Examkin

Oral English

427 questions

All types427Multiple choice216Matching93Fill in the blank118
Question 21Question →

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that has the SAME CONSONANT SOUND as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined in the word: of.

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Answer: Stephen

Answer

The word containing the same consonant sound is 'Stephen'.
The underlined letter 'f' in 'of' represents the voiced labiodental fricative consonant sound /v/. Among the options, the word 'Stephen' also produces the /v/ sound for its digraph 'ph', making it the correct phonetic match.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the phonetic consonant sound of the underlined letter in the target word.
The letter 'f' in the word 'of' is phonetically transcribed as the voiced labiodental fricative /v/.
English orthography uses the letter 'f' to represent /v/ in the preposition 'of'.
2
Analyze the phonetic realization of the target consonant sounds in each option.
'Stephen' is transcribed as /ˈstiːvn/ with /v/; 'off' is /ɒf/ with /f/; 'orphan' is /ˈɔːfən/ with /f/; 'cough' is /kɒf/ with /f/.
Distinguishing between voiced /v/ and voiceless /f/ is necessary to identify the exact match.
3
Match the sound /v/ from the stem to the corresponding option.
'Stephen' shares the identical /v/ consonant sound.
Both 'of' and 'Stephen' utilize the voiced consonant sound /v/ despite using different orthographic spellings ('f' and 'ph').

Key Concept

Voiced vs. Voiceless Consonant Sounds and Non-standard Orthographic Realizations (/v/ vs /f/)
Question 22Question →

Which word shares the same monophthong sound as the underlined letter pattern in b<u>roa</u>d?

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Answer: chalk

Answer

chalk
The word 'broad' (/brɔːd/) features the long pure vowel (monophthong) /ɔː/. Among the choices, 'chalk' (/tʃɔːk/) also contains the long pure vowel /ɔː/. Therefore, 'chalk' is the correct match.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the phonetic sound of the target word
The underlined vowel combination 'oa' in 'broad' is pronounced as the long pure vowel sound /ɔː/.
Although 'oa' usually produces the diphthong /əʊ/ in words like 'road' or 'boat', 'broad' is an exceptional spelling pattern that yields the monophthong /ɔː/.
2
Analyze the vowel sound in each alternative option
'groan' has /əʊ/, 'clock' has /ɒ/, 'chalk' has /ɔː/, and 'load' has /əʊ/.
In 'chalk', the letter combination 'al' represents the long pure vowel /ɔː/ (with a silent 'l').
3
Match the target monophthong with the correct option
Both 'broad' and 'chalk' contain the monophthong /ɔː/.
This demonstrates exact phonetic alignment between the two words.

Key Concept

Monophthongs (Pure Vowels)
Question 23Question →

While the consonant letter 'b' is silent in several English words following 'm' or preceding 't', it is fully voiced in others. In which of the following words is the letter 'b' articulated?

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Answer: timber

Answer

The letter 'b' is fully articulated in the word 'timber'.
In the word 'timber', the letter 'b' forms an articulated consonant sound /b/ between the syllables (/ˈtɪm-bər/). Unlike derivatives formed by adding suffixes to silent '-mb' roots (such as 'plumb' + '-er'), 'timber' is a distinct root word where the 'b' is voiced.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the silent 'b' rule in English phonology.
The letter 'b' is typically silent when it appears at the end of a root word following 'm' (e.g., comb, dumb, lamb, plumber) or before 't' in certain Latinate derivations (e.g., subtle, debt, doubt).
Understanding the environments where silent letters occur allows accurate identification of exceptions.
2
Examine the phonetic transcription of each given option.
'plumber' is pronounced /ˈplʌmər/ (silent 'b'), 'succumb' is pronounced /səˈkʌm/ (silent 'b'), 'subtle' is pronounced /ˈsʌtl/ (silent 'b'), and 'timber' is pronounced /ˈtɪmbər/ (articulated 'b').
Verifying the presence of the voiced bilabial plosive /b/ sound isolates the correct word.

Key Concept

Articulated versus Silent Consonant Patterns
Question 24Question →

In English phonology, disyllabic noun-verb pairs shift primary stress according to grammatical function, whereas polysyllabic words ending in specific suffixes follow predictable stress placement rules. Fill in each blank using the syllabified word with primary stress indicated in UPPERCASE. Which syllabified forms correctly complete the sentence below?

