Examkin

Oral English

427 questions

All types427Multiple choice216Matching93Fill in the blank118
Question 401Question →

In English phonology, stress placement shifts depending on whether a disyllabic word functions as a noun or a verb. Which syllabification correctly indicates the primary stress placement for the missing word in the sentence below?

Fill in the blanks below

The tribunal had sufficient evidence to the accused officer of financial misconduct.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

con-VICT (with primary stress placed on the second syllable)
In standard English pronunciation, two-syllable words that function as both nouns and verbs alter their stress patterns according to their grammatical role. When used as a verb in this sentence ('to con-VICT'), primary stress is located on the second syllable. First-syllable stress ('CON-vict') represents the noun form.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the grammatical function of the target word within the sentence structure
The word follows the particle 'to', functioning as an infinitive verb ('to con-VICT').
The syntactic slot requires an action verb.
2
Apply the rule governing stress shift in two-syllable noun/verb pairs
Disyllabic verbs take primary stress on the second syllable (con-VICT), whereas disyllabic nouns take primary stress on the first syllable (CON-vict).
Stress moves to the final syllable when the word acts as a verb.

Key Concept

Grammatical category stress shift in disyllabic words
Question 402Question →

In standard English pronunciation, polysyllabic words ending with the suffix '-ity' place primary stress on the antepenultimate syllable (third syllable from the end). Which syllabification correctly indicates the primary stress placement for the word durability?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: du-ra-BIL-i-ty

Answer

The syllabification 'du-ra-BIL-i-ty' correctly indicates primary stress placement on the antepenultimate syllable.
The word 'durability' consists of five syllables: du-ra-bil-i-ty. In English phonology, words ending in '-ity' assign primary stress to the antepenultimate syllable, which is 'bil'. Therefore, the option showing primary stress capitalized as 'du-ra-BIL-i-ty' is correct.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Divide the target word into its individual syllables.
The word 'durability' breaks into 5 syllables: du - ra - bil - i - ty.
Accurate syllabification is necessary to identify syllable position relative to the word ending.
2
Apply the stress rule for words with the suffix '-ity'.
Suffixes ending in '-ity' attract primary stress to the antepenultimate (third from the end) syllable.
The suffix '-ity' systematically dictates accentual pattern shift in English phonology.
3
Count three syllables backward from the end of the word.
1st from end: 'ty', 2nd from end: 'i', 3rd from end: 'bil'. The syllable 'bil' carries the primary stress.
Counting backwards locates the antepenultimate syllable accurately.

Key Concept

Antepenultimate stress rule for words ending in the suffix '-ity'
Question 403Question →

Match each multisyllabic English word on the left with its corresponding primary stress placement pattern on the right.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

speculate
geography
economic
investigation

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

'speculate' matches SPEC-u-late (first syllable stress); 'geography' matches ge-OG-ra-phy (second syllable stress); 'economic' matches ec-o-NOM-ic (third syllable stress); 'investigation' matches in-ves-ti-GA-tion (fourth syllable stress).
Each word correctly pairs with its established stress pattern based on standard English suffix rules: three-syllable '-ate' verbs stress the antepenultimate (1st) syllable; '-graphy' words stress the antepenultimate (2nd) syllable; '-ic' words stress the penultimate (3rd) syllable; and '-tion' words stress the penultimate (4th) syllable.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Examine the grammatical category and suffix of each word to determine the governing stress rule.
Determined rules for three-syllable '-ate' verbs, '-graphy' nouns, '-ic' adjectives, and '-tion' nouns.
English word stress rules depend directly on suffix types and syllable count.
2
Map each word to its corresponding syllable stress breakdown.
'speculate' -> SPEC-u-late; 'geography' -> ge-OG-ra-phy; 'economic' -> ec-o-NOM-ic; 'investigation' -> in-ves-ti-GA-tion.
Capitalization denotes the primary accent/stress in phonetic representation for JAMB examinations.

