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neco 2018 english_language | Oral

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Question 1 View Details

In the sentence "The international communication conference starts at nine," identify the word that carries primary stress on its third syllable, give its phonetic transcription in IPA, and state the vowel symbol that represents the vowel sound in the stressed syllable. Present your answer as "word - transcription - vowel".

A. conference - /ˈkɒnfərəns/ - /ɒ/

B. communication - /kəˌmjuːnɪˈkeɪʃən/ - /eɪ/

Correct C. international - /ˌɪntəˈnæʃənəl/ - /æ/

D. starts - /stɑːrts/ - /ɑː/

Correct Answer: C

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Question 2 View Details

From the following list of words: beat, bit, seat, sit, select the pair that differ only by the vowel sound /iː/ versus /ɪ/. Write the two words separated by a hyphen.

A. bit - seat

B. beat - sit

C. beat - seat

Correct D. beat - bit

Correct Answer: D

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Question 3 View Details

Among the words zebra, snake, apple, giraffe, which word begins with the voiceless alveolar fricative /s/? Write the word.

A. apple

Correct B. snake

C. zebra

D. giraffe

Correct Answer: B

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Question 4 View Details

In the word "photograph", which syllable carries the primary stress? Indicate the syllable number (1, 2, or 3).

Correct A. 1

B. 4

C. 2

D. 3

Correct Answer: A

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Question 5 View Details

A speaker says the sentence "You passed the exam?" with a rising pitch at the end to indicate a question. Identify the intonation pattern used and state whether the sentence is a yes‑no question or a tag question. Answer in the form "intonation - question type".

A. rising - tag question

B. falling - yes‑no question

Correct C. rising - yes‑no question

D. falling - tag question

Correct Answer: C

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Question 6 View Details

Consider the words: "beat", "bit", "seat", and "sit". Identify the pair of words that differ only in the vowel sound, contrasting the long vowel /iː/ with the short vowel /ɪ/.

Correct A. beat and bit

B. bit and sit

C. beat and sit

D. beat and seat

Correct Answer: A

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Question 7 View Details

In the idiomatic expression "to bite the bullet", which word carries the primary lexical stress when spoken naturally?

A. bite

Correct B. bullet

C. to

D. the

Correct Answer: B

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Question 8 View Details

The sentence "She opened the door and saw the surprise." is spoken as a narrative statement. What intonation contour (rising, falling, or fall‑rise) is typically used on the final clause to convey surprise?

A. level

B. falling

Correct C. fall‑rise

D. rising

Correct Answer: C

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Question 9 View Details

In the excerpt "Our nation faces many challenges, but we have the resolve to overcome them," which word in the second clause should receive emphatic stress to highlight the positive aspect, and why?

A. many

B. overcome

C. challenges

Correct D. resolve

Correct Answer: D

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Question 10 View Details

In the idiom "once in a blue moon", which word contains the same vowel sound /uː/ as the word "blue"?

A. a

Correct B. moon

C. once

D. in

Correct Answer: B

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Question 11 View Details

The word "data" is pronounced differently depending on register. In a formal news report, speakers say /ˈdeɪtə/. In informal conversation, many say /ˈdætə/. Identify the vowel phoneme that changes between the two pronunciations and state its phonetic class.

A. \/eɪ\/ changes to \/æ\/; \/eɪ\/ is a monophthong and \/æ\/ is a long back vowel

B. \/eɪ\/ changes to \/æ\/; \/eɪ\/ is a diphthong and \/æ\/ is a central vowel

Correct C. /eɪ/ changes to /æ/; /eɪ/ is a diphthong and /æ/ is a short front vowel

D. \/eɪ\/ changes to \/ɒ\/; \/eɪ\/ is a diphthong and \/ɒ\/ is a short back vowel

Correct Answer: C

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Question 12 View Details

In the word "characterisation", indicate which syllable carries the primary stress and write the phonetic transcription of that stressed syllable.

