Section two

First, some same-or-different questions:

board (plank, table) and bored (fed up)
33-a	these two words sound exactly the same for me
33-b	these two words sound different from one another
33-c	sometimes the same, sometimes different

lava (from a volcano) and larva (caterpillar, grub)
34-a	these two words sound exactly the same for me
34-b	these two words sound different from one another
34-c	sometimes the same, sometimes different

poor  (not rich; pitiable) and pour (pour something out)
35-a	these two words sound exactly the same for me
35-b	these two words sound different from one another
35-c	sometimes the same, sometimes different

source (origin, fount) and sauce (to go with food)
36-a	these two words sound exactly the same for me
36-b	these two words sound different from one another
36-c	sometimes the same, sometimes different

shore (edge of the sea) and sure (certain)
37-a	these two words sound exactly the same for me
37-b	these two words sound different from one another
37-c	sometimes the same, sometimes different

yours (belonging to you) and yaws (swings from 
				side to side; tropical disease)
38-a	these two words sound exactly the same for me
38-b	these two words sound different from one another
38-c	sometimes the same, sometimes different

The remaining vowel questions are rather more complicated:

alto		(singing voice, above tenor)  
		Focus on the first syllable.
39-a	/"{lt@U/	the vowel sound is as in canal		AL-to
39-b	/"A:lt@U/	the vowel sound is as in Charles	AHL-to
39-c	/"Qlt@U/	the vowel sound is as in doll		OL-to
39-d	/"O:lt@U/	the vowel sound is as in fall		AWL-to

careless	(inattentive, unthinking)  
		Focus on the second syllable (-less).
40-a	/"ke@l@s/	the vowel sound is as in the second syllable 
			of callous (harsh)		care-LUHSS
40-b	/"ke@lIs/	the vowel sound is as in the second syllable 
			of Alice			care-LISS
40-c	/"ke@l?s/	callous and Alice rhyme anyhow, so I 
			can't decide between a and b	care-LUHSS/LISS
40-d	/"ke@les/	the vowel sound is as in the word less
							care-LEHSS

chance		(hazard, fortune)  
		Focus on the middle and end of the word.
Two questions: one about the vowel sound, the other about the 
consonant sounds at the end. Please answer both.
(i)
41-a	/tSA:n(t)s/	does not rhyme exactly with romance; the vowel
				is as in chart		CHAHNSS
41-b	/tS{n(t)s/	rhymes exactly with romance; the vowel is as 
				in chat			CHANSS
(ii)
41-y	/-ns/		ends in an n-sound followed by an s-sound	
							CHA(H)NSS
41-z    /-nts/		has a t-sound between the n-sound and the 
				s-sound			CHA(H)NTS

circumstances	(conditions, situation)  
		Focus on the third syllable (-stance-).
42-a	/"s3:k@mstA:n(t)sIz/	the vowel sound is as in start	
							-STAHN-
42-b	/"s3:k@mst{n(t)sIz/	the vowel sound is as in stand	
							-STAN-
42-c	/"s3:k@mst@n(t)sIz/	the vowel sound is as at the end of 
				capstan			-STUHN-

delirious	(raving; ecstatic)  
		Focus on the second syllable.
43-a	/-"lIri@s/	the vowel sound is as in lyr(ics)	
							de-LIR-ious
43-b	/-"lI@ri@s/	the vowel sound is as in (King) Lear
							de-LEER-ious

direction	(the way someone is facing or moving)  
		Focus on the first syllable (di-).
44-a	/daI"rekS=n/	the vowel sound is as in die 	DIE-rection
44-b	/daI@"rekS=n/	the vowel sound is as in dire	DIRE-rection
44-c	/dI"rekS=n/	the vowel sound is as in dig	DIH-rection
44-d	/d@"rekS=n/	the vowel sound is as in the last part 
			of (lad)der 			DUH-rection

ecosystem	(community of animals and plants)  
		Focus on the first syllable (ec-).
45-a	/"ek@U0sIst@m/	the vowel sound is as in echo	ECK-o-system
45-b	/"i:k@U0sIst@m/	the vowel sound is as in eek	EEK-o-system

