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neco 2025 english_language | Oral

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Question 1 View Details

Listen to the three words spoken by a native speaker: *seat*, *sit*, *set*. Identify the pair of words that differ only in their vowel sound (a vowel contrast). Write the IPA transcription of each word in that pair, and state the manner of articulation of the final consonant sound common to both words.

A. Pair: seat and set; IPA: \/siːt\/ and \/sɛt\/; final consonant \/t\/ is a voiceless alveolar stop.

B. Pair: sit and set; IPA: \/sɪt\/ and \/sɛt\/; final consonant \/t\/ is a voiceless alveolar stop.

C. Pair: seat and sit; IPA: \/siːt\/ and \/sɪt\/; final consonant \/t\/ is a voiced alveolar stop.

Correct D. Pair: seat and sit; IPA: /siːt/ and /sɪt/; final consonant /t/ is a voiceless alveolar stop.

Correct Answer: D

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Question 2 View Details

Four words are spoken: *cap*, *gap*, *cab*, *gab*. Identify the pair that differ only in their initial consonant (a consonant contrast). Provide the IPA transcription of each word in that pair and indicate the voicing of each initial consonant.

A. Pair: cab and gab; IPA: \/kæb\/ and \/ɡæb\/; \/k\/ is voiceless, \/ɡ\/ is voiced.

B. Pair: cap and gap; IPA: \/kæp\/ and \/ɡæp\/; \/k\/ is voiced, \/ɡ\/ is voiceless.

Correct C. Pair: cap and gap; IPA: /kæp/ and /ɡæp/; /k/ is voiceless, /ɡ/ is voiced.

D. Pair: cap and gab; IPA: \/kæp\/ and \/ɡæb\/; \/k\/ is voiceless, \/ɡ\/ is voiced.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 3 View Details

In the spoken sentence: "They will record the record tomorrow", indicate the primary lexical stress for each occurrence of the word *record* using IPA stress symbols, and state which word would receive emphatic sentence stress if the speaker wants to stress the action rather than the object.

Correct A. Verb: /rɪˈkɔːd/ (stress on second syllable); Noun: /ˈrɛkɔːd/ (stress on first syllable); Emphatic sentence stress falls on the verb *record*.

B. Verb: \/rɪˈkɔːd\/ (stress on second syllable); Noun: \/ˈrɛkɔːd\/ (stress on first syllable); Emphatic sentence stress falls on the adjective *record*.

C. Verb: \/ˈrɪkɔːd\/ (stress on first syllable); Noun: \/rɛˈkɔːd\/ (stress on second syllable); Emphatic sentence stress falls on the noun *record*.

D. Verb: \/rɪkˈɔːd\/ (stress on third syllable); Noun: \/ˈrɛkɔːd\/ (stress on first syllable); Emphatic sentence stress falls on the verb *record*.

Correct Answer: A

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Question 4 View Details

Consider the short argumentative excerpt spoken aloud: "Our city needs more green spaces. However, building new parks will cost a lot. So, should we invest in green spaces now?" Identify the intonation pattern (rising or falling) for each of the three sentences and indicate the word that carries nuclear stress in each sentence.

A. Sentence 1: falling intonation, nuclear stress on "green"; Sentence 2: rising intonation, nuclear stress on "parks"; Sentence 3: rising intonation, nuclear stress on "invest"

B. Sentence 1: rising intonation, nuclear stress on "city"; Sentence 2: falling intonation, nuclear stress on "new"; Sentence 3: falling intonation, nuclear stress on "invest"

Correct C. Sentence 1: falling intonation, nuclear stress on "needs"; Sentence 2: falling intonation, nuclear stress on "cost"; Sentence 3: rising intonation, nuclear stress on "green spaces".

D. Sentence 1: falling intonation, nuclear stress on "our"; Sentence 2: rising intonation, nuclear stress on "cost"; Sentence 3: rising intonation, nuclear stress on "now"

Correct Answer: C

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Question 5 View Details

From the following list of words, select the one that contains the voiceless dental fricative /θ/ and give its IPA transcription.

