Learn Mandarin Chinese Tones and Pronunciation 3

Question 1

When two third-tone syllables appear consecutively in Mandarin, how is the first syllable typically pronounced?

Accepted Answer

As a second tone

Answer

As a first tone

Answer

As a fourth tone

Answer

It remains a third tone

Question 2

Which pinyin consonant pair 'c', 'z', and 's' represents sounds articulated with the tongue tip touching or near?

Accepted Answer

Dental/alveolar sibilants

Answer

Palatal consonants

Answer

Retroflex consonants

Answer

Velar consonants

Question 3

What does the pinyin system use to represent Mandarin pronunciation?

Accepted Answer

Latin alphabet with tone marks

Answer

Traditional Chinese characters

Answer

Bopomofo symbols only

Answer

IPA symbols

Question 4

The Mandarin syllable 'si' is pronounced with which type of vowel?

Accepted Answer

An apical vowel (tongue-tip vowel)

Answer

A rounded back vowel

Answer

A diphthong

Answer

A nasal vowel

Question 5

Which of the following words is an example of a Mandarin minimal pair distinguished only by tone?

Accepted Answer

mā (mother) vs. mǎ (horse)

Answer

gǒu (dog) vs. māo (cat)

Answer

shū (book) vs. bǐ (pen)

Answer

hǎo (good) vs. bù (not)

Question 6

In pinyin, what tone mark is placed over the vowel when a syllable has multiple vowels?

Accepted Answer

On the vowel 'a' or 'e' if present, then 'o', then the final vowel

Answer

Always on the first vowel

Answer

Always on the last vowel

Answer

Always on 'i'