Key Concept

Polysyllabic Word Stress Rules based on Suffixation
Question 404Question →

In which of the following options is the primary stress placement correctly indicated for the word enthusiastic?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: en-thu-si-AS-tic

Answer

en-thu-si-AS-tic
In standard English phonology, multisyllabic words ending with the suffix '-ic' systematically place primary stress on the penultimate (second to last) syllable. For the five-syllable word 'enthusiastic' (en-thu-si-as-tic), the penultimate syllable is 'AS', resulting in 'en-thu-si-AS-tic'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the morphological structure and suffix of the target word
The word 'enthusiastic' contains five syllables (en-thu-si-as-tic) and ends with the adjectival suffix '-ic'.
English stress assignment rules are heavily influenced by specific suffixes.
2
Apply the suffix stress rule for words ending in '-ic'
Words taking the suffix '-ic' regularly place primary stress on the penultimate (second to last) syllable.
Suffixes like '-ic', '-ion', and '-ity' cause a stress shift to the syllable immediately preceding them.
3
Identify the penultimate syllable in 'enthusiastic'
The fourth syllable 'AS' is the penultimate syllable, yielding 'en-thu-si-AS-tic'.
Counting syllables from the end: '-tic' is ultimate, 'AS' is penultimate.

Key Concept

Penultimate syllable stress rule for suffixes ending in '-ic'
Estimated Time:45s
Question 405Question →

Complete the statement below by writing the capitalized syllable that carries the primary stress for each given word.

Fill in the blanks below

In standard English pronunciation, the noun 'geology' carries its primary stress on the second syllable, which is , whereas the adjective 'geological' shifts its primary stress to the third syllable, which is .
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The primary stressed syllable in 'geology' is 'OL' (ge-OL-o-gy), and in 'geological' it is 'LOG' (ge-o-LOG-i-cal).
Nouns ending with the suffix '-logy' (such as 'geology') place primary stress on the antepenultimate syllable, which is 'ol'. When transformed into adjectives with the suffix '-ical' (such as 'geological'), the stress shifts to the syllable immediately preceding the suffix, which is 'log'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the primary stress placement for the noun 'geology'.
English words ending in the suffix '-logy' place primary stress on the antepenultimate (third from the end) syllable. In 'geology' (ge-ol-o-gy), this syllable is 'ol', yielding ge-OL-o-gy.
The '-logy' suffix rule consistently assigns stress to the antepenultimate syllable.
2
Determine the primary stress placement for the adjective 'geological'.
Adding the adjectival suffix '-ical' causes primary stress to fall on the syllable immediately preceding the suffix. In 'geological' (ge-o-log-i-cal), this syllable is 'log', yielding ge-o-LOG-i-cal.
Suffixes ending in '-ic' and '-ical' draw stress to the syllable directly before them.

Key Concept

Suffix-conditioned primary stress placement (-logy vs -ical)
Question 406Question →

Which of the following syllabifications correctly indicates the primary stress placement for the word bureaucratic?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: bu-reau-CRAT-ic

Answer

bu-reau-CRAT-ic
In standard English pronunciation, polysyllabic words ending with the suffix '-ic' consistently place primary stress on the penultimate syllable. For the four-syllable word 'bureaucratic', the penultimate syllable is 'crat', making 'bu-reau-CRAT-ic' the correct stress pattern.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the morphological structure and suffix of the target word 'bureaucratic'.
The word is composed of four syllables (bu-reau-crat-ic) and carries the adjectival suffix '-ic'.
English stress rules dictate that words ending in the suffix '-ic' assign primary stress to the penultimate syllable (the syllable immediately preceding '-ic').
2
Identify the penultimate syllable in 'bureaucratic'.
The third syllable 'crat' is the penultimate syllable.
Applying the '-ic' suffix rule places primary stress on 'crat', yielding the stress pattern bu-reau-CRAT-ic.

