ESL Speaking & Pronunciation 3

Question 1

Which word contains the vowel sound /æ/ as in 'cat'?

Accepted Answer

map

Answer

'Map' contains the short /æ/ sound, the same vowel as in 'cat'.

Question 2

What is 'schwa' (/ə/) in English pronunciation?

Accepted Answer

The shortest, most neutral unstressed vowel sound

Answer

Schwa /ə/ is the most common vowel sound in English, appearing in unstressed syllables like the 'a' in 'about'.

Question 3

When giving a formal speech, which speaking habit should you AVOID?

Accepted Answer

Using filler words like 'um' and 'uh' frequently

Answer

Excessive filler words like 'um' and 'uh' distract listeners and undermine the speaker's credibility.

Question 4

How is the 'th' sound in 'think' different from the 'th' in 'this'?

Accepted Answer

'Think' uses a voiceless /θ/ and 'this' uses a voiced /ð/

Answer

'Think' has the voiceless /θ/ (no vibration), while 'this' has the voiced /ð/ (vocal cords vibrate).

Question 5

In American English, what happens to the 'h' at the beginning of pronouns like 'him' and 'her' in fast speech?

Accepted Answer

It is often dropped, especially in the middle of a sentence

Answer

In rapid connected speech, the /h/ in unstressed pronouns like 'him' and 'her' is often dropped (e.g., 'Tell him' sounds like 'Tell 'im').

ESL (English as a Second Language) Practice Test