electronic 	(relating to electron-based physics and technology)
		Focus on the first two syllables (elec-).
46-a 	/%elek"trQnIk/ 		rhythm tum-ti-tum-ti; the first two 
				vowel sounds are identical, as in 
				tell, deck 		ELLeck-tronic
46-b 	/%elIk"trQnIk, -l@k-/ 	rhythm tum-ti-tum-ti; the first vowel 
				is as in tell, the second one is 
				obscured/weakened	ELLick-tronic
46-c 	/i%lek"trQnIk, @-/ 	rhythm ti-tum-tum-ti; the first vowel
				sound is obscured/weakened, the second
				is as in deck		i-LECK-tronic
46-d 	/%Ilek"trQnIk/ 		rhythm tum-ti-tum-ti; the first vowel 
				sound is as in ill, the second is as
				in deck			ILL-eck-tronic
46-e 	/%i:lek"trQnIk/ 	rhythm tum-ti-tum-ti; the first vowel 
				sound is as in eel, the second is as
				in deck			EEL-eck-tronic

ephemeral	(short-lived, transitory)  
		Focus on the second syllable (-phem-).
47-a	/I"fi:m@r@l/	the vowel sound is as in female	
							e-FEEM-eral
47-b	/I"fem@r@l/	the vowel sound is as in feminine
							e-FEMM-eral

equinox		(day and night of equal length)  
		Focus on the first syllable (eq-)
48-a	/"ekwInQks/	the vowel sound is as in echo	ECK-winox
48-b	/"i:kwInQks/	the vowel sound is as in eek	EEK-winox

evolution	(development, Darwinian)  
		Focus on the first vowel sound (e-)
49-a	/%ev@"lu:S(@)n/		the vowel sound is as in ever
							EVV-o-lution
49-b	/%i:v@"lu:S(@)n/	the vowel sound is as in even
							EEV-o-lution

falcon		(hawk)  
		Focus on the first syllable (fal-).
50-a	/"fO:k@n/	vowel sound as in talk, with no l-sound*
							FAWK-on
50-b	/"fO:lk@n/	vowel sound as in talk, but with an l-sound*
							FAWL-kon
50-c	/"fQlk@n/	vowel sound as in doll, with an l-sound*
							FOL-kon
50-d	/"f{lk@n/	vowel sound as in valve, with an l-sound*
							FAL-kon
	* An "l-sound" means any kind of l-sound, even one that sounds
	almost like w.

false		(not true, sham, deceitful)		
NB. Two questions. Focus first on the vowel sound, then on the 
	consonants at the end.
(i)	
51-a	/fO:.../	the vowel sound is as in fall	
							FAWLss
51-b	/fQ.../		the vowel sound is as in the first part of 
				follow			FOLss
(ii) 
51-x	/fO:s/		the word sounds exactly like force
							FAWSS
51-y	/...lts/	the word sounds exactly like faults
							FAULTS	
51-z	/...ls/		the word sounds different from both force and 
				faults			FALSS

financial	(to do with money)  
		Focus on the first part of the word.
52-a	/faI"n{n(t)S(@)l/ 	the vowel sound is as in fine
							FIGH-nancial
52-b	/fI"n{n(t)S(@)l/	the vowel sound is as in fin
							FIH-nancial
52-c	/f@"n{n(t)S(@)l/	the vowel sound is as in fan(atic)
							FUH-nancial

garage		(place to keep a car)  
		Focus on the last part of the word.
53-a  /"g{rIdZ/		the word rhymes exactly with carriage
							GARR-IJ
53-b  /"g{rA:dZ/	the word begins like Gary but the second vowel
			sound is as in father; the last consonant 
			sound is a j-sound, like -ge in large	
							GARR-AHJ
53-c  /"g{rA:Z/		the word begins like Gary but the second vowel
			sound is as in father; the last consonant 
			sound is a zh-sound, as in measure
							GARR-AHZH
53-d   /g@"rA:dZ/	the stress is on the second syllable, and the 
			last consonant sound is a j-sound, like -ge 
			in large			GUH-RAHJ
53-e  /g@"rA:Z/		the stress is on the second syllable, and the
			 last consonant sound is a zh-sound, like s 
			in measure			GUH-RAHZH