Key Concept

Penultimate primary stress rule for words ending in '-ic'
Question 407Question →

Identify the option in which the primary stress of the word administrative is correctly capitalized.

Show answer & explanation

Answer: ad-MIN-is-tra-tive

Answer

ad-MIN-is-tra-tive
The word 'administrative' is a five-syllable word in which the primary accent falls on the second syllable, rendered as 'ad-MIN-is-tra-tive'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Divide the target word into its constituent phonetic syllables.
The word 'administrative' breaks into five syllables: ad-min-is-tra-tive.
Accurate syllabification is necessary to isolate and evaluate candidate stress locations.
2
Apply English polysyllabic stress rules for words derived from 'administer' with the '-ative' suffix.
Primary stress remains on the second syllable (ad-MIN-is-tra-tive).
The root verb 'administer' carries stress on its second syllable, and the inflectional suffix '-ative' maintains primary stress on the second syllable in standard pronunciation.

Key Concept

Polysyllabic Word Stress Placement
Estimated Time:45s
Question 408Question →

Fill in the blank with the syllabified form of the word 'conduct'—with the primary stressed syllable written in UPPERCASE—that appropriately fits the sentence based on its grammatical function.

Fill in the blanks below

The principal warned that any student who fails to himself properly during the excursion will face immediate suspension.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

con-DUCT
In Standard English phonology, many two-syllable words shift their primary accent according to their part of speech. When used as a noun, 'conduct' is stressed on the first syllable ('CON-duct'). When used as a verb (as in 'to conduct oneself'), the primary stress moves to the second syllable ('con-DUCT').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the grammatical role of the target word 'conduct' in the given sentence context.
In the verb phrase 'fails to conduct himself', the word functions as a verb.
The word follows the infinitive particle 'to', which demands a verb form.
2
Apply the English word stress rule governing disyllabic noun-verb pairs.
The primary stress falls on the second syllable: 'con-DUCT'.
Two-syllable words with identical noun and verb spellings typically take primary stress on the initial syllable when serving as nouns (CON-duct) and on the final syllable when serving as verbs (con-DUCT).

Key Concept

Grammatical category stress shift in two-syllable noun-verb pairs
Question 409Question →

When pronouncing the word indispensable, which pattern correctly reflects its primary stress?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: in-dis-PEN-sa-ble

Answer

The primary stress in 'indispensable' is placed on the third syllable: in-dis-PEN-sa-ble.
The word 'indispensable' is a five-syllable adjective. In standard British/RP English pronunciation, the primary accent falls on the third syllable, 'PEN'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Divide the target word into its constituent syllables.
The word breaks down into five syllables: in - dis - pen - sa - ble.
Syllabification helps isolate each segment for stress assignment.
2
Determine stress placement rules for adjectives ending in the suffix '-able'.
The suffix '-able' does not draw stress to itself; primary stress remains on the root syllable 'pen'.
In standard English phonology, '-able' is a neutral suffix that leaves the root stress intact on the third syllable.

Key Concept

Polysyllabic Word Stress
Estimated Time:45s
Question 410Question →

In Oral English phonology, English polysyllabic words receive primary stress according to structural rules and suffix types. Match each polysyllabic word on the left with its corresponding primary stress placement description on the right.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