Correct A. Primary stress on the syllable "za"; transcription of the stressed syllable is /ˈzeɪ/

B. Primary stress on the syllable "na"; transcription of the stressed syllable is \/ˈnæ\/

C. Primary stress on the syllable "ri"; transcription of the stressed syllable is \/ˈrɪ\/

D. Primary stress on the syllable "ti"; transcription of the stressed syllable is \/ˈtiː\/

Correct Answer: A

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Question 13 View Details

Three word pairs are given with their IPA transcriptions: (a) bat /bæt/ - pat /pæt/ (b) beat /biːt/ - bit /bɪt/ (c) bat /bæt/ - dog /dɒg/ Which pair demonstrates both a vowel contrast and a consonant contrast between the two words?

Correct A. Pair (c) bat - dog

B. Pair (a) pat - bat

C. Pair (a) bat - pat

D. Pair (b) beat - bit

Correct Answer: A

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Question 14 View Details

When the rhetorical question "Isn't it obvious?" is spoken in English, describe the typical intonation contour and indicate which word receives the emphatic stress.

A. Falling intonation throughout the phrase; emphatic stress is on "Isn't"

B. Rising intonation on "obvious" with a level contour on "Isn't it"; emphatic stress is on "it"

C. A flat intonation contour with no stress; emphatic stress is on "it"

Correct D. Rising intonation through "Isn't it" followed by a falling contour on "obvious"; emphatic stress is on "obvious"

Correct Answer: D

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Question 15 View Details

The word "record" can function as a noun or a verb. State the stress pattern for each usage and give the phonetic transcription of the stressed syllable in both cases.

A. Noun: stress on second syllable, \/ˈrek\/; Verb: stress on first syllable, \/ˈkɔːd\/

B. Noun: stress on first syllable, \/ˈriːk\/; Verb: stress on second syllable, \/ˈkɔːd\/

Correct C. Noun: stress on first syllable, /ˈrek/; Verb: stress on second syllable, /ˈkɔːd/

D. Noun: stress on first syllable, \/ˈrek\/; Verb: stress on second syllable, \/ˈkɔːrd\/

Correct Answer: C

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Question 16 View Details

Four words are spoken: beat, bit, bait, bet. Identify the word whose vowel sound is the longest, and give its phonetic transcription in IPA.

A. bet - \/bɛt\/

Correct B. bait - /beɪt/

C. bit - \/bɪt\/

D. beat - \/biːt\/

Correct Answer: B

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Question 17 View Details

The word "photograph" is spoken. State which syllable carries the primary stress and write the word in IPA showing the stress mark.

Correct A. First syllable - /ˈfɒtəɡrɑːf/

B. First syllable - \/ˈfɒtəɡrɑːv\/

C. First syllable - \/fɒˈtəɡrɑːf\/

D. Second syllable - \/fɒtəˈɡrɑːf\/

Correct Answer: A

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Question 18 View Details

The following four words are spoken: bat, pat, seal, sell. a) Identify which pair differs only in the initial consonant. b) Identify which pair differs only in the vowel. c) Write the IPA symbols for the two differing consonant sounds. d) Indicate which of those consonant sounds is voiced.

A. Consonant pair: bat\/pat; Vowel pair: seal\/sell; Consonant sounds: \/b\/ and \/p\/; Voiced consonant: \/p\/

B. Consonant pair: bat\/pat; Vowel pair: seal\/sell; Consonant sounds: \/t\/ and \/p\/; Voiced consonant: \/t\/

C. Consonant pair: bat\/pat; Vowel pair: bat\/pat; Consonant sounds: \/b\/ and \/p\/; Voiced consonant: \/b\/

Correct D. Consonant pair: bat/pat; Vowel pair: seal/sell; Consonant sounds: /b/ and /p/; Voiced consonant: /b/

Correct Answer: D

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Question 19 View Details

Three sentences are spoken: (1) "Are you coming?" (2) "I finished my homework." (3) "You can go now." For each sentence: a) State whether the overall intonation is rising or falling. b) Indicate the pragmatic function (question, statement, command). c) Represent the intonation pattern using the symbols ↗ for rising and ↘ for falling.

Correct A. 1) ↗ - question; 2) ↘ - statement; 3) ↘ - command

B. 1) ↗ - question; 2) ↘ - statement; 3) ↗ - command

C. 1) ↗ - statement; 2) ↘ - question; 3) ↘ - command

D. 1) ↘ - question; 2) ↗ - statement; 3) ↘ - command

Correct Answer: A

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Question 20 View Details

Compose a two‑line spoken couplet, each line containing exactly nine syllables and following an anapestic meter (two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable). Then write the phonetic transcription of the first line in IPA, marking the primary stress with ˈ before each stressed syllable.