Fill in the blanks below

When scholars attempt to the two philosophical theories, they often praise the of the empirical data.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The first blank requires the verb form 'con-TRAST' with primary stress on the second syllable, while the second blank requires the noun 're-li-a-BIL-i-ty' with primary stress on the antepenultimate syllable.
The first blank demands a verb after the infinitive particle 'to', which shifts primary stress to the final syllable (con-TRAST). The second blank requires a noun formed with the suffix '-ity', which systematically assigns primary stress to the antepenultimate syllable (re-li-a-BIL-i-ty).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the syntactic function and stress placement for the word in the first blank.
The word functions as a verb following the infinitive particle 'to', requiring primary stress on the second syllable: con-TRAST.
English disyllabic words that function as both nouns and verbs typically receive primary stress on the first syllable as nouns (CON-trast) and on the second syllable as verbs (con-TRAST).
2
Apply morphological stress rules for the polysyllabic noun in the second blank.
The word ending with the nominal suffix '-ity' places primary stress on the antepenultimate syllable (third from the end): re-li-a-BIL-i-ty.
Suffixes such as '-ity' cause a stress shift to the syllable immediately preceding the suffix.

Key Concept

Grammatical Category Stress Shift and Suffix-Determined Syllable Stress Placement
Question 25Question →

In the sentence below, the word printed in capital letters has emphatic stress.

"The investigative journalist EXPOSED the financial scandal in Lagos."

Which of the following questions elicits this statement as an appropriate response?

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Answer: Did the investigative journalist cover up the financial scandal in Lagos?

Answer

The question that elicits the statement is: 'Did the investigative journalist cover up the financial scandal in Lagos?'
Emphatic stress places contrastive emphasis on a single element in a sentence to highlight or correct specific information. Because 'EXPOSED' is capitalized, the correct question must challenge the verb action (asking if the journalist 'covered up' the scandal) while keeping all other components—the subject ('investigative journalist'), object ('financial scandal'), and location ('Lagos')—identical.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word carrying emphatic stress in the given sentence.
The word printed in full capital letters is 'EXPOSED', which functions as the main verb of the sentence.
Emphatic stress indicates contrastive focus specifically on the capitalized word.
2
Determine what information must be queried or contradicted in the eliciting question.
The correct contrastive question must contradict or ask about the action 'EXPOSED' (e.g. asking if the journalist 'covered up' the scandal).
The emphasized word in a statement provides the specific piece of information that corrects or answers a preceding question.
3
Verify that all uncapitalized parts of the statement remain unchanged in the question.
The subject ('investigative journalist'), direct object ('financial scandal'), and place ('Lagos') are unchanged.
Elements without emphatic stress represent shared/given information and must not be altered.

Key Concept

Emphatic Stress and Contrastive Focus
Estimated Time:45s
Question 26Question →

Which word from the options below produces an exact end rhyme with sword?

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Answer: cord

Answer

The word 'cord' forms an exact phonetic end rhyme with 'sword'.
The target word 'sword' is transcribed phonetically as /sɔːd/, featuring a silent letter 'w'. The word 'cord' is pronounced /kɔːd/. Since both words terminate in the identical phonetic rime /ɔːd/, they produce an exact end rhyme.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the phonetic transcription of the target word
The target word 'sword' is pronounced /sɔːd/, noting that the letter 'w' is silent.
Accurate identification of silent letters is necessary to establish the true final rime sound.
2
Analyze the phonetic endings of the given options
'word' is /wɜːd/, 'cord' is /kɔːd/, 'sward' is /swɔːd/, and 'curd' is /kɜːd/.
Rhyming depends on matching vowel and final consonant sounds rather than spelling.
3
Match the target word's rime with the correct option
Both 'sword' (/sɔːd/) and 'cord' (/kɔːd/) share the exact rime ending /ɔːd/.
Words with identical ending vowel and consonant sounds constitute an exact phonetic rhyme.

Key Concept

Phonetic Rhyme and Silent Consonant Resolution
Question 27Question →

In the sentence below, the word printed in CAPITAL letters carries the primary emphatic stress:

The chief pediatrician WARMLY welcomed the medical interns to the teaching hospital.

Which of the following questions is the appropriate response to the statement above?

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Answer: Did the chief pediatrician COLDLY welcome the medical interns to the teaching hospital?