academic
psychology
volunteer
character

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

'academic' pairs with penultimate syllable stress; 'psychology' pairs with antepenultimate syllable stress; 'volunteer' pairs with ultimate (final) syllable stress; 'character' pairs with first syllable stress.
The term 'academic' has four syllables with stress on the third (penultimate) syllable due to the '-ic' rule. 'psychology' has four syllables with stress on the second (antepenultimate) syllable due to the '-logy' rule. 'volunteer' has three syllables with stress on the third (ultimate) syllable due to the '-eer' rule. 'character' has three syllables with stress on the first syllable.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze 'academic' for syllable count and suffix stress rules.
The word consists of four syllables (ac-a-dem-ic). According to English stress placement rules, words with the suffix '-ic' shift primary stress to the syllable immediately preceding the suffix (penultimate: ac-a-DEM-ic).
Suffix '-ic' strictly dictates penultimate stress placement.
2
Analyze 'psychology' for syllable count and suffix stress rules.
The word consists of four syllables (psy-cho-lo-gy). Words ending in '-graphy', '-logy', or '-metry' place primary stress on the antepenultimate syllable (psy-CHOL-o-gy).
Suffix '-logy' conditions stress on the third syllable from the end.
3
Analyze 'volunteer' for syllable count and stress placement.
The word consists of three syllables (vol-un-teer). Suffixes of French origin such as '-eer', '-esque', and '-ee' retain primary stress on the suffix itself (vol-un-TEER).
Suffix '-eer' carries primary accent on the ultimate syllable.
4
Analyze 'character' for syllable count and primary stress placement.
The word consists of three syllables (char-ac-ter) and carries primary stress on the first syllable (CHAR-ac-ter).
Standard pronunciation places stress on the initial syllable.

Key Concept

Primary stress assignment in polysyllabic words governed by suffix rules (-ic, -logy, -eer) and canonical accent patterns.
Question 411Question →

From the options lettered A to D, choose the word that has the same pure vowel sound as the one represented by the underlined letter(s) in the word h<u>ei</u>fer.

Show answer & explanation

Answer: bury

Answer

The word 'bury' has the same monophthong vowel sound /e/ as the underlined letters in 'heifer'.
The underlined spelling pattern 'ei' in 'heifer' is pronounced as the short monophthong sound /e/. Similarly, despite its spelling with 'u', 'bury' is pronounced as /ˈberi/, featuring the exact same short monophthong /e/.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target phonetic sound of the underlined letters in the keyword.
The letters 'ei' in 'heifer' are transcribed as the short monophthong /e/ (IPA: /ˈhefə/).
English orthography uses 'ei' in rare cases to represent the short pure vowel /e/.
2
Analyze the phonetic vowel sounds of the provided options.
'bury' is pronounced /ˈberi/ (/e/), 'height' is pronounced /haɪt/ (/aɪ/), 'receive' is pronounced /rɪˈsiːv/ (/iː/), and 'freight' is pronounced /freɪt/ (/eɪ/).
Determining the exact IPA transcription reveals which word shares the pure vowel sound /e/.
3
Match the target sound /e/ with the corresponding option.
'bury' is the correct sound match.
Both 'heifer' and 'bury' share the short monophthong /e/.

Key Concept

Short Monophthong Recognition (/e/)
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 412Question →

Which of the words listed below contains the same monophthong vowel sound as the letters underlined in the word b<u>oo</u>k?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: put

Answer

The word containing the same monophthong sound as 'book' is 'put'.
The underlined letters 'oo' in 'book' are pronounced as the short monophthong /ʊ/. Among the given choices, the word 'put' also contains the /ʊ/ sound (pronounced /pʊt/). Therefore, 'put' is the correct match.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target monophthong sound in the stem word
The underlined letters 'oo' in 'book' represent the short pure vowel sound /ʊ/.
The standard phonetic transcription of 'book' is /bʊk/.
2
Analyze the vowel sound in each option
'put' contains /ʊ/, 'fool' contains /uː/, 'blood' contains /ʌ/, and 'door' contains /ɔː/.
Phonetic evaluation maps orthographic spelling patterns to standard International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) monophthong symbols.
3
Select the matching sound
'put' shares the identical /ʊ/ sound with 'book'.
Both words contain the short near-close near-back rounded pure vowel /ʊ/.