gigabyte	(a thousand megabytes)  
		Focus on the first syllable.
54-a	/"gIg@baIt/	the word begins like gig(gle)	GIGG-a-byte
54-b	/"gaIg@baIt/	the word begins like guy	GIGH-ga-byte
54-c	/"dZIg@baIt/	the word begins like jig	JIG-a-byte
54-d	/"dZaIg@baIt/	the word begins like jive	JIGH-ga-byte

halt		(stop)  Focus on the vowel sound.
55-a	/hQlt/		the vowel sound is as in lot	  HOLTT
55-b	/hO:lt/		the vowel sound is as in thought  HAWLT

ideology	(system of ideas)  
		Focus on the first syllable.
56-a	/%aIdi"Ql@dZi/	the first vowel sound is as in tidy
							IDE-e-ology
56-b	/%Idi"Ql@dZi/	the first vowel sound is as in giddy
							IDD-e-ology

jury		(body of people who have to reach a verdict)
			Focus on the first syllable.
57-a	/"dZO:ri/	the word rhymes exactly with story	JOR-y
57-b	/"dZ3:ri/	the word rhymes with furry (animal)	JURR-y
57-c	/"dZU@ri/	the word does not rhyme exactly with story 
			or furry				JOOR-y

lure		(attract, entice)  
		Focus on everything after the l-sound.
NB. Two separate questions. Please answer both.
(i)
58-a	/ljU@/ etc	there is a y-sound after the l, before the 
			vowel				LYO(O)R
58-b	/lU@/ etc	there is no y-sound between the l and the 
			vowel				LO(O)R
(ii)
58-x	/l(j)O:/ 	the vowel sound is as in lore	L(Y)OR
58-y	/l(j)3:/	the vowel sound is as in lurk	L(Y)UR
58-z	/l(j)U@/	the vowel sound is different from both lore 
			and lurk			L(Y)OOR	
 
mall		(shopping centre)  Focus on the vowel sound.
59-a	/m{l/		the vowel sound is as in mallet; rhymes with 
			shall				MAL
59-b	/mO:l/		the vowel sound is as in maul; rhymes with 
			fall				MAWL						

Muslim		(adherent of Islam)	
NB. Three questions. Focus first on the first syllable (two 
questions), then on the last syllable. Please answer all three.
(i)
60-a	/"mU-/		the vowel sound is as in put, good
							MOOS-
60-b	/"mV-/		the vowel sound is as in cut, blood
							MUS-
60-c	(?)		I do not distinguish between these two vowel 
			sounds				-
(ii)
60-p	/-sl-/		the consonant sounds are as in muscle
							MUSS-
60-q	/-zl-/		the consonant sounds are as in muzzle
							MUZZ-
(iii)
60-y	/-lIm/		the last vowel sound is as in limb	
							-LIM
60-z	/-l@m/		the last vowel sound is as at the end of column
							-LUMM

necessary	(essential, requisite)  
		Focus on the third syllable.
61-a	/"nes@s@ri, -sri/	the vowel sound is weak, as in 
				surround, or entirely lost
							-SUHRI, -SRI
61-b	/"nes@seri/		the vowel sound is as in ferry
							-SERRI

niche		(shallow recess; position in ecological 
		community)  Focus on the whole word.
62-a	/nItS/		the word rhymes exactly with rich
							NITCH
62-b	/ni:S/		the word rhymes exactly with leash
							NEESH

ogle		(look amorously at)  
		Focus on the vowel sound at the beginning.
63-a	/"Qg(@)l/	the vowel sound is as in dog	OGG'l
63-b	/"@Ug(@)l/	the vowel sound is as in vogue	OAG'l

ominous		(threatening, inauspicious)  
		Focus on the first vowel sound.
64-a	/"QmIn@s/	the vowel sound is as in bomb	OMM-inous
64-b	/"@UmIn@s/	the vowel sound is as in comb	OAM-inous

one		(count: one, two, three)  
		Focus on the vowel sound.
65-a	/wQn/		the word rhymes with John, on	WONN
65-b	/wVn/		the word rhymes with gun, son	WUNN

onerous		(burdensome)  Focus on the first vowel sound.
66-a	/"Qn@r@s/	the vowel sound is as in on	ONN-erous
66-b	/"@Un@r@s/	the vowel sound is as in own	OAN-erous

oral 		(spoken)  Focus on the first syllable.
67-a	/"Qr@l/		the vowel sound is as in sorry	ORRal
67-b	/"O:r@l/	the vowel sound is as in story	AWRal

