Pronunciation and Intonation in English: Improve Your Spoken Communication

Question 1

Which of the following is an example of rising intonation?

Accepted Answer

Are you coming to the party?

Answer

I'm not sure if I can make it.

Answer

I'll see you later.

Answer

What time is it?

Question 2

What is the correct pronunciation of the word 'environment'?

Accepted Answer

/ɪnˈvaɪrənmənt/

Answer

/ɪnˈvaɪərnmənt/

Answer

/ɛnˈvaɪərnmənt/

Answer

/ɛnˈvaɪrənmənt/

Question 3

Which of the following words contains the schwa sound (/ə/), the sound produced when a vowel is pronounced in a neutral and relaxed way?

Accepted Answer

The

Answer

But

Answer

Cup

Answer

Light

Question 4

What is the correct pronunciation of the diphthong (a combination of two vowel sounds pronounced as one syllable) in the word "mouse"?

Accepted Answer

/aʊ/

Answer

/au/

Answer

/ɑʊ/

Answer

/oʊ/

Question 5

Which of the following intonation patterns is used to express surprise in English? Select the option that best describes the way your voice goes up and down when expressing surprise.

Accepted Answer

High-low-high

Answer

Low-high-low

Answer

High-low

Answer

Low-high

Question 6

What is the purpose of using rising intonation at the end of a list when speaking in English? Choose the option that best describes the effect created by the rising intonation.

Accepted Answer

To indicate that the list is incomplete

Answer

To make the list sound more formal

Answer

To emphasize the last item in the list

Answer

To signal the end of a sentence

Question 7

Listen to the sentence: "I don't believe you." What type of intonation is used?

Accepted Answer

Falling intonation

Answer

Rising intonation

Answer

Flat intonation

Answer

Dipping intonation

Question 8

What is the primary function of intonation in spoken English?

Accepted Answer

To express emotions and attitudes

Answer

To convey grammatical structure

Answer

To indicate the speaker's intention

Answer

To create emphasis

Question 9

Which of the following intonation patterns would be appropriate for asking a question?

Accepted Answer

Rising

Answer

Falling

Answer

Level

Answer

Dipping

Question 10

What is the IPA symbol for the sound /θ/ as in the word 'thin'?

Accepted Answer

[θ]

Answer

[ð]

Answer

[f]

Answer

[s]

Question 11

What is the purpose of using a liaison in English speech?

Accepted Answer

To create a smoother flow of speech

Answer

To indicate a pause

Answer

To emphasize a word

Answer

To mark the end of a sentence

Question 12

Which of the following sentences uses a rising intonation at the end?

Accepted Answer

Are you planning to attend the meeting tomorrow?

Answer

This is a beautiful painting.

Answer

I don't like strong coffee.

Answer

The weather is pleasant today.

Question 13

How is the consonant cluster 'thr' pronounced in the word 'throat'?

Accepted Answer

/θr/

Answer

/tr/

Answer

/dr/

Answer

/fr/

Question 14

Which sentence has the correct intonation pattern to indicate a question?

Accepted Answer

Are you going to the party tonight?

Answer

You're going to the party tonight.

Answer

You're going to the party tonight?

Answer

Are you going to the party tonight.

Question 15

What does rising intonation at the end of a sentence usually indicate?

Accepted Answer

A question

Answer

A statement

Answer

A command

Answer

Agreement

Question 16

Which consonant cluster is found in the word 'scissors'?

Accepted Answer

sc

Answer

sk

Answer

sr

Answer

ks

Question 17

Which sentence uses the correct pronunciation of the past tense of 'buy'?

Accepted Answer

I bought the book yesterday.

Answer

I buyed the book yesterday.

Question 18

Determine the pronunciation of the final consonant cluster in the word "night":

Accepted Answer

/nt/

Answer

/t/

Answer

/d/

Answer

/nd/

Question 19

Identify the diphthong used in the word "mouse":

Accepted Answer

/ai/

Answer

/au/

Answer

/ei/

Answer

/oi/

Question 20

Identify the voiced consonant among the following:

Accepted Answer

/b/

Answer

/p/

Answer

/t/

Answer

/s/

Question 21

Determine the pronunciation of the following sentence to convey surprise:

Accepted Answer

I didn't know that?

Answer

I didn't know that.

Answer

I didn't know that.

Answer

I didn't know that.

Question 22

Determine the intonation pattern that emphasizes the word "not" in the following sentence:

Accepted Answer

I do NOT like broccoli.

Answer

I do not like broccoli.

Answer

I DO not like broccoli.

Answer

I do not LIKE broccoli.

Question 23

What is the correct intonation pattern for a yes/no question in English?

Accepted Answer

Rising-falling

Answer

Falling-rising

Answer

Level

Answer

Falling

Question 24

How do you pronounce the word 'receive'?

Accepted Answer

/riˈsiːv/

Answer

/riˈsiːf/

Answer

/riˈsiːb/

Answer

/riˈsiːvb/

Question 25

Which feature of German pronunciation is different from English?