Key Concept

Monophthong (Pure Vowel) Identification: Short vs Long Vowels
Estimated Time:45s
Question 413Question →

Match each English word on the left with the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbol on the right that represents its primary monophthong (pure vowel) sound.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

plait
quay
bury
clerk

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

'plait' pairs with /æ/, 'quay' pairs with /i:/, 'bury' pairs with /e/, and 'clerk' pairs with /ɑ:/.
Each word is matched with its accurate RP monophthong sound based on phonetic principles: 'plait' (/æ/), 'quay' (/i:/), 'bury' (/e/), and 'clerk' (/ɑ:/).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the monophthong sound in 'plait'.
'plait' is phonetically transcribed as /plæt/, matching the short monophthong /æ/.
The spelling 'ai' in 'plait' is an orthographic exception representing /æ/ rather than a diphthong.
2
Determine the monophthong sound in 'quay'.
'quay' is phonetically transcribed as /ki:/, matching the long monophthong /i:/.
The spelling 'uay' produces the long unrounded front vowel /i:/, sounding identical to 'key'.
3
Determine the monophthong sound in 'bury'.
'bury' is phonetically transcribed as /ˈberi/, matching the short monophthong /e/.
The letter 'u' in 'bury' represents the short front vowel sound /e/, sounding identical to 'berry'.
4
Determine the monophthong sound in 'clerk'.
'clerk' is phonetically transcribed as /klɑːk/, matching the long monophthong /ɑ:/.
In standard British RP examined by JAMB, 'er' in 'clerk' is pronounced as the long back vowel /ɑ:/.

Key Concept

Identification of English Monophthongs (Pure Vowels) in Irregular Orthographic Patterns
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 414Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the syllabified form of the word 'export' with its primary stressed syllable written in UPPERCASE according to its grammatical function in the context.

Fill in the blanks below

In order to boost foreign trade revenues, the manufacturing company plans to its goods to neighboring countries.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct syllabified form showing primary stress is ex-PORT.
In English phonology, many two-syllable words alter their stress pattern based on their grammatical category. When 'export' acts as a verb, primary stress falls on the second syllable, producing the pronunciation ex-PORT.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the part of speech of the word 'export' in the given sentence context.
In the phrase 'plans to export its goods', 'export' functions as a verb.
The word follows the infinitive marker 'to' and describes an action.
2
Apply the rule for stress placement in two-syllable noun/verb homographs.
Two-syllable verbs typically place primary stress on the second syllable (ex-PORT), whereas two-syllable nouns place stress on the first syllable (EX-port).
English stress rules shift primary stress to the final syllable for verb forms of disyllabic noun-verb pairs.

Key Concept

Grammatical Function Stress Shift in Disyllabic Words
Question 415Question →

Read the passage context below and supply the appropriate syllabified form for each blank. Ensure that primary stress is indicated in UPPERCASE according to standard English rules governing grammatical category shift (verb vs. noun).

Fill in the blanks below

The committee warned that attempting to the existing agreement would violate legal regulations, but the board nevertheless signed a new with the supplier.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

Blank 1 requires the verb form 'con-TRACT' (stress on the second syllable), while Blank 2 requires the noun form 'CON-tract' (stress on the first syllable).
In English phonology, disyllabic word pairs that switch functions between noun and verb undergo a stress shift. Following the infinitive particle 'to', the word functions as a verb, placing primary stress on the second syllable ('con-TRACT'). Following the determiner 'a new', the word functions as a noun, shifting primary stress to the first syllable ('CON-tract').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the syntactic context of Blank 1
Blank 1 follows the infinitive marker 'to', indicating that the word must function grammatically as a verb.
Infinitive structures require the base form of a verb.
2
Apply the disyllabic stress rule to Blank 1
The verb form of 'contract' receives primary stress on its second syllable: 'con-TRACT'.
English two-syllable words functioning as verbs place primary stress on the final/ultimate syllable.
3
Analyze the syntactic context of Blank 2
Blank 2 follows the indefinite article and adjective phrase 'a new', indicating that the word must function grammatically as a noun.
Determiners and adjectives modify noun phrases.
4
Apply the disyllabic stress rule to Blank 2
The noun form of 'contract' receives primary stress on its first syllable: 'CON-tract'.
English two-syllable words functioning as nouns place primary stress on the initial/penultimate syllable.

