MLAT Phonetic Coding & Sound Discrimination 3

Question 1

Which word contains a diphthong?

Accepted Answer

boy

Answer

The word 'boy' contains the diphthong /ɔɪ/, a gliding vowel sound that moves from one position to another within a single syllable.

Question 2

In the MLAT phonetic coding section, a student hears a word and must underline the syllable that matches a stressed sound. What aspect of phonology is being assessed?

Accepted Answer

Suprasegmental perception

Answer

Identifying stressed syllables involves perceiving suprasegmental features — patterns of stress, rhythm, and pitch that extend over more than one sound segment.

Question 3

The sounds /p/ and /b/ in English differ primarily in which phonetic feature?

Accepted Answer

Voicing

Answer

Both /p/ and /b/ are bilabial stops, but /b/ is voiced (vocal cords vibrate) while /p/ is voiceless.

Question 4

A sound that is produced with airflow through the nose, such as /m/, /n/, or /ŋ/, is called:

Accepted Answer

A nasal

Answer

Nasal consonants are produced with the velum lowered, allowing air to pass through the nasal cavity instead of solely through the mouth.

Question 5

On the MLAT, examinees listen to a key word spoken in a made-up language and must identify it when they hear it again among distractors. This primarily measures:

Accepted Answer

Short-term phonetic memory

Answer

This task requires holding an unfamiliar sound pattern in short-term memory and matching it accurately — the essence of phonetic coding ability.

(MLAT) Modern Language Aptitude Test Practice Test

(MLAT) Modern Language Aptitude Test Practice Test

MLAT Phonetic Coding & Sound Discrimination 3