35, 36, 37

Which of the following best describes how the diphthong /ɪə/ changes when it appears in the middle of a word?

• It is lengthened and more distinct.

• It is replaced by a long /iː/ sound.

• It flattens, and the second half may be very slight.

• It merges into the /ɜː/ sound.

Which spelling pattern is NOT listed as a common way to represent the /ɪə/ sound?

• ee

• ie

• ei

• eo

In the sentence "She treated herself to some sheer cashmere loungewear to cheer herself up," how many words contain the /ɪə/ sound?

• 2

• 3

• 4

• 5

Which pair of words shows a contrast between /ɪə/ and /ɪ/?

• theatre – fear

• clear – clip

• cheer – deer

• year – gear

Why does the /ɪə/ sound change before a dark L?

• Because the /ɪə/ diphthong is deleted in fast speech

• Because the tongue prepares for the /l/, affecting resonance

• Because the /l/ is devoiced, making the vowel nasal

• Because /ɪə/ naturally turns into /ʊə/ before /l/

Which sentence shows the clearest example of the diphthong /ɪə/ being followed by a dark L?

• I’m not here to sit on the fence.

• The fisherman had a thick beard that nearly covered his ears.

• It’s not hard to find a good theatre near here.

• Dr Kim’s career depended on her peers liking the ideas.

Which of the following word pairs DO NOT contrast /ɪə/ and /ɪ/?

• steer – stick

• beer – bit

• hear – hit

• peer – deer

Which of these words is likely to have the least distinct /ə/ part of the diphthong /ɪə/?

• appear

• cashier

• peer

• appeared

What pronunciation feature makes the word "real" tricky for learners?

• It has an unreleased final consonant.

• It contains both a diphthong and a dark L, affecting vowel quality.

• It uses a rare vowel combination not found in other English words.

• It has a silent “a” which alters vowel length.

Which of the following has a /ɪə/ sound followed by a word containing the /ɪ/ sound?

• My peers think the idea is weird.

• The deer ran across the pier.

• I hear his voice and it makes me think more clearly.

• It’s very serious.