Pronunciation & Fluency Flashcards

In English, which syllable receives the primary stress in the word 'photograph'?

Answer: pho- (first syllable)

'Photograph' has primary stress on the first syllable: PHO-to-graph.

What is 'linking' in connected English speech?

Answer: Connecting the final sound of one word to the first sound of the next

Linking occurs when the final consonant of one word connects smoothly to the initial vowel of the next, as in 'pick it up' sounding like 'pickit up.'

What memory strategy helps most in PTE Repeat Sentence?

Answer: Focusing on key content words and the sentence's overall meaning

Grasping key content words and the overall meaning helps you reconstruct the sentence even if you cannot recall every word exactly.

Which intonation pattern is most commonly used for yes/no questions in standard American English?

Answer: Rising intonation at the end

Yes/no questions in American English typically end with rising intonation, signaling that a response is expected.

What happens to unstressed function words like 'to,' 'of,' and 'and' in natural connected speech?

Answer: They are reduced to weaker, shorter sounds

Function words typically use weak forms in connected speech, with reduced vowels (schwa), making natural speech sound different from careful pronunciation.

Which feature of natural connected speech is assessed when evaluating whether a PTE speaker sounds native-like?

Answer: Assimilation and reduction

Assimilation and reduction—where sounds change or weaken due to surrounding sounds—are key markers of natural connected speech assessed in PTE pronunciation scoring.

What does 'sentence stress' refer to in English pronunciation?

Answer: Placing greater emphasis on words that carry the most meaning

Sentence stress involves placing emphasis on content words—nouns, main verbs, adjectives, adverbs—that carry the key meaning of the sentence.