2202324 GROUP 1

Which of the following words is transcribed INCORRECTLY?

• prosody

  /ˈprɑːsədi/

• affricate

  /ˈæfrɪkət/

• velar

  /ˈveɪlər/

• schwa

  /ʃwɑː/

Answer explanation

The correct transcription for the word "velar" is /ˈviːlər/.

Which of the following transcriptions is exclusively Received Pronunciation?

(i.e., it is transcribed using the Standard British English transcription.)

• retroflex

  /ˈrɛtrəflɛks/

• dative

  /ˈdɑːtɪv/

• laboratory

  /ləˈbɒrətəri/

• anaphor

  /ˈænəfɔːr/

Answer explanation

The word "laboratory" is transcribed as /ˈlæbrətɔːri/ in American English. Moreover, /ɒ/ does not exist in American English.

Meanwhile, the word "dative" is transcribed incorrectly for both British English and American English.

The correct transcription is /ˈdeɪtɪv/.

Which word demonstrates the cot-caught merger in American English?

(Pay attention to the name.)

• diphthong

• glottal

• intonation

• vowel

Answer explanation

The cot-caught merger is the name for the sound change where /ɑː/ and /ɔː/ are "merged" in many words.

In this case, diphthong can be transcribed and pronounced with either /ɑː/ or /ɔː/.

The transcription(s) of each word are as follows:

diphthong - /ˈdɪfθɔːŋ/ OR /ˈdɪpθɔːŋ/ OR /ˈdɪfθɑːŋ/ OR /ˈdɪpθɑːŋ/

glottal - /ˈɡlɑːtəl/

intonation - /ˌɪntəˈneɪʃən/

vowel - /ˈvaʊəl/ OR /vaʊl/

Considering the transcription of these words, which one is related to the field of geography and/or meteorology?

• /ˌhiːməˈɡloʊbɪn/

• /ˈhædli sɛl/

• /ˈfærɪŋks/

• /məˈtæbəlɪzəm/

Answer explanation

BOO! Man/Geog Jumpscare!

The /ˈhædli sɛl/ (Hadley cell) is the atmospheric circulation happening on a global scale.

The /ˌhiːməˈɡloʊbɪn/ (hemoglobin/haemoglobin) is the protein which helps red blood cells carry oxygen.

The /ˈfærɪŋks/ (pharynx) is an organ where the digestive system and the respiratory system meet.

/məˈtæbəlɪzəm/ (Metabolism) is the chemical reaction which provides organisms with energy to sustain life.

Which word contains the phoneme /dʒ/?

• latitude

• celestial

• longtitude

• anesthesia

Answer explanation

"Longtitude" is the only word with the /dʒ/ sound. - /ˈlɑːndʒɪtuːd/

The transcriptions of the other words are as follows:

latitude - /ˈlætɪtuːd/

celestial - /səˈlɛstʃəl/

anesthesia - /ˌænɪsˈθiːʒə/

Which of the following words does NOT include the phoneme /eɪ/?

• ratio

• matrix

• calculus

• differentiation

Answer explanation

/ˈkælkjələs/

You cannot find /eɪ/ in "calculus."
(Probably not the first time you hear this, considering you ended up at this faculty :P)

The rest are transcribed as follows:

ratio - /ˈreɪʃioʊ/ OR /ˈreɪʃoʊ/

matrix - /ˈmeɪtrɪks/

differentiation - /ˌdɪfəˌrɛnʃiˈeɪʃən/

Considering the transcription of these words, which word is the furthest from the field of mathematics?

• /ˈreɪdiəs/

• /ˈθiːtə/

• /ælˈbiːdoʊ/

• /ˌdɪfəˌrɛnʃiˈeɪʃən/

Answer explanation

/ælˈbiːdoʊ/ (Albedo) should be the furthest word from the field of mathematics, as albedo is the reflectional ability of a surface. Therefore, it is more related to astronomy.

Oh, by the way, if you pronounce it as /ælˈbeɪdoʊ/, you're WRONG. (looking at you Genshin Impact, Overlord, Ben 10, etc.)

Here are the rest of the transcription:

radius - /ˈreɪdiəs/

theta - /ˈθiːtə/

differentiation - /ˌdɪfəˌrɛnʃiˈeɪʃən/

Which word does NOT have the mid central vowel(s) sound?

• inertia

• catalysis

• etymology

• clitic

Answer explanation

inertia - /ɪˈnɜːrʃə/

catalysis - /kəˈtæləsɪs/

etymology - /ɛtɪˈmɑːlədʒi/

phonotactics - /ˌfoʊnoʊˈtæktɪks/

As can be seen, the pronunciation of "phonotactics" have any mid vowel sounds: /ə/, /ɜː/, or /ʌ/ .

The 's' in which word is pronounced differently from the others?

• syzygy

• resonance

• consonant

• atmosphere

Answer explanation

The s in "resonance" is pronounced /z/, whereas the other s's are pronounced /s/.

The transcriptions are as follows:

syzygy - /ˈsɪzɪdʒi/

resonance - /ˈrɛzənəns/

consonant - /ˈkɑːnsənənt/

atmosphere - /'ætməsfɪr/

Correctly spell the word from the transcription provided.

/ˈjʊrənəs/

(Answer is not case-sensitive.)

Answer explanation

Uranus is pronounced /ˈjʊrənəs/ OR /jʊˈreɪnəs/.

Both pronunciations are acceptable, but the one you use might hint at your maturity.

(Just kidding, but the latter is often avoided for... obvious reasons.)