MLAT Phonetic Spelling Clues 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: On the MLAT, a phonetic clue pairs a nonsense word with a real word to teach a sound. If 'platch' rhymes with 'catch', what vowel sound does 'a' represent in 'platch'?
- The long A as in 'cake'
- The short A as in 'cat' (Correct answer)
- The broad A as in 'father'
- The schwa as in 'about'
Correct answer: The short A as in 'cat'
Because 'platch' rhymes with 'catch', its vowel is the short A sound (æ), as in 'cat'.
Question 2: A phonetic key uses 'ð' for the sound in 'the'. Which phonetic string represents 'this'?
- ðɪs (Correct answer)
- θɪs
- dɪs
- zɪs
Correct answer: ðɪs
The voiced dental fricative ð (as in 'the') starts 'this', giving 'ðɪs'.
Question 3: A test presents the phonetic form 'ɔːtəm'. Which English word is this?
- atom
- autumn (Correct answer)
- ottoman
- atone
Correct answer: autumn
The ɔː (as in 'law') + 't' + schwa + 'm' pattern matches the pronunciation of 'autumn'.
Question 4: In a phonetic spelling exercise, 'r' is always pronounced. Given that rule, 'fɜːrm' represents which word?
- fame
- form
- farm
- firm (Correct answer)
Correct answer: firm
The ɜː vowel (as in 'her') plus a pronounced 'r' and final 'm' gives 'firm'.
Question 5: A phonetic clue shows 'wɪndəʊ'. Which word does this represent?
- winder
- window (Correct answer)
- windup
- winner
Correct answer: window
The sequence w + ɪ + n + d + əʊ (the 'oh' diphthong) spells out 'window'.
Question 6: Which of the following words contains TWO instances of the schwa sound (ə)?
- garden
- computer
- banana (Correct answer)
- camera
Correct answer: banana
'Banana' is pronounced bə-NA-nə, with unstressed schwas in both the first and third syllables.
Question 7: A phonetic key defines 'aɪ' as the vowel in 'bite'. Which word does 'straɪk' represent?
- streak
- stroke
- strike (Correct answer)
- strake
Correct answer: strike
str + aɪ + k gives the pronunciation of 'strike', with the long I diphthong in the middle.
MLAT Phonetic Spelling Clues 4
On the MLAT, a phonetic clue pairs a nonsense word with a real word to teach a sound.
If 'platch' rhymes with 'catch', what vowel sound does 'a' represent in 'platch'?