ordinary	(normal, regular)  
		Focus on the second half of the word.
68-a	/"O:dIneri, -dn-, -d@n-/	-ary is strong: the vowel is 
			as in (m)erry			ordin-ERRY
68-b	/"O:dIn@ri, -dn-, d@n-/	-ary- is weak, as in 
			(annivers)ary			ordin-URRY
68-c	/"O:dInri, -dn-, -d@n-/	the first vowel of -ary 
			disappears entirely		ordin-RY	

patronize (-ise)	(treat condescendingly; be a customer of)  
			Focus on the first syllable.
69-a	/"peItr@naIz/	the vowel sound is as in pate	PAYT-ronize
69-b	/"p{tr@naIz/	the vowel sound is as in pat	PATT-ronize

prestigious	(admired, important)  
		Focus on the second syllable.
70-a	/pre"sti:dZ@s/	the vowel sound is like steedge	 pre-STEEJ-ous
70-b	/pre"stIdZ@s/	the vowel sound is like stidge	 pre-STIJ-ous

project (n)	(plan, scheme; student's piece of work)  
		Focus on the first syllable.
71-a	/"pr@UdZekt/	the vowel sound is as in prose	PRO-ject
71-b	/"prQdZekt/	the vowel sound is as in proper	PROJJ-ect

quagmire	(marsh, boggy place)  Focus on the first syllable.
72-a	/"kwQgmaI@/	the first part rhymes with hog	KWOG-mire
72-b	/"kw{gmaI@/	the first part rhymes with hag	KWAGG-mire

real		(genuine, actual)  Focus on the vowel sound.
73-a	/ri:l/ etc.	the word sounds identical to reel, different
			from rill			REEL
73-b	/rIl/ etc.	the word sounds identical to both reel and  
			rill				RILL
73-c	/rI@l/		the word sounds different from both reel and 
			rill				RIH-AL

really		(truly, actually)  
		Focus on the first syllable.
74-a	/"ri:li/	    the word rhymes exactly with freely	
							REELy
74-b	/"rIli/		    the word rhymes exactly with frilly	
							RILLy
74-c	/"rI@li, "ri:l-i/   the word rhymes neither with freely nor 
				with frilly		REAL-y

says		(e.g. She says she wants to have a rest.)  
		Focus on the vowel sound.
75-a	/sez/		the word rhymes exactly with fez	SEZ
75-b	/seIz/		the word rhymes exactly with days	SAY-Z

scallop		(shellfish, or something shaped like its 
		shell) 	Focus on the first syllable.
76-a	/"sk{l@p/	the vowel sound is as in shallow  SKAL-op
76-b	/"skQl@p/	the vowel sound is as in hollow	  SKOL-op

scone		(small cake)  Focus on the vowel sound.
77-a	/skQn/		the word rhymes with John	SKON
77-b	/sk@Un/		the word rhymes with Joan	SKONE
77-c	/sku:n/		the word rhymes with June	SKOON

simultaneous	(at the same time)  
		Focus on the first syllable.
78-a	/%saIml"teIni@s/ the first vowel is as in Simons
						SIME-ul-taneous
78-b	/%sIml"teIni@s/	 the first vowel is as in Simmons		
						SIMM-ul-taneous
	
vacation	(holiday)  Focus on the first syllable.
79-a	/v@"keIS(@)n/	the vowel sound is obscured, as in va(lidity)
						VUH-cation
79-b	/veI"keIS(@)n/	the vowel is as in vacant
						VAY-cation

voluntarily	(of one's own free will)  
		Focus on the antepenultimate syllable (-tar-)
80-a	/%vQl@n"ter@li/	 the vowel sound is stressed, as in Terry	
						volun-TERRily
80-b	/%vQl@n"te@r@li/ the vowel sound is stressed, as in tearing (ripping)
						volun-TARE-ily
80-c	/%vQl@n"t{r@li/	 the vowel sound is stressed, as in tarry (linger)
						volun-TARRily
80-d	/"vQl@nt(@)r@li/ the vowel sound is obscured or disappears; main 
				stress on vol-	VOLuntuhrily, -trily

On to the last section - Back to the first section or the introduction

J.C. Wells home page - UCL P&L

1998 Sep 04