gce model questions vol1 2020 english_language | Oral

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Question 1 View Details
Listen to the words ‘beat' and ‘bit'. Which vowel phoneme is present in ‘beat' but not in ‘bit'? Write the vowel symbol in IPA between slashes.
Correct A. /iː/
B. /ɪ/
C. /eɪ/
D. /æ/

Correct Answer: A

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Question 2 View Details
Which of the following words contains the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/? a) dogs b) buzz c) cats
A. buzz
B. frog
C. dogs
Correct D. cats

Correct Answer: D

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Question 3 View Details
Indicate the primary stress in the word ‘photograph' using the IPA stress marker ˈ. Write the full transcription.
A. /ˈfɒtɒɡrɑːf/
B. /ˈfɒtəɡrɒf/
Correct C. /ˈfɒtəɡrɑːf/
D. /fɒˈtəɡrɑːf/

Correct Answer: C

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Question 4 View Details
State the intonation pattern (rising, falling, or fall‑rise) typically used for the yes‑no question: ‘Are you coming tomorrow?'
A. falling
B. fall‑rise
C. level
Correct D. rising

Correct Answer: D

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Question 5 View Details
Read the sentence: ‘The record was broken yesterday.' Identify whether the word ‘record' is used as a noun or a verb, indicate its primary stress position, and give its IPA transcription.
Correct A. noun, primary stress on first syllable, /ˈrɛkɔːd/
B. verb, primary stress on first syllable, \/ˈrɛkɔːd\/
C. verb, primary stress on second syllable, \/rɪˈkɔːd\/
D. noun, primary stress on second syllable, \/ˈrɛkɔːd\/

Correct Answer: A

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Question 6 View Details
The three words ‘beat', ‘bit' and ‘beet' are spoken. Identify the vowel sound in each word, write its International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) symbol, and state which two words share the same vowel quality.
A. beat: \/iː\/, bit: \/ɪ\/, beet: \/iː\/. The words ‘beat' and ‘bit' share the same vowel \/iː\/.
Correct B. beat: /iː/, bit: /ɪ/, beet: /iː/. The words ‘beat' and ‘beet' share the same vowel /iː/.
C. beat: \/iː\/, bit: \/ɪ\/, beet: \/ɪ\/. The words ‘beat' and ‘beet' share the same vowel \/iː\/.
D. beat: \/eɪ\/, bit: \/ɪ\/, beet: \/iː\/. The words ‘beat' and ‘bit' share the same vowel \/eɪ\/.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 7 View Details
In the phrase ‘Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers', (a) identify the alliterative consonant sound and count how many times it occurs, and (b) indicate which syllable of the word ‘pickled' receives the primary stress.
A. Alliterative consonant: \/k\/, occurring 6 times; primary stress on the first syllable of ‘pickled' (\u02c8pick‑led).
B. Alliterative consonant: \/p\/, occurring 6 times; primary stress on the second syllable of ‘pickled' (pick‑\u02c8led).
Correct C. Alliterative consonant: /p/, occurring 6 times; primary stress on the first syllable of ‘pickled' (ˈpick‑led).
D. Alliterative consonant: \/p\/, occurring 5 times; primary stress on the second syllable of ‘pickled' (pick‑\u02c8led).

Correct Answer: C

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Question 8 View Details
When the sentence ‘You are going to the market?' is spoken as a yes‑no question, describe the intonation contour at the end of the utterance and name the word that carries the most prominent stress.
A. The utterance ends with a level intonation contour; the word ‘you' carries the most prominent stress.
B. The utterance ends with a falling intonation contour; the word ‘market' carries the most prominent stress.
Correct C. The utterance ends with a rising intonation contour; the word ‘going' carries the most prominent stress.
D. The utterance ends with a rising intonation contour; the word ‘are' carries the most prominent stress.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 9 View Details
Provide the syllable stress pattern for the word ‘photography' and give its IPA transcription including the stress marker.
A. Stress on the first syllable: \/ˈfɒtəɡrəfi\/.
B. Stress on the fourth syllable: \/fəɡrəˈfɪ\/.
Correct C. Stress on the second syllable: /fəˈtɒɡrəfi/.
D. Stress on the third syllable: \/fəɡˈrɒɡrəfi\/.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 10 View Details
The word ‘colonel' contains a silent letter and an irregular pronunciation. Write its IPA transcription and indicate which syllable is stressed.
A. \/ˈkɒnəl\/, with primary stress on the first syllable.
Correct B. /ˈkɜːrnəl/, with primary stress on the first syllable.
C. \/kəˈnɒl\/, with primary stress on the second syllable.
D. \/kɜːrˈnæl\/, with primary stress on the second syllable.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 11 View Details
From the list **bit, seat, sit, set**, name the word that contains the long vowel /iː/ as in "see".
A. bit
B. set
Correct C. seat
D. sit

