle matches with being known as 'the quiet one' and becoming entangled in an extortion scheme; Habib matches with functioning as an influential politician whose assistance is sought.
Ummi acts as the framing narrator imparting wisdom to her children. Salma represents the moral center of academic caution through her exam cheating scandal. Talle is uniquely identified by his village moniker 'the quiet one' and his unintended link to extortion. Habib is defined by his role as a prominent politician involved in resolving conflicts.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the main narrator of the text
Ummi is the mother relaying the central events and moral anecdotes to her listening children.
Role analysis based on overall narrative perspective.
2
Identify the character undergoing academic disciplinary action
Salma gets caught giving money to a fellow student to write an exam for her, bringing her before the university panel.
Character action identification centered on key plot conflicts.
3
Identify the reclusive character involved in local town drama
Talle is nicknamed 'the quiet one' because of his extreme reticence before being implicated in harboring criminals.
Character identification through distinct traits and plot events.
4
Identify the political figure tied to high-level interventions
Habib is the politician whose status and influence represent the political dimension of societal connections in the text.
Evaluating secondary major character roles in the broader plot.

Key Concept

Major Character Roles and Functions in 'The Life Changer'
Question 2513Question →

In Khadija Abubakar Jalli's prescribed prose text *The Life Changer*, match each character on the left with their corresponding primary role in the narrative on the right.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

Ummi
Salma
Habib

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

Ummi matches 'The mother and narrator who frames the story through lessons told to her children'; Salma matches 'The central student whose campus experiences highlight moral choices and consequences'; Habib matches 'The wealthy politician who uses influence and money to manipulate young female students'.
Each character is correctly identified according to their narrative function in Khadija Abubakar Jalli's novel: Ummi functions as the narrator mother framing the story, Salma as the undergraduate protagonist facing campus challenges, and Habib as the wealthy politician using financial status to exert influence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify Ummi's role in the novel
Ummi is the narrator recounting the story of university life to her children.
Establishing the framing device of the narrative.
2
Identify Salma's role in the narrative
Salma represents the student navigating university life and moral decisions.
Salma's experiences form the core plot illustrating campus social dynamics.
3
Identify Habib's role in the story
Habib represents the corrupt politician exploiting students through wealth and power.
Habib's interactions showcase external societal vices impacting student life.

Key Concept

Major Character Identification and Role Analysis
Question 2514Question →

Which word in List B contains the exact same diphthong sound as each corresponding target word in List A?

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

skein
bough
sew
heir

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

skein matches weigh (/eɪ/); bough matches prowl (/aʊ/); sew matches foe (/əʊ/); heir matches lair (/eə/).
Each target word from List A matches a word in List B that shares its exact diphthong glide: 'skein' and 'weigh' share /eɪ/; 'bough' and 'prowl' share /aʊ/; 'sew' and 'foe' share /əʊ/; 'heir' and 'lair' share /eə/.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Transcribe the target words in List A phonetically to isolate their core diphthongs
'skein' has /eɪ/, 'bough' has /aʊ/, 'sew' has /əʊ/, and 'heir' has /eə/.
Identifying the precise phonetic symbol prevents orthographic confusion caused by silent letters or non-standard spelling.
2
Transcribe the candidate words in List B phonetically
'lair' has /eə/, 'weigh' has /eɪ/, 'foe' has /əʊ/, and 'prowl' has /aʊ/.
Phonetic transcription allows direct 1-to-1 sound matching regardless of spelling differences.
3
Pair words with identical diphthong sound profiles
skein → weigh (/eɪ/), bough → prowl (/aʊ/), sew → foe (/əʊ/), heir → lair (/eə/).
Matching requires identical vowel glides across standard English diphthongs.

Key Concept

Diphthongs and Sound-to-Spelling Discrepancies
Question 2515Question →

In which of the following options do both words contain an unpronounced consonant letter 'g'?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: reign and paradigm

Answer

The pair 'reign and paradigm' is correct because the consonant letter 'g' is silent in both words.
In standard Received Pronunciation, the consonant letter 'g' is unarticulated in both 'reign' (/reɪn/) and 'paradigm' (/ˈpærədaɪm/). Thus, both words share an unpronounced consonant letter 'g'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine the phonetic transcription of the words in each candidate pair.
Determine whether the consonant letter 'g' is voiced/articulated (/ɡ/) or silent in each word.
To identify the option where both words contain a silent 'g'.
2
Analyze 'reign' (/reɪn/) and 'paradigm' (/ˈpærədaɪm/).
In 'reign', 'g' precedes 'n' and is not pronounced. In 'paradigm', 'g' precedes 'm' and is also not pronounced.
Both words in this pair satisfy the requirement of having a silent letter 'g'.
3
Evaluate the remaining options to confirm incorrect distractors.
The letter 'g' is pronounced in 'signature' (/ˈsɪɡnətʃər/), 'magnet' (/ˈmæɡnət/), and 'segment' (/ˈseɡmənt/).
The presence of an articulated 'g' renders these option pairs incorrect.

Key Concept

Silent Consonants (Unpronounced 'g')
Estimated Time:45s
Question 2516Question →

The minister addressed the press conference regarding the new fiscal policies. Which of the following conjunctions correctly completes the sentence below?

'______ hard the parliamentary committee scrutinized the proposed budget, they could not locate any structural irregularities in the allocation.'

