CELTA Pronunciation Teaching & Phonology 2

Question 1

What does 'sentence stress' refer to in spoken English?

Accepted Answer

Emphasizing content words to convey the main meaning of an utterance

Answer

Stressing every word equally to aid comprehension

Answer

Using a rising intonation at the end of every sentence

Answer

Slowing down at the end of a sentence

Question 2

In English, a falling intonation at the end of a statement typically signals:

Accepted Answer

A completed thought or finality

Answer

The speaker has more to say

Answer

A yes/no question

Answer

Uncertainty or surprise

Question 3

What is 'assimilation' in connected speech?

Accepted Answer

When a sound changes to become more like a neighboring sound

Answer

When a sound is omitted from a word for ease of pronunciation

Answer

When two vowels are merged into a diphthong

Answer

When a syllable is added to a word

Question 4

What is 'elision' in the context of connected speech?

Accepted Answer

The omission of a sound or syllable in rapid, natural speech

Answer

Linking two vowel sounds together across word boundaries

Answer

Adding an extra vowel sound between consonants

Answer

Changing a consonant sound to match the following vowel

Question 5

Which feature of intonation is used in English to ask a yes/no question?

Accepted Answer

Rising intonation at the end of the utterance

Answer

Falling intonation throughout the sentence

Answer

Level intonation with no pitch change

Answer

Falling-rising intonation on the first word

Question 6

What is 'nuclear stress' in English intonation?

Accepted Answer

The most prominent stress in an utterance that carries the main information focus

Answer

Equal stress placed on every word in an utterance

Answer

Stress applied only to the first syllable of a sentence

Answer

A pattern unique to questions

Question 7

What is 'linking' in connected speech?

Accepted Answer

Connecting the final sound of one word to the initial sound of the next

Answer

Pausing between words to aid comprehension

Answer

Joining two clauses with a conjunction

Answer

Stressing the last word of an utterance