Correct Answer: C

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Question 12 View Details
The noun *record* and the verb *record* differ in stress. Write the IPA transcription of each word, indicating the primary stress with a preceding ˈ symbol.
A. Noun: \/ˈrekɔːd\/; Verb: \/ˈrɪkɔːd\/
B. Noun: \/ˈrɛkɔːd\/; Verb: \/rɪˈkɔːd\/
C. Noun: \/rɪˈkɔːd\/; Verb: \/ˈrekɔːd\/
Correct D. Noun: /ˈrekɔːd/; Verb: /rɪˈkɔːd/

Correct Answer: D

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Question 13 View Details
For the word **photography**, indicate which syllable carries the primary stress and give the full IPA transcription, marking the stressed syllable with ˈ.
Correct A. /fəˈtɒɡrəfi/
B. /fəˈtɒɡɹi/
C. /fəˈtɒɡɹəfɪ/
D. /ˈfəʊtɒɡrəfi/

Correct Answer: A

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Question 14 View Details
Transcribe the sentence **I have to go** as it would be pronounced in natural connected speech in British English. Show any vowel reduction and indicate linking between words.
A. /aɪ ˈhæv tə ˈɡəʊʊ/
Correct B. /aɪ ˈhæv tə ˈɡəʊ/
C. /aɪ ˈhæv tɚ ˈɡəʊ/
D. /aɪ ˈhæv ˈtə ˈɡəʊ/

Correct Answer: B

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Question 15 View Details
A learner says the word **economics** as /iːkəˈnɒmɪks/. Identify every error in vowel quality, stress placement, and syllable division, then give the correct IPA transcription for British English, explaining each correction.
A. \/ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪkʃ\/
B. \/iːkəˈnɒmɪks\/
Correct C. /ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪks/
D. \/ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk\/

Correct Answer: C

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Question 16 View Details
The word "photographic" has four syllables. Identify the primary‑stress syllable and give its IPA transcription, marking the stressed syllable with a preceding ˈ. Also state the vowel sound in that stressed syllable.
A. Primary stress on the fourth syllable: \/fə.tɒɡˈrɑːfɪk\/. Vowel in the stressed syllable is \/ɑː\/.
Correct B. Primary stress on the second syllable: /fəˈtɒɡrɑːfɪk/. Vowel in the stressed syllable is /ɒ/.
C. Primary stress on the first syllable: \/ˈfətɒɡrɑːfɪk\/. Vowel in the stressed syllable is \/ə\/.
D. Primary stress on the third syllable: \/fə.tɒˈɡrɑːfɪk\/. Vowel in the stressed syllable is \/ɑː\/.

Correct Answer: B

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Question 17 View Details
In the sentence "The thin thief thought the theme," identify which words contain the voiceless dental fricative /θ/ and which contain the voiced dental fricative /ð/. Provide the IPA transcription of each target word.
A. \/θ\/ in thin (\/θɪn\/), theme (\/θiːm\/); \/ð\/ in the (\/ðə\/), thief (\/ðiːf\/), thought (\/ðɔːt\/).
Correct B. /θ/ in thin (/θɪn/), thief (/θiːf/), thought (/θɔːt/), theme (/θiːm/); /ð/ in the (/ðə/).
C. \/θ\/ in thin (\/θɪn\/), thief (\/θiːf\/), thought (\/θɔːt\/); \/ð\/ in the (\/ðə\/), theme (\/ðiːm\/).
D. \/θ\/ in thin (\/θɪn\/), thief (\/θiːf\/), theme (\/θiːm\/); \/ð\/ in the (\/ðə\/), thought (\/ðɔːt\/).

Correct Answer: B

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Question 18 View Details
Read the four lines below and state the rhyme scheme using letters (e.g., AABB).\n\n1. The wind whispered through the night.\n2. A child sighed in soft delight.\n3. Stars glimmered high above the sea.\n4. Dreams drifted far beyond the lea.
A. ABBA
B. ABAB
C. AAAA
Correct D. AABB

Correct Answer: D

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Question 19 View Details
Transform the neutral statement "She won the prize" into a surprised exclamation and describe the intonation pattern you would use (e.g., falling, rising, fall‑rise).
A. She won the prize! - spoken with a level intonation (no significant pitch change).
Correct B. She won the prize! - spoken with a fall‑rise intonation (initial fall, rise on the final word).
C. She won the prize! - spoken with a rising intonation (steady rise throughout).
D. She won the prize! - spoken with a falling intonation (initial fall, no rise).

Correct Answer: B

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Question 20 View Details
Compare the stress pattern of the compound noun "blackboard" with the adjective‑noun phrase "black board". Indicate which syllable receives primary stress in each case and give the IPA transcription showing the stress mark.
A. "blackboard" - \\/blækˈbɔːd\\/ (stress on \"board\"); \"black board\" - \\/ˈblæk bɔːd\\/ (stress on \"black\").
B. "blackboard" - \\/blækbɔːd\\/ (stress on \"board\"); \"black board\" - \\/blæk ˈbɔːd\\/ (stress on \"board\").
C. "blackboard" - \\/ˈblækbɒrd\\/ (stress on \"black\"); \"black board\" - \\/blæk ˈbɔːd\\/ (stress on \"board\").
Correct D. "blackboard" - /ˈblækbɔːd/ (stress on "black"); "black board" - /blæk ˈbɔːd/ (stress on "board").