Answer

Did the chief pediatrician COLDLY welcome the medical interns to the teaching hospital?
The question inquiring if the chief pediatrician COLDLY welcomed the medical interns is correct because 'COLDLY' directly contrasts with the emphasized word 'WARMLY', while all other parts of the statement remain unchanged.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word in the sentence that carries the emphatic stress.
The word printed in capital letters is 'WARMLY', an adverb of manner.
Emphatic stress indicates the specific point of contrast or focus in a statement.
2
Determine the correct contrastive question rule for emphatic stress in JAMB UTME.
The correct contrastive question must disagree with or question ONLY the stressed word ('WARMLY'), replacing it with a contrasting word ('COLDLY'), while keeping all other elements of the sentence unchanged.
Stress on 'WARMLY' implies that the speaker is correcting a misconception about how the action was performed.
3
Evaluate the options against the contrastive question rule.
The option asking if the chief pediatrician 'COLDLY' welcomed the interns correctly targets 'WARMLY', while other options incorrectly target the subject, verb, or direct object.
Only the question introducing 'COLDLY' directly elicits the emphasized response.

Key Concept

Emphatic stress in English speech highlights a specific word in a sentence to convey contrastive focus. The corresponding question must query or contradict only the stressed word.
Question 28Question →

Match each English word on the left with the correct structural description of its spoken consonant cluster profile on the right.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

sixths
spheres
wrenched
subtlety

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct pairings match 'sixths' to the profile with a single initial consonant and a 4-consonant final cluster; 'spheres' to the profile with an initial 2-consonant cluster and a single final consonant; 'wrenched' to the profile with a silent initial letter and a 2-consonant final cluster; and 'subtlety' to the profile featuring a silent medial 'b'.
Evaluating each word by its spoken phonemes shows that 'sixths' contains a 4-sound final cluster (/ksθs/); 'spheres' contains an initial 2-sound cluster (/sf/); 'wrenched' drops the silent 'w' to begin with /r/ and ends with a 2-sound cluster (/tʃt/); and 'subtlety' contains silent 'b', preventing an orthographic letter sequence from forming a spoken cluster.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Transcribe each target word into its Standard English phonetic phonemes.
'sixths' → /sɪksθs/, 'spheres' → /sfɪəz/, 'wrenched' → /rentʃt/, 'subtlety' → /ˈsʌtl.ti/.
Consonant clusters are defined strictly by spoken consonant phonemes, not written letters.
2
Identify silent letters to eliminate non-spoken orthographic consonants.
'wrenched' has silent 'w' (initial sound is /r/); 'subtlety' has silent 'b' (no medial /b/ sound).
Orthographic representations often include letters that do not contribute to spoken consonant clusters.
3
Count and categorize the contiguous sequence of spoken consonant phonemes at initial, medial, and final positions.
'sixths' has final /k-s-θ-s/ (4 sounds); 'spheres' has initial /s-f/ (2 sounds); 'wrenched' has final /tʃ-t/ (2 sounds); 'subtlety' has no /bt/ cluster.
Precise phonemic counting reveals the structural profile of each word.
4
Pair each word with its corresponding description based on phonetic structure.
'sixths' pairs with the 4-consonant final cluster profile, 'spheres' pairs with the initial 2-consonant cluster profile, 'wrenched' pairs with the silent 'w' and 2-consonant final cluster profile, and 'subtlety' pairs with the silent 'b' profile.
Each structural description uniquely isolates one word's phonological composition.

Key Concept

Phonetic Analysis of Consonant Clusters and Silent Letters
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 29Question →

Complete the sentence below by filling in the blank with a single word that produces an exact phonetic end rhyme with the bolded target word.

Fill in the blanks below

After the destructive hurricane swept through the town, emergency teams worked tirelessly to clear the heavy debris, eventually allowing the displaced residents to return home and feel .
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Answer

free (or any phonetically valid exact rhyme such as 'flee', 'plea', or 'spree')
The correct completion must produce an exact phonetic rhyme with 'debris' (/dəˈbriː/). Because the final consonant letter 's' in 'debris' is silent, the word ends with the long monophthong vowel sound /iː/. Words like 'free' (/friː/), 'flee' (/fliː/), or 'plea' (/pliː/) end in the exact same vowel sound and correctly complete both the phonetic rhyme and contextual meaning of the sentence.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the phonetic pronunciation and final vowel sound of the target word 'debris'.
The word 'debris' contains a silent final 's' and is pronounced /dəˈbriː/ or /ˈdeɪbriː/, ending in the long vowel sound /iː/.
Rhyming is determined strictly by spoken sounds (IPA), not by spelling patterns.
2
Evaluate words that fit the context of the sentence and share the identical final vowel sound /iː/.
The word 'free' (/friː/) shares the exact same primary vowel nucleus /iː/ and final sound structure as 'debris'.
An exact end rhyme requires matching the nucleus vowel sound and any following consonants.