Show answer & explanation

Answer: However

Answer

The word 'However' correctly completes the sentence by modifying the adverb 'hard' to introduce a concessive subordinate clause.
The correct option is 'However' because in formal English grammar, when a concessive clause highlights the degree of an action or quality using an adverb or adjective placed before the subject, 'however' serves as the proper subordinating conjunction (conforming to the pattern: 'however + adjective/adverb + subject + verb').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the structure of the subordinate clause following the blank space.
The clause begins with an adverb ('hard'), followed by a noun phrase subject ('the parliamentary committee') and a finite verb ('scrutinized').
Identifying the grammatical element immediately following the blank is essential for selecting the correct connective.
2
Evaluate which conjunction forms a syntactically correct concessive clause with this word order.
'However' is the only conjunction that accepts the fronted adverb structure 'However + adverb + subject + verb'.
Other conjunctions like 'Although' require normal subject-verb order, while 'No matter' requires the addition of 'how'.

Key Concept

Concessive Clause Structure with Fronted Adverbs
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 2517Question →

In the sentence below, one word is written in CAPITAL LETTERS to indicate emphatic stress:

The senior prosecutor RELUCTANTLY presented the key evidence during the preliminary hearing.

Which of the following questions is the statement above a direct answer to?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: Did the senior prosecutor eagerly present the key evidence during the preliminary hearing?

Answer

The question 'Did the senior prosecutor eagerly present the key evidence during the preliminary hearing?' is the correct query.
In Oral English, emphatic stress indicates contrastive focus. When stress is placed on the word 'RELUCTANTLY', the sentence serves as a corrective answer to a question that assumes a different manner of action (e.g., 'eagerly'). The question asking whether the prosecutor eagerly presented the evidence matches the statement precisely because only the manner word is questioned and contradicted, while the subject, verb, object, and adverbial phrase remain completely unchanged.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word receiving emphatic stress in the given statement.
The word printed in full capital letters is 'RELUCTANTLY', which functions as an adverb of manner.
Emphatic stress highlights the specific information being asserted against a contrastive assumption.
2
Determine the contrastive focus required for the corresponding question.
The target question must disagree with or query only the word 'RELUCTANTLY' (manner of action), replacing it with an opposing or alternative word while retaining the exact subject, verb, object, and adjuncts.
In Oral English emphatic stress rules, placing stress on a word provides a direct contrast only to that specific item in the utterance.
3
Evaluate the options to find the question that contradicts only the stressed element.
The question substituting 'eagerly' for 'RELUCTANTLY' preserves all other sentence elements unchanged, making it the proper context for the response.
Distractors incorrectly query the subject, main verb, or direct object.

Key Concept

Emphatic Stress and Contrastive Focus
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 2518Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the correct tense and aspect of the verb provided in parentheses.

Fill in the blanks below

By the time the regulatory agency published its official findings, the executive board (implement) all the recommended compliance measures.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

had implemented
The correct verb form 'had implemented' uses the past perfect aspect to indicate that the action of implementing the compliance measures was completed prior to the past event of publishing the report.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the temporal sequence established by the time clause in the sentence.
The expression 'By the time...' followed by the simple past verb 'published' establishes a past reference point.
An action that is completed prior to a designated past point in time requires the past perfect tense.
2
Form the past perfect tense of the verb 'implement'.
The auxiliary verb 'had' combines with the past participle 'implemented' to form 'had implemented'.
The past perfect aspect ('had' + past participle) accurately conveys the prior completion of the action before the second past action occurred.

Key Concept

Past Perfect Tense and Aspect in Time Clauses
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 2519Question →

Fill in the blank with the appropriate contrastive question that correctly elicits the emphatic stress in the statement provided.

Fill in the blanks below

Statement: The courageous ASTRONAUT explored the distant galaxy.
Question:
Show answer & explanation

Answer

Did the courageous scientist explore the distant galaxy?
Because emphatic stress falls on 'ASTRONAUT', the speaker is emphasizing WHO explored the galaxy rather than another detail. The correct contrastive question challenges the identity of the astronaut by substituting a different subject noun while leaving every other component of the original statement unchanged.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the word bearing emphatic stress in the given statement.
The word 'ASTRONAUT' is printed in capital letters, indicating emphatic stress on the subject noun.
Emphatic stress points to a specific contrast regarding the capitalized word.
2
Determine the element of the statement that must be questioned or contradicted.
The target question must replace 'ASTRONAUT' with another profession/noun (such as 'scientist' or 'pilot') while holding all other words ('courageous', 'explored', 'the distant galaxy') constant.
An emphatic stress question explicitly contradicts only the emphasized lexical item.

Key Concept

Emphatic stress highlights a single word in a sentence to contrast it with an alternative. The corresponding eliciting question alters only the stressed item and retains the rest of the sentence structure intact.
Estimated Time:45s
Question 2520Question →

Which option represents the correct primary stress placement for the word democracy?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: de-MOC-ra-cy

Answer

The correct stress pattern is 'de-MOC-ra-cy', with primary stress on the second syllable.
The correct primary stress representation is 'de-MOC-ra-cy' because polysyllabic nouns ending in '-cy' carry primary stress on the antepenultimate (third from last) syllable.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the syllabic structure and suffix of the word 'democracy'.
The word consists of four syllables (de-moc-ra-cy) and ends with the suffix '-cy'.
Suffixes determine syllable stress rules in standard English phonology.
2
Apply the antepenultimate stress rule for nouns ending in '-cy'.
Primary stress falls on the antepenultimate syllable (third from the end), which corresponds to the second syllable 'MOC'.
Words ending in '-cy', '-phy', '-gy', and '-ty' take stress on the antepenultimate syllable.

Key Concept

Antepenultimate syllable stress placement for words ending in '-cy'.
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