MLAT - Modern Language Aptitude Phonetic Script and Association Questions and Answers

Question 1

A linguist is creating a phonetic script where 't' represents the sound in 'top', 'k' represents the sound in 'kit', 'ah' represents the vowel sound in 'hot', and 'uh' represents the vowel sound in 'cup'. Which of the following correctly transcribes the nonsense word that sounds like 'tahk'?

Accepted Answer

tahk

Answer

The sound 'tahk' is composed of three distinct sounds. The initial sound is 't' (represented by 't'), the middle vowel sound is 'ah' as in 'hot' (represented by 'ah'), and the final sound is 'k' (represented by 'k'). Combining these symbols according to the rules gives 'tahk'.

Question 2

In a system for phonetic association, the symbol 'p' makes the 'p' sound from 'pat'. The symbol 'z' makes the 'z' sound from 'zap'. The symbol 'ee' represents the long 'ee' sound from 'feet'. If you hear the sound 'zeep', which written form is correct?

Accepted Answer

zeep

Answer

The sound 'zeep' starts with the 'z' sound (symbol 'z'), is followed by the long 'ee' sound (symbol 'ee'), and ends with the 'p' sound (symbol 'p'). The correct combination of these symbols is 'zeep'.

Question 3

Given the following phonetic key: 'v' = the 'v' sound in 'vest'; 'k' = the 'k' sound in 'key'; 'uh' = the vowel sound in 'dug'. Which of the following options represents the sound 'kuhv'?

Accepted Answer

kuhv

Answer

The initial sound is 'k', represented by the symbol 'k'. The middle vowel sound is 'uh' as in 'dug', represented by the symbol 'uh'. The final sound is 'v', represented by the symbol 'v'. Therefore, the correct transcription is 'kuhv'.

Question 4

A researcher is developing a phonetic script for a field study. The associations are: 't' for the 't' sound, 'p' for the 'p' sound, 'ah' for the vowel in 'pot', and 'ee' for the vowel in 'see'. During a drill, an assistant says a word that sounds like 'paht'. How should the researcher transcribe this word?

Accepted Answer

paht

Answer

The word 'paht' is broken down into three sounds. The first sound is 'p', which corresponds to the symbol 'p'. The middle vowel sound is 'ah' as in 'pot', corresponding to the symbol 'ah'. The final sound is 't', corresponding to the symbol 't'. Assembling these gives 'paht'.

Question 5

You are presented with a new phonetic system where: 'z' = 'z' sound (as in 'zoo'), 'v' = 'v' sound (as in 'vote'), 'ee' = 'ee' sound (as in 'cheese'), 'uh' = 'u' sound (as in 'must'). Which of the following sounds corresponds to the written word 'zuhv'?

Accepted Answer

A sound rhyming with 'love'.

Answer

The phonetic word 'zuhv' is composed of 'z' ('z' sound), 'uh' (the vowel sound in 'must' or 'love'), and 'v' ('v' sound). When pronounced together, it creates a sound that rhymes with 'love' or 'dove'.

(MLAT) Modern Language Aptitude Test Practice Test

(MLAT) Modern Language Aptitude Test Practice Test

MLAT - Modern Language Aptitude Phonetic Script and Association Questions and Answers