Key Concept

Rhymes and Sound Matching with Silent Letters
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 30Question →

Which of the following words contains the exact same diphthong sound as the one present in the word sleight?

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Answer: guile

Answer

The word 'guile' contains the exact same diphthong sound (/aɪ/) as 'sleight'.
The word 'sleight' is pronounced /slaɪt/, featuring the diphthong /aɪ/. The word 'guile' is pronounced /ɡaɪl/, which contains the exact same diphthong glide /aɪ/.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the phonetic transcription and vowel sound of the target word 'sleight'.
The word 'sleight' is pronounced /slaɪt/, which contains the diphthong glide /aɪ/.
Determining the accurate IPA transcription of the prompt word is essential for sound matching.
2
Analyze the vowel sounds of each given option.
'guile' = /ɡaɪl/ (/aɪ/); 'freight' = /freɪt/ (/eɪ/); 'sleek' = /sliːk/ (/iː/); 'heifer' = /ˈhef.ər/ (/e/).
Transcribing option words isolates diphthongs from monophthongs and deceptive spelling traps.
3
Match the target diphthong /aɪ/ with the correct option.
'guile' matches 'sleight' in sharing the /aɪ/ diphthong sound.
Both words articulate the identical vowel glide from /a/ to /ɪ/.

Key Concept

Identification of the /aɪ/ diphthong sound despite non-standard spelling patterns
Estimated Time:1m 15s
Question 31Question →

Match each English word on the left with the correct structural description of its spoken consonant cluster configuration on the right.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

sphere
christen
texts
thirsts

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

sphere matches Initial two-consonant cluster (/sf/) formed with a digraph, with no final cluster; christen matches Initial two-consonant cluster (/kr/) with silent 't' preventing a medial cluster; texts matches Final four-consonant cluster (/ksts/) following a single vowel sound; thirsts matches Single initial consonant sound (/θ/) with a final three-consonant cluster (/sts/).
Each word must be analyzed by its spoken consonant phonemes rather than its written orthography. 'Sphere' (/sfɪər/) features an initial cluster /sf/ formed by 's' and the digraph 'ph' (/f/). 'Christen' (/ˈkrɪs.ən/) contains an initial cluster /kr/ while the silent 't' prevents a medial cluster. 'Texts' (/teksts/) yields a four-consonant final cluster (/ksts/) because 'x' generates /ks/. 'Thirsts' (/θɜːsts/) begins with a single phoneme /θ/ ('th') and ends with a three-consonant cluster /sts/.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Transcribe each word into its standard phonetic transcription to isolate spoken sounds from orthographic spelling.
sphere = /sfɪər/, christen = /ˈkrɪs.ən/, texts = /teksts/, thirsts = /θɜːsts/.
Consonant clusters are sequences of contiguous spoken consonant phonemes within the same syllable, independent of spelling.
2
Identify silent letters and digraphs in each word.
'ph' in 'sphere' is the single phoneme /f/; 't' in 'christen' is silent; 'x' in 'texts' stands for two phonemes (/k/ + /s/); 'th' in 'thirsts' is the single phoneme /θ/.
Orthographic representations can mislead cluster counts if silent letters or multi-letter digraphs are misinterpreted.
3
Count and match the initial, medial, and final consonant phoneme clusters for each item.
sphere has initial cluster /sf/; christen has initial cluster /kr/ with no medial cluster due to silent 't'; texts has final cluster /ksts/; thirsts has single initial sound /θ/ and final cluster /sts/.
Matches each word strictly to its structural cluster profile.

Key Concept

Consonant Clusters and Phonological Awareness
Question 32Question →

Unlike their root forms where certain consonant letters are silent, some derivative words require the consonant sound to be articulated. In which of the following words is the consonant letter 'g' pronounced?