Key Concept

Grammatical Category Stress Shift in Disyllabic Words
Question 416Question →

In English phonology, orthographic spelling patterns can often be deceptive. Which word shares the identical monophthong sound with the underlined letters in c<u>ol</u>onel?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: scourge

Answer

scourge
The underlined letters 'ol' in 'colonel' are pronounced as the long central monophthong /ɜː/ (/ˈkɜːnəl/). The word 'scourge' (/skɜːdʒ/) contains the exact same monophthong sound.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the phonetic transcription of the target word
The word 'colonel' is phonetically transcribed as /ˈkɜːnəl/, where the underlined letters 'ol' articulate the long mid-central unrounded monophthong /ɜː/.
Determining the precise International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbol of the target vowel sound is essential.
2
Analyze the vowel sound in each given option
'colony' has /ɒ/ (/ˈkɒləni/); 'scourge' has /ɜː/ (/skɜːdʒ/); 'course' has /ɔː/ (/kɔːs/); 'colour' has /ʌ/ (/ˈkʌlə/).
Evaluating each option's primary monophthong reveals which option matches /ɜː/.
3
Match the target monophthong sound to the correct option
Both 'colonel' (/ˈkɜːnəl/) and 'scourge' (/skɜːdʒ/) share the identical pure vowel sound /ɜː/.
'scourge' is the only option that contains the /ɜː/ sound.

Key Concept

Identification of the long central monophthong /ɜː/ in non-standard spelling patterns
Question 417Question →

Match each English word on the left with the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbol on the right that represents its stressed monophthong (pure vowel) sound.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

colonel
sieve
bosom
clerk

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

The word 'colonel' matches /ɜː/, 'sieve' matches /ɪ/, 'bosom' matches /ʊ/, and 'clerk' matches /ɑː/.
Each word is matched to its true RP monophthong sound: 'colonel' contains /ɜː/ (as in 'first'), 'sieve' contains /ɪ/ (as in 'bit'), 'bosom' contains /ʊ/ (as in 'put'), and 'clerk' contains /ɑː/ (as in 'car').

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the primary stressed syllable of each target word to isolate its pure vowel sound.
Identified stressed vowel positions: 'col-' in colonel, 'sieve' (monosyllabic), 'bos-' in bosom, and 'clerk' (monosyllabic).
Monophthong sound identification relies on acoustic realization rather than conventional spelling.
2
Determine the accurate Received Pronunciation (RP) IPA transcription for each word.
'colonel' = /ˈkɜːn.əl/, 'sieve' = /sɪv/, 'bosom' = /ˈbʊz.əm/, 'clerk' = /klɑːk/.
Exposing irregular spelling patterns reveals the precise monophthong quality for each word.
3
Pair each word with its correct IPA symbol.
'colonel' pairs with /ɜː/, 'sieve' pairs with /ɪ/, 'bosom' pairs with /ʊ/, and 'clerk' pairs with /ɑː/.
Completes the matching alignment between orthographic representations and phonetic monophthongs.

Key Concept

Phonetic realization of English monophthongs in deceptive orthographic environments
Question 418Question →

From the options provided, choose the word that has the same pure vowel sound as the one represented by the underlined letters in s<u>ou</u>thern.

