MLAT Phonetic Spelling Clues 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A phonetic clue pairs 'grone' with 'groan'. If the same key is used, what does 'mone' represent?
- man
- moan (Correct answer)
- moon
- mane
Correct answer: moan
Since 'grone' = 'groan', the pattern 'one' encodes the long O sound, so 'mone' = 'moan'.
Question 2: The MLAT tests your ability to learn phonetic rules quickly. If rule 1 says 'ii = long E', what does 'miit' represent?
- mit
- meet (Correct answer)
- might
- mite
Correct answer: meet
Applying rule 1, 'ii' = long E, so m + ii + t = 'meet'.
Question 3: A phonetic exercise shows: 'həˈraɪzən'. Which word is this?
- harridan
- heroin
- horizon (Correct answer)
- heroine
Correct answer: horizon
Schwa + 'r' + long I (aɪ) + 'z' + schwa + 'n' gives the three-syllable word 'horizon'.
Question 4: Which pair of words share the SAME vowel phoneme despite having different spellings?
- beat / bit
- meet / meat (Correct answer)
- seat / set
- feel / fell
Correct answer: meet / meat
'Meet' and 'meat' both contain the long E phoneme (iː), demonstrating that different spellings can represent one sound.
Question 5: A phonetic key marks the 'zh' sound (as in 'measure') with the symbol 'ʒ'. Which phonetic string represents 'treasure'?
- treʒər (Correct answer)
- treʃər
- tredzər
- trethər
Correct answer: treʒər
'Treasure' contains the voiced fricative ʒ in the middle (the 'zh' sound), giving 'treʒər'.
Question 6: On the MLAT, a nonsense word 'floop' is defined as rhyming with 'loop'. What phonetic vowel does 'oo' represent in this key?
- The vowel in 'book' (ʊ)
- The vowel in 'moon' (uː) (Correct answer)
- The vowel in 'out' (aʊ)
- The vowel in 'boy' (ɔɪ)
Correct answer: The vowel in 'moon' (uː)
Because 'floop' rhymes with 'loop', the 'oo' represents the long U vowel (uː) as in 'moon'.
Question 7: A phonetic clue exercise gives you the rule: double consonants signal a short preceding vowel. Under this rule, which word would be spelled 'runnner' phonetically?
- runer (one who runs)
- runner (Correct answer)
- rune
- ruing
Correct answer: runner
The double 'nn' signals the short U vowel before it, so 'runnner' encodes 'runner' with its short U.
MLAT Phonetic Spelling Clues 5
A phonetic clue pairs 'grone' with 'groan'.
If the same key is used, what does 'mone' represent?