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Answer: resignation

Answer

The word 'resignation' is the correct choice because the letter 'g' is voiced as /ɡ/ in its pronunciation (/ˌrɛzɪɡˈneɪʃn/).
The correct option is 'resignation'. Although the base verb 'resign' has a silent letter 'g', the derivative noun 'resignation' articulates the letter 'g' as the voiced consonant sound /ɡ/ (/ˌrɛzɪɡˈneɪʃn/).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the phonetic pronunciation of each given word containing the spelling letter 'g'.
Identify whether 'g' represents a silent letter or an articulated consonant sound in each word.
English spelling includes words where specific consonants become voiced only in certain derivative grammatical forms.
2
Evaluate 'paradigm', 'diaphragm', and 'phlegm'.
All three words feature a silent 'g' preceding the final nasal consonant 'm' (/m/).
The spelling pattern '-gm' at the end of root words renders the letter 'g' unarticulated.
3
Examine 'resignation' alongside its root verb 'resign'.
While 'g' is silent in 'resign' (/rɪˈzaɪn/), the addition of the suffix '-ation' causes the 'g' to be explicitly pronounced as /ɡ/ (/ˌrɛzɪɡˈneɪʃn/).
Morphological derivation can shift syllable stress and cause previously unpronounced letters to become articulated consonants.

Key Concept

Alternation between silent and articulated consonants across morphological derivatives
Estimated Time:1m 15s
Question 33Question →

Consider the following statement where the capitalized word carries the emphatic stress:

The CHEF prepared a delicious meal yesterday.

Which of the following questions elicits the statement above as an appropriate response?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: Did the gardener prepare a delicious meal yesterday?

Answer

Did the gardener prepare a delicious meal yesterday?
In Oral English, emphatic stress highlights a specific word to correct a misconception or contradict a false assumption made in a prior question. Because 'CHEF' is the capitalized word receiving emphasis, the appropriate question must propose a different subject (such as 'the gardener'). Responding with stress on 'CHEF' confirms that all other details of the action are true except for the subject questioned.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the capitalized word receiving emphatic stress in the given statement.
The word receiving emphatic stress is 'CHEF'.
Full capitalization in Oral English test stems marks contrastive emphatic stress.
2
Determine the contrastive focus required for the response.
Emphatic stress corrects an erroneous element in the preceding question while accepting the unaccented parts as accurate.
The correct question must question only the identity of the person who prepared the meal.
3
Evaluate the options to find the question that contradicts only the emphasized word.
Asking if the gardener prepared the meal explicitly contradicts 'CHEF' while keeping 'prepared a delicious meal yesterday' unchanged.
Substituting 'gardener' for 'chef' creates the precise contrast that triggers emphatic stress on 'CHEF'.

Key Concept

Emphatic Stress and Contrastive Focus
Question 34Question →

Match each word in Column A with the word in Column B that contains the identical consonant sound represented by the highlighted letter(s).

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

epistle (sound of 'st')
ghost (sound of 'gh')
thistle (sound of 'th')
chauffeur (sound of 'ch')

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

'epistle' matches 'psalm' (/s/ sound); 'ghost' matches 'guile' (/ɡ/ sound); 'thistle' matches 'thorough' (/θ/ sound); and 'chauffeur' matches 'chivalry' (/ʃ/ sound).
Matching relies strictly on phonetic transcription rather than spelling. 'epistle' and 'psalm' both realize the consonant sound /s/; 'ghost' and 'guile' both realize the voiced velar plosive /ɡ/; 'thistle' and 'thorough' both realize the voiceless dental fricative /θ/; and 'chauffeur' and 'chivalry' both realize the voiceless postalveolar fricative /ʃ/.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target consonant sound in each left-column word
'epistle' has silent 't' giving /s/; 'ghost' has digraph 'gh' giving /ɡ/; 'thistle' has 'th' giving /θ/; 'chauffeur' has French 'ch' giving /ʃ/.
Determining exact IPA consonant phonemes requires ignoring spelling traps such as silent letters or loanword orthography.
2
Analyze the consonant sound of highlighted letters in each right-column word
'chivalry' has /ʃ/; 'guile' has /ɡ/; 'psalm' has silent 'p' giving /s/; 'thorough' has /θ/.
Phonetic matching relies on sound identity, not orthographic similarity.
3
Pair items with identical consonant phonemes
'epistle' pairs with 'psalm' (/s/), 'ghost' pairs with 'guile' (/ɡ/), 'thistle' pairs with 'thorough' (/θ/), and 'chauffeur' pairs with 'chivalry' (/ʃ/).
Each pair shares the precise consonant phoneme across different spelling patterns.