A. think - \/θɪŋkɚ\/

B. think - \/ðɪŋk\/

C. think - \/θɪŋ\/

Correct D. think - /θɪŋk/

Correct Answer: D

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Question 6 View Details

In the word "beautiful", the primary stress falls on the first syllable. Identify the vowel sound in that stressed syllable, give its IPA symbol, and state whether it is a monophthong or a diphthong.

A. \/aʊ\/, diphthong

Correct B. /uː/, monophthong

C. \/iː\/, monophthong

D. \/eɪ\/, diphthong

Correct Answer: B

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Question 7 View Details

In the minimal pair 'bat' and 'pat', which consonant sound distinguishes the two words? Provide its IPA symbol and classify it by voicing and place of articulation.

A. \/p\/, voiceless bilabial stop

B. \/b\/, voiceless bilabial stop

C. \/b\/, voiced labiodental fricative

Correct D. /b/, voiced bilabial stop

Correct Answer: D

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Question 8 View Details

Which of the following words rhymes with "light" and contains the same vowel sound as in "flight": bright, bought, brittle, blunt? Provide the IPA transcription of the rhyming part of the correct word.

A. bought, \/bɔːt\/

B. blunt, \/ʌnt\/

C. brittle, \/ɪtəl\/

Correct D. bright, /raɪt/

Correct Answer: D

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Question 9 View Details

State the primary stress position in the word "photograph" when it is used (a) as a noun and (b) as a verb, and write each form in IPA with the correct stress marker.

A. noun - \/ˈfoʊtəɡræf\/ (stress on first syllable); verb - \/fəˈtɒɡræf\/ (stress on first syllable)

B. noun - \/fəˈtɒɡræf\/ (stress on second syllable); verb - \/ˈfoʊtəɡræf\/ (stress on first syllable)

Correct C. noun - /ˈfoʊtəɡræf/ (stress on first syllable); verb - /fəˈtɒɡræf/ (stress on second syllable)

D. noun - \/ˈfoʊtəɡræf\/ (stress on first syllable); verb - \/fəˈtɒɡræf\/ (stress on third syllable)

Correct Answer: C

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Question 10 View Details

In the spoken sentence "Are you coming tomorrow?", identify the intonation contour used and explain its communicative function.

A. rising‑falling intonation; function: conveys surprise or disbelief

B. falling intonation; function: signals a statement or rhetorical question

Correct C. rising intonation; function: indicates a polar yes‑no question seeking confirmation

D. level intonation; function: indicates a neutral request for information

Correct Answer: C

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Question 11 View Details

Listen to the words 'beat' and 'bit'. Identify the vowel sound that distinguishes them and give its IPA symbol.

Correct A. /iː/

B. \/eɪ\/

C. \/ɪ\/

D. \/æ\/

Correct Answer: A

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Question 12 View Details

Consider the words 'sip' and 'ship'. State the place and manner of articulation of the consonant that differs between the two words.

A. postalveolar affricate (voiced)

B. alveolar stop (voiceless)

C. alveolar fricative (voiceless)

Correct D. postalveolar fricative (voiceless)

Correct Answer: D

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Question 13 View Details

Give the phonetic transcription of the word 'photograph' and indicate which syllable carries the primary stress using the IPA stress marker.

Correct A. /ˈfəʊtəɡrɑːf/ (primary stress on first syllable)

B. \/ˈfɒtəɡrɑːf\/ (primary stress on first syllable)

C. \/fəʊˈtəɡrɑːf\/ (primary stress on second syllable)

D. \/ˈfəʊtəɡrɒf\/ (primary stress on first syllable)

Correct Answer: A

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Question 14 View Details

Explain the intonation pattern you would use when saying the sentence 'You are coming tomorrow?' as a genuine question versus a statement.

A. Falling intonation at the end for a genuine question; rising intonation for a statement.

B. Level (flat) intonation for both a genuine question and a statement.

Correct C. Rising intonation at the end for a genuine question; falling intonation for a statement.

D. Rising intonation at the beginning for a genuine question; falling intonation at the end for a statement.

Correct Answer: C

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Question 15 View Details

From the list: cane, rain, bone, tone, identify the pair of words that rhyme and explain why they rhyme in terms of their vowel and final consonant sounds.

