PHONETICS: Change the Stress, Change the Meaning Quiz

When the syllable stress moves from the first to the second syllable, the part of speech usually changes from:

• adjective to noun

• noun to verb

• pronoun to adverb

• verb to noun

The syllable shift rule applies to all two-syllable words in the English language.

• true

• false

If your passport expires, it becomes:

• EN-trance

• en-TRANCE

• IN-val-id

• in-VAL-id

The policeman was interviewing:

• an OB-ject

• an ob-JECT

• a RE-cord

• a re-CORD

I was out shopping with my friend, and she disappeared. Why did she _______ me?

• in-SULT

• IN-sult

• DES-ert

• des-ERT

The quality control worker in the factory picked up a _______ and threw it into the garbage.

• re-FUSE

• REF-use

• con-FLICT

• CON-flict

When I was a teenager, I used to buy a new rock _______ every week.

• CON-tent

• IM-port

• con-TENT

• im-PORT

They have closed the main _______ to the building. We will have to use the back door.

• in-SULT

• IN-sult

• en-TRANCE

• EN-trance

Looking at the expression on your face, I _______ that you haven't done your homework.

• con-TENT

• re-FUSE

• CON-tent

• REF-use

The hypnotist tried to _______ me, but he didn't succeed.

• en-TRANCE

• EN-trance

• con-TENT

• CON-tent