Key Concept

Consonant sound identification across varied orthographic representations and silent letters
Question 35Question →

Match each word on the left with the correct silent consonant letter present in its standard Received Pronunciation.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

pneumonia
align
solemn
castle

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

'pneumonia' matches Silent letter 'p', 'align' matches Silent letter 'g', 'solemn' matches Silent letter 'n', and 'castle' matches Silent letter 't'.
Each word contains an unarticulated consonant letter governed by regular English phonological rules: initial 'p' is silent in 'pneumonia', 'g' is silent in 'align', final 'n' is silent in 'solemn', and medial 't' is silent in 'castle'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine the phonetic structure of 'pneumonia'.
The word is transcribed as /njʊˈməʊniə/, showing that the initial letter 'p' is unarticulated.
Words of Greek origin starting with the consonant cluster 'pn-' leave the letter 'p' unpronounced in English.
2
Examine the phonetic structure of 'align'.
The word is transcribed as /əˈlaɪn/, showing that the letter 'g' is unarticulated.
In English orthography, the letter 'g' is silent before 'n' in word-final '-ign' patterns.
3
Examine the phonetic structure of 'solemn'.
The word is transcribed as /ˈsɒləm/, showing that the final letter 'n' is unarticulated.
When a word ends in the consonant combination '-mn', the trailing letter 'n' remains silent.
4
Examine the phonetic structure of 'castle'.
The word is transcribed as /ˈkɑːsl/, showing that the letter 't' is unarticulated.
In words ending with '-stle', the letter 't' is elided between the /s/ sound and syllabic /l/.

Key Concept

Identifying unpronounced consonant letters across standard English spelling patterns
Question 36Question →

Read the statement below in which one word carries emphatic stress, then complete the contrastive question that correctly elicits it.

Fill in the blanks below

Statement: The lead INVESTIGATOR meticulously examined the crime scene at midnight.
Question: Did the lead meticulously examine the crime scene at midnight?
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct contrastive question must substitute a contrasting noun (such as 'prosecutor') for the emphasized subject noun 'INVESTIGATOR', while leaving all other elements of the statement unchanged.
Emphatic stress is used to highlight a specific piece of information in contrast to another possibility. Because 'INVESTIGATOR' is the capitalized word, the eliciting question must propose an alternative subject (such as prosecutor) while preserving the verb, manner, object, and temporal adjunct exactly as stated.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the word carrying emphatic stress in the given statement.
The word 'INVESTIGATOR' is printed in full capital letters, indicating emphatic stress.
In Oral English, capital letters designate the focus of contrastive emphasis within a sentence.
2
Determine how emphatic stress dictates the corresponding question.
The correct eliciting question must disagree with or query ONLY the capitalized word ('INVESTIGATOR'), keeping the rest of the sentence ('meticulously examined the crime scene at midnight') identical.
Emphatic stress corrects an implicit or explicit misstatement specifically regarding the stressed element.
3
Complete the blank in the contrastive question.
Inserting a contrasting role such as 'prosecutor' forms a valid contrastive question: 'Did the lead prosecutor meticulously examine the crime scene at midnight?'
This question directly prompts the response: 'No, the lead INVESTIGATOR meticulously examined the crime scene at midnight.'

Key Concept

Emphatic Stress and Contrastive Focus
Question 37Question →

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that has the SAME CONSONANT SOUND as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined in the word: ghost.

Show answer & explanation

Answer: guard

Answer

The word 'guard' contains the same consonant sound /g/ as the underlined letters 'gh' in 'ghost'.
The underlined letters 'gh' in 'ghost' produce the voiced velar plosive sound /g/. The word 'guard' begins with the exact same /g/ sound.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the consonant sound of the underlined letters in the target word
The letters 'gh' in 'ghost' represent the voiced velar plosive consonant sound /g/.
Phonetic transcription of 'ghost' is /ɡəʊst/.
2
Analyze the phonetic realization of each option
'rough' contains /f/, 'guard' contains /g/, 'daughter' has a silent 'gh', and 'cough' contains /f/.
Matching orthographic spellings to their true phonetic realizations.
3
Select the word sharing the target sound
'guard' is the correct match.
Both 'ghost' and 'guard' begin with the consonant sound /g/.