Accepted Answer

Use of the /ʁ/ sound

Answer

Stress on the final syllable

Answer

Pronunciation of 'w' as /v/

Answer

Lack of diphthongs

Question 26

Which of the following factors does NOT influence the pronunciation of English consonants?

Accepted Answer

The emphasis placed on the consonant in a word

Answer

The position of the tongue and lips

Answer

The manner in which the air flows through the vocal tract

Answer

Whether or not the vocal cords vibrate

Question 27

Which of the following is a feature of connected speech?

Accepted Answer

Assimilation

Accepted Answer

Elision

Answer

Stressing every word clearly

Question 28

Identify the sentence with the correct intonation pattern for a question.

Accepted Answer

Did you finish your homework?

Answer

Did you finish your homework.

Question 29

Which of the following represents the correct pronunciation of the "th" sound in the word "thin"?

Accepted Answer

/θ/

Answer

/f/

Answer

/s/

Answer

/v/

Question 30

Select the intonation pattern typically used to express surprise.

Accepted Answer

fall-rise

Answer

fall

Answer

level

Answer

rise-fall

Question 31

Which word has the stress on the first syllable?

Accepted Answer

PHOTOgraph

Answer

reMEMber

Answer

inFORmation

Answer

deVELop

Question 32

Which sentence uses rising intonation correctly to show surprise?

Accepted Answer

You're going to Paris? Wow!

Answer

I'm going to the library.

Answer

I love reading books.

Answer

The weather is beautiful today.

Question 33

Which pronunciation of the 'th' sound is correct in the word 'think'?

Accepted Answer

With the tongue between the teeth, breathy sound

Answer

With the tongue behind the teeth, voiceless sound

Answer

With the tongue touching the front of the teeth, breathy sound

Answer

With the tongue touching the back of the teeth, voiced sound

Question 34

How does intonation usually change at the end of a question?

Accepted Answer

It rises.

Answer

It stays the same.

Answer

It falls.

Answer

It becomes lower and then rises.

Question 35

Which of these words has a different vowel sound?

Accepted Answer

cat

Answer

fat

Answer

mat

Answer

hat

Question 36

Which sentence has a falling intonation pattern?

Accepted Answer

I'm going to bed now.

Answer

Are you coming to the party?

Answer

I love your new shoes!

Answer

What a beautiful day it is!

Question 37

How is the 's' sound pronounced at the end of the word 'books'?

Accepted Answer

With a hissing sound

Answer

With a buzzing sound

Answer

With a clicking sound

Answer

With a silent sound

Question 38

Which word has the stress on the second syllable?

Accepted Answer

aDDRESS

Answer

aWARE

Answer

aRRIVE

Answer

aGREEMENT

Question 39

Which pronunciation of the 'a' sound is correct in the word 'cat'?

Accepted Answer

Short, open sound as in 'bat'

Answer

Long, open sound as in 'car'

Answer

Short, closed sound as in 'cot'

Answer

Long, closed sound as in 'care'

Question 40

Listen to the following sentence and choose the word that is stressed to convey surprise: "He ate the WHOLE cake?"

Accepted Answer

WHOLE

Answer

He

Answer

cake

Answer

ate

Question 41

Which of the following words has the same vowel sound as 'head'?

Accepted Answer

said

Answer

heat

Answer

heard

Answer

bead

Question 42

Choose the sentence with the most natural-sounding intonation pattern for a polite request:

Accepted Answer

Could you pass the salt, please?

Answer

Salt, now!

Answer

I need the salt.

Answer

Pass the salt, please.

Question 43

In which word is the 'th' sound pronounced as in 'think'?

Accepted Answer

Thursday

Answer

mother

Answer

them

Answer

this

Question 44

Listen to the following sentence and identify the speaker's attitude: "Well, that was... interesting."

Accepted Answer

Sarcastic

Answer

Sad

Answer

Enthusiastic

Answer

Neutral

Question 45

Which word is pronounced with a silent letter at the end?

Accepted Answer

comb

Answer

tomb

Answer

bomb

Answer

come

Question 46

Choose the correct phonetic transcription of the word 'clothes':

Accepted Answer

/kloʊðz/

Answer

/kloʊθz/

Answer

/kloʊz/

Answer

/kləʊðz/

Question 47

Which sentence uses intonation to emphasize a contrast?

Accepted Answer

I didn't eat the cake, SHE did.

Answer

She ate the cake.

Answer

I didn't eat the cake.

Answer

Did she eat the cake?

Question 48

Which of the following words has a different stress pattern than the others?

Accepted Answer

photographic

Answer

photographer

Answer

photography

Answer

photograph

Question 49

What is the correct intonation pattern for a tag question like 'You're coming, aren't you?' when seeking confirmation?

Accepted Answer

Falling intonation at the end

Answer

Rising intonation at the end

Answer

Rising intonation on 'aren't'

Answer

Flat intonation throughout