Correct Answer: D

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Question 21 View Details
Read the following descriptive sentence: "The ancient oak towered over the misty meadow, its gnarled branches reaching like skeletal fingers toward the pale sky." a) Indicate which syllable of the word ancient carries the primary stress and give its phonetic transcription using IPA symbols. b) Identify the vowel sound in the stressed syllable of ancient and write its phonetic symbol. c) Do the same for the word misty. d) State whether the vowel sounds in the stressed syllables of ancient and misty are the same phoneme.
A. ancient: primary stress on first syllable, transcription /ˈeɪnʃənt/, vowel /eɪ/. misty: primary stress on first syllable, transcription /ˈmɪsti/, vowel /eɪ/. The vowel sounds are the same.
B. ancient: primary stress on first syllable, transcription /ˈeɪnʃənt/, vowel /e/. misty: primary stress on second syllable, transcription /mɪˈsti/, vowel /i/. The vowel sounds are the same.
Correct C. ancient: primary stress on first syllable, transcription /ˈeɪnʃənt/, vowel /eɪ/. misty: primary stress on first syllable, transcription /ˈmɪsti/, vowel /ɪ/. The vowel sounds are different.
D. ancient: primary stress on second syllable, transcription /eɪnˈʃənt/, vowel /ʃ/. misty: primary stress on first syllable, transcription /ˈmɪsti/, vowel /ɪ/. The vowel sounds are different.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 22 View Details
Consider the word pair thin and then. a) Identify the consonant sound that differs between the two words and give its IPA symbol for each word. b) State whether the vowel sound is the same in both words, and provide its IPA symbol.
A. thin: initial consonant /θ/; then: initial consonant /ð/. The vowel in both words is the same, /i/.
B. thin: initial consonant /t/; then: initial consonant /d/. The vowel in both words is the same, /ɪ/.
Correct C. thin: initial consonant /θ/; then: initial consonant /ð/. The vowel in both words is the same, /ɪ/.
D. thin: initial consonant /θ/; then: initial consonant /ð/. The vowel differs, thin has /ɪ/ and then has /e/.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 23 View Details
In the opening sentence of a formal letter: "I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for your generous assistance." Identify the word that would naturally receive emphatic stress to convey strong gratitude. Provide its phonetic transcription with the stress marker, and specify the vowel sound in its stressed syllable.
A. generous - primary stress on the first syllable, transcription \/ˈdʒɛnərəs\/, stressed vowel \/ɛ\/
B. gratitude - primary stress on the first syllable, transcription \/ˈɡrætɪtjuːd\/, stressed vowel \/æ\/
Correct C. sincere - primary stress on the second syllable, transcription /sɪnˈsɪə/, stressed vowel /ɪ/.
D. assistance - primary stress on the third syllable, transcription \/əˈsɪstəns\/, stressed vowel \/ɪ\/

Correct Answer: C

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Question 24 View Details
Transcribe the following sentence into IPA, indicating primary word stress with a preceding ˈ symbol and using standard IPA symbols for vowel and consonant sounds: "Please close the window before the rain starts."
A. \/pliːz ˈkloʊz ðə ˈwɪndəʊ bɪˈfɔːr ðə reɪn ˈstɑːrts\/ (primary stress on close, window, before, rain, starts).
B. \/pliːz ˈkloʊz ˈðə ˈwɪndoʊ bɪˈfɔːr ðə reɪn ˈstɑːrts\/ (primary stress on close, the, window, before, rain, starts).
C. \/ˈpliːz kloʊz ðə ˈwɪndoʊ bɪˈfɔːr ðə reɪn ˈstɑːrts\/ (primary stress on please, window, before, rain, starts).
Correct D. /pliːz ˈkloʊz ðə ˈwɪndoʊ bɪˈfɔːr ðə reɪn ˈstɑːrts/ (primary stress on close, window, before, rain, starts).

Correct Answer: D

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Question 25 View Details
The word colonel is often mispronounced. Provide its correct phonetic transcription in IPA, indicate which syllable carries the primary stress, and write the vowel sound of that stressed syllable.
A. /kəˈnɜːl/, primary stress on the second syllable, vowel /ɜː/.
B. /ˈkɜːrnl/, primary stress on the first syllable, vowel /ɜː/.
C. /ˈkɜːrnəl/, primary stress on the second syllable, vowel /ɜː/.
Correct D. /ˈkɜːrnəl/, primary stress on the first syllable, vowel /ɜː/.

Correct Answer: D

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