Key Concept

Consonant sound identification across varied spelling patterns
Question 38Question →

In English phonology, words with contrasting spelling patterns often share identical acoustic endings. Which of the following words shares the exact end-rhyme sound with suite?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: fleet

Answer

fleet
The target word 'suite' is pronounced /swiːt/. The word 'fleet' is transcribed as /fliːt/, sharing the exact stressed vowel nucleus /iː/ and final coda consonant /t/ (/-iːt/).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the exact International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription of the target word 'suite'.
The target word 'suite' is transcribed phonetically as /swiːt/.
Rhyming is determined by identical sound patterns from the final stressed vowel (nucleus) to the end of the word (coda), irrespective of spelling.
2
Analyze the phonetic transcriptions of each option to identify matching end-rhyme sounds (/-iːt/).
'Fleet' is transcribed as /fliːt/, 'suit' as /suːt/, 'sweat' as /swet/, and 'suet' as /ˈsuːɪt/.
Comparing the vowel nucleus and final consonant coda isolates the true rhyming pair.
3
Select the word whose sound ending matches /-iːt/ exactly.
'Fleet' (/fliːt/) perfectly matches 'suite' (/swiːt/).
Both words terminate in the long close front vowel /iː/ followed by the voiceless alveolar plosive /t/.

Key Concept

Identifying end-rhyme through phonetic transcription rather than orthographic spelling
Question 39Question →

In which of the following words is the consonant letter 'h' fully pronounced?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: inherit

Answer

In the word 'inherit', the consonant letter 'h' is fully pronounced.
In the word 'inherit', the letter 'h' is fully articulated as the glottal fricative sound /h/ (/ɪnˈherɪt/). By contrast, the letter 'h' is silent in 'vehicle' (/ˈviːəkl/), 'exhibit' (/ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/), and 'shepherd' (/ˈʃepəd/).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine the phonetic transcription of each word in standard Received Pronunciation (RP).
Determine whether the letter 'h' corresponds to an articulated consonant sound /h/ or remains unpronounced.
Identifying silent letters requires analyzing standard English phonetic transcriptions.
2
Evaluate the pronunciations of 'vehicle', 'exhibit', and 'shepherd'.
'vehicle' is pronounced /ˈviːəkl/, 'exhibit' is pronounced /ɪɡˈzɪbɪt/, and 'shepherd' is pronounced /ˈʃepəd/. In all three words, the letter 'h' is silent.
Etymological origins and phonetic environments leave 'h' unarticulated in these terms.
3
Evaluate the pronunciation of 'inherit'.
'inherit' is transcribed as /ɪnˈherɪt/, where the /h/ sound is explicitly articulated at the beginning of the second syllable.
The consonant sound /h/ is voiced in the stressed second syllable of 'inherit'.

Key Concept

Distinguishing between articulated and silent consonant letters
Question 40Question →

Examine the statement provided below, paying close attention to the word written in CAPITAL LETTERS which carries emphatic stress. Fill in the blank to complete the contrastive question that specifically targets and elicits the emphasized word.

Fill in the blanks below

Statement: The software architect VOLUNTARILY overhauled the legacy database system.

Contrastive question: Did the software architect overhaul the legacy database system?
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The contrastive question requires an adverb contrasting directly with 'VOLUNTARILY' (such as 'compulsorily', 'involuntarily', or 'reluctantly'), while retaining every other syntactic and lexical element of the original statement.
In Oral English emphatic stress rules, the correct contrastive question must leave all non-emphasized elements of the statement identical while substituting only the emphasized word ('VOLUNTARILY') with an opposing or contradictory term (such as 'compulsorily' or 'involuntarily'). This forces the speaker to re-assert the emphasized word in response.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the capitalized word carrying emphatic stress in the statement.
The word carrying emphatic stress is the adverb of manner 'VOLUNTARILY'.
Emphatic stress indicates contrastive emphasis specifically on the stressed item.
2
Determine the element that must be questioned or contradicted in the contrastive query.
Only the manner of action ('VOLUNTARILY') must be contradicted/questioned.
All un-emphasized elements (subject: 'software architect', action: 'overhaul the legacy database system') must remain strictly unchanged.
3
Formulate the missing contrastive modifier to complete the question.
Inserting an opposing manner adverb such as 'involuntarily' or 'compulsorily' correctly sets up the contrastive focus required to elicit 'VOLUNTARILY'.
A contrastive question directly challenges the stressed word by offering an opposing or contradictory alternative.

Key Concept

Emphatic Stress and Contrastive Question Formulation
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