A. cane and tone - both contain the vowel \/eɪ\/ followed by the dental \/t\/

B. cane and rain - both contain the vowel \/æ\/ followed by the nasal \/n\/

Correct C. cane and rain - both contain the vowel /eɪ/ followed by the nasal /n/

D. rain and bone - both contain the vowel \/eɪ\/ followed by the nasal \/n\/

Correct Answer: C

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Question 16 View Details

Which word has a different vowel sound from the others: seat, see, sea, sat?

A. seat

Correct B. sat

C. see

D. sea

Correct Answer: B

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Question 17 View Details

In the spoken sentence 'Please record the meeting', which syllable of the word 'record' receives primary stress?

Correct A. second syllable

B. both syllables

C. first syllable

D. no stress

Correct Answer: A

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Question 18 View Details

Consider the sentence: "In the bank report, the executive summary was omitted." Answer the following: (a) Identify the primary stressed syllable of each content word (bank, report, executive, summary, omitted). (b) Which function word in the sentence undergoes vowel reduction to a schwa in natural speech? (c) What assimilation occurs between the preposition 'in' and the following word 'bank'?

A. a) bank‑first, report‑second, executive‑second, summary‑second, omitted‑second; b) in; c) \/n\/ becomes \/n\/ (no assimilation)

B. a) bank‑first, report‑first, executive‑second, summary‑second, omitted‑first; b) to; c) \/n\/ becomes \/ɾ\/ (flap assimilation)

Correct C. a) bank‑first, report‑first, executive‑second, summary‑first, omitted‑first; b) the; c) /n/ becomes /m/ (nasal assimilation)

D. a) bank‑second, report‑first, executive‑first, summary‑first, omitted‑first; b) a; c) \/n\/ becomes \/ŋ\/ (velar assimilation)

Correct Answer: C

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Question 19 View Details

In the idiomatic expression 'break the ice', which word carries the primary lexical stress in natural spoken English?

A. ice

B. the

C. breaks

Correct D. break

Correct Answer: D

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Question 20 View Details

In the debate statement 'We must act now, or we will lose the future', which word is most likely to receive emphatic stress to persuade the audience, and what is the typical intonation pattern (pitch movement) associated with that emphatic stress?

A. must - high pitch followed by a rise (rise intonation)

Correct B. now - high pitch followed by a fall (rise‑fall intonation)

C. act - low pitch followed by a fall (steady fall intonation)

D. future - low pitch followed by a rise (fall‑rise intonation)

Correct Answer: B

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Question 21 View Details

Two words are given: 'report' and 'repose'. In each word, determine which syllable carries the primary stress, then identify the vowel sound in that stressed syllable. Write the IPA symbol for the vowel sound found in the stressed syllable of 'report'.

A. /eɪ/

Correct B. /ɪ/

C. /ɒ/

D. /iː/

Correct Answer: B

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Question 22 View Details

In the sentence 'She will present the results tomorrow', identify the content word that receives primary stress, state the syllable number (counting from the start of the word) that is stressed, and give the IPA transcription of that stressed syllable.

A. present, 1, \/prɪ\/

B. present, 2, \/prɪz\/

Correct C. present, 2, /zɛnt/

D. present, 3, \/zɛnt\/

Correct Answer: C

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Question 23 View Details

Consider the expository statement: 'The experiment demonstrates that temperature affects reaction rate.' What type of intonation pattern (rising, falling, or fall‑rise) is typically used at the end of such a declarative expository sentence?

Correct A. falling

B. fall‑rise

C. rising

D. flat

Correct Answer: A

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Question 24 View Details

In the narrative sentence 'I *did* see the cat.', which word is given emphatic stress? State the word and write its IPA transcription.

Correct A. did, /dɪd/

B. see, \/siː\/

C. cat, \/kæt\/

D. I, \/aɪ\/

Correct Answer: A

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Question 25 View Details

Which of the following words rhyme with 'light': night, right, write, bright? List all that rhyme and give the common rhyming phoneme in IPA.

Correct A. night, right, bright; /aɪt/

B. night, right, bright; \/aɪd\/

C. write, bright, night; \/aɪt\/

D. night, right, write; \/aɪt\/

Correct Answer: A

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