Show answer & explanation

Answer: blood

Answer

The word 'blood' contains the same pure vowel sound /ʌ/ as the underlined part in 'southern'.
The underlined letters 'ou' in 'southern' are pronounced as the short monophthong /ʌ/. The word 'blood' shares this exact monophthong sound (/blʌd/), making it the correct choice.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target monophthong sound in the underlined letters.
The underlined letters 'ou' in 'southern' (/ˈsʌðən/) produce the short open-mid central monophthong sound /ʌ/.
English phonetic rules specify a vowel shift from the base noun 'south' (/saʊ��/) to the adjective 'southern' (/ˈsʌðən/).
2
Analyze the vowel sound in each option.
'blood' = /blʌd/ (monophthong /ʌ/); 'south' = /saʊθ/ (diphthong /aʊ/); 'soup' = /suːp/ (long monophthong /uː/); 'course' = /kɔːs/ (long monophthong /ɔː/).
Comparing International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcriptions reveals which option shares the target monophthong.
3
Match the target sound to the correct option.
'blood' matches the monophthong /ʌ/ found in 'southern'.
Both words feature the identical short pure vowel /ʌ/ despite having different spelling patterns ('ou' vs 'oo').

Key Concept

Phonetic identification of the short monophthong /ʌ/ across varied orthographic spellings ('ou', 'oo').
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 419Question →

Match each word on the left with the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbol on the right that represents its primary monophthong (pure vowel) sound.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

hearth
swan
pretty
leopard

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

'hearth' matches /ɑː/, 'swan' matches /ɒ/, 'pretty' matches /ɪ/, and 'leopard' matches /e/.
Each target word features a specific monophthong phoneme: 'hearth' contains the long back vowel /ɑː/, 'swan' contains the short rounded back vowel /ɒ/, 'pretty' contains the short front vowel /ɪ/, and 'leopard' contains the short front vowel /e/.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the phonetic realization of 'hearth'
The vowel digraph 'ear' in 'hearth' produces the long pure vowel sound /ɑː/ as in 'father'.
English orthography often misleads students to read 'ear' as /ɪə/ or /ɜː/, but in 'hearth' it represents /ɑː/.
2
Identify the monophthong in 'swan'
The letter 'a' in 'swan' yields the short pure vowel sound /ɒ/ as in 'lot'.
Following the labial-velar consonant /w/, the vowel 'a' typically undergoes rounding to become /ɒ/.
3
Determine the stressed vowel sound in 'pretty'
The letter 'e' in 'pretty' is pronounced as the short front vowel /ɪ/ as in 'sit'.
This is an exceptional spelling pattern where 'e' corresponds to the lax front vowel /ɪ/.
4
Examine the vowel digraph in 'leopard'
The digraph 'eo' in 'leopard' produces the short front monophthong /e/ as in 'bed'.
The letter 'o' is silent in this context, leaving the short monophthong /e/.

Key Concept

Monophthongs (Pure Vowels) and Orthographic Exceptions
Question 420Question →

Which of the following syllabifications correctly indicates the primary stress placement in the word biographical?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: bi-o-GRAPH-i-cal

Answer

The correct stress placement is bi-o-GRAPH-i-cal, with primary stress on the third syllable.
The correct form is 'bi-o-GRAPH-i-cal'. In English phonology, words ending with the adjectival suffix '-ical' place primary stress on the syllable immediately before the suffix, which is the third syllable 'GRAPH'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the suffix and word category
The word 'biographical' contains five syllables and ends with the adjectival suffix '-ical'.
English stress assignment rules are often dictated by specific derivational suffixes.
2
Apply the phonological stress rule for '-ical' suffixes
The suffix '-ical' mandates primary stress on the syllable immediately preceding '-ical' (the antepenultimate syllable of the whole word).
In polysyllabic adjectives with '-ical' (e.g., biological, geographical, biographical), primary stress moves to the syllable right before the suffix.
3
Determine the stressed syllable
The third syllable 'GRAPH' receives the primary accent, yielding 'bi-o-GRAPH-i-cal'.
Counting backwards from the end, 'GRAPH' is the syllable directly prior to '-i-cal'.

Key Concept

Stress assignment in polysyllabic words ending with '-ical'
PreviousPage 21 / 22Next
Oral English Practice Questions — JAMB UTME — Page 21 | Examkin