A. Couplet: In the silent woods the owls call Gently they hum the stars' soft light IPA of line 1: \/ɪn ðə ˈsaɪ.lənt ˈwʊdz ðə ˈaʊlz kɔːl\/

B. Couplet: Through the bright meadow the lambs do run Softly they chant the sunrise's warm hue IPA of line 1: \/θruː ðə ˈbraɪt ˈmɛdəʊ ðə ˈlæmz duː rʌn\/

C. Couplet: Upon the misty lake the frogs croak loud Quietly they glide the night's cool breeze IPA of line 1: \/əˈpɒn ðə ˈmɪs.ti leɪk ðə ˈfrɒgz kroʊk laʊd\/

Correct D. Couplet: On the quiet hill the night birds sing Softly they whisper the moon's bright glow IPA of line 1: /ɒn ðə ˈkwɪ.ət ˈhɪl ðə ˈnaɪt ˈbɜːdz sɪŋ/

Correct Answer: D

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Question 21 View Details

Complete the sentence with a word that has primary stress on the second syllable and whose stressed vowel is the short /ɪ/ sound: "The manager will ___ the new policy tomorrow."

A. reprint

B. reapply

Correct C. revisit

D. rethink

Correct Answer: C

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Question 22 View Details

Identify the word that carries the main (primary) sentence stress and the word that carries the secondary sentence stress in the spoken sentence: "She will present the results tomorrow." Then write the IPA transcription of the sentence, marking primary word stress with ˈ and secondary word stress with ˌ on the stressed syllables of those two words only.

A. \/ʃi wɪl ˈprɛzənt ðə rɪˈzʌlts təˈmɒroʊ\/

B. \/ʃi wɪl prɛˈzənt ðə ˌrɪzʌlts təˈmɒroʊ\/

C. \/ʃi wɪl prɛzənt ðə ˌrɪzʌlts ˈtəmɒroʊ\/

Correct D. /ʃi wɪl ˈprɛzənt ðə ˌrɪzʌlts təˈmɒroʊ/

Correct Answer: D

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Question 23 View Details

The sentence "The thunder roared, and the rain whispered" illustrates a figure of speech. Identify the figure of speech and describe the intonation pattern (rising, falling, or rise‑fall) a speaker would naturally use to convey the contrast between the two clauses.

Correct A. Antithesis; fall‑rise intonation (fall on "roared", rise on "whispered")

B. Parallelism; fall‑rise intonation (fall on \"roared\", rise on \"whispered\")]

C. Antithesis; rise‑fall intonation (rise on \"roared\", fall on \"whispered\")

D. Simile; rise‑fall intonation (rise on \"roared\", fall on \"whispered\")

Correct Answer: A

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Question 24 View Details

Provide the IPA transcription of the word "colonial" and indicate which syllable carries the primary stress.

A. \/kəˈloʊniəl\/ (primary stress on the first syllable)

B. \/kəloʊˈniəl\/ (primary stress on the third syllable)

Correct C. /kəˈloʊniəl/ (primary stress on the second syllable)

D. \/kəˈlɒniəl\/ (primary stress on the second syllable)

Correct Answer: C

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Question 25 View Details

Read the three sentences below. Indicate which sentence a speaker would most naturally end with a rising intonation to turn it into a yes‑no question, even though it is written as a statement. Provide the sentence number and a brief justification. 1. The manager announced the new schedule. 2. You will attend the meeting. 3. The agenda was distributed to all members.

Correct A. Sentence 2 - "You will attend the meeting." (the modal "will" with a second‑person subject invites a rising‑intonation yes‑no question)

B. Sentence 3 - "The agenda was distributed to all members." (the passive voice makes a rising‑intonation question unlikely)

C. Sentence 2 - "You will attend the meeting." (the future tense alone does not automatically create a yes‑no question without a rising‑intonation cue)

D. Sentence 1 - "The manager announced the new schedule." (the declarative statement lacks a modal that would trigger a rising‑intonation yes‑no question)

Correct Answer: A

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