Phonetics exercises

Composed by Emily Nguyen - 0974 614 552

Phonetics
I. Which word has the underlined part pronounced differently from the others?
1. A. borrow

B. prow

C. growth

D. low

2. A. nature

B. natural

C. native

D. nation

3. A. near

B. fear

C. rear

D. pear

4. A. loud

B. mouth

C. southern

D. boundary

5. A. prohibit

B. exhibition

C. dishonest

D. dishonor

II. Which word has the different position of stress from the others?
6. A. education

B. compulsory

C. intelligent

D. technology

7. A. decision

B. redundant

C. assistant

D. management

8. A. theory

B. delicious

C. generate

D. confidence

9. A. faithfully

B. sincerely

C. completely

D. extremely

10. A. vegetable

B. interesting

C. volleyball

D. detective

Answer Key
1. Which word has the underlined part pronounced differently from the others?
1. A. borrow

B. prow

C. growth

D. low

a. Prow /pra/ (n): the pointed front part of a ship or boat

b. - Borrow: /br / /bro / /bro/ (v): to take and use something that belongs to somebody
else, and return it to them at a later time
- Borrower: a person or an organization that borrows money, especially from a bank
- Borrowing: the money that a company, an organization or a person borrows; the act of borrowing
money.
The company will soon be able to repay its borrowing from the bank.
borrow something from somebody/something: Members can borrow up to ten books from the library
at any one time.
Idiom: be (living) on borrowed time
to still be alive after the time when you were expected to die.
Ex: He's been living on borrowed time ever since his last heart attack.
c. Growth: /r / /ro/ the process of growing physically, mentally or emotionally
growth (in/of something): an increase in the size, amount or degree of something
population growth
the rapid growth in violent crime
His book describes the growth of nationalism in Germany before the Second World War.
- Grow (v)
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Phonetics exercises

Composed by Emily Nguyen - 0974 614 552

- Grower (n) a person or company that grows plants, fruit or vegetables to sell
Fruit-grower
- Growing (a) increasing in size, amount or degree
His growing indifference to her
A growing problem
Growing pains
d. low (a) / l/
at a low ebb: in a poor state; worse than usual
Morale among teachers is at a low ebb.
Lay sb/sth low
- Lowermost (a)
- Lowness (n)
- Low-class (a) of poor quality
Low comedy

2. A. nature

B. natural

C. native

D. nation

a. nature (n) /net(r) / /netr/

- all the plants, animals and things that exist in the universe that are not made by people
the beauties of nature
man-made substances not found in nature
nature conservation
- the usual way that a person or an animal behaves that is part of their character
It's not in his nature to be unkind.
She is very sensitive by nature.
We appealed to his better nature (= his kindness).
-

against nature: not natural; not moral

in the nature of something: similar to something; a type of something; in the style of something

Ex: His speech was in the nature of an apology

-

Good-natured (a)

Pleasant-natured (a)

Natural (a) existing in nature; not made or caused by humans

Naturalism (n) the theory that everything in the world and life is based on natural causes and
laws, and not on spiritual

Naturalist (n) a person who studies animals, plants, birds and other living things

Phonetics exercises

Composed by Emily Nguyen - 0974 614 552

Naturalize sb in sth (v) to make somebody who was not born in a particular country a citizen of
that country

Naturalized American who was born in Poland: mt ngi sinh ra Ba Lan c nhp quc tch M
Naturalization ntrlazen / ntrlzen : vic c nhp quc tch / nhp tch
c. native (a) / netv /
- connected with the place where you were born and lived for the first years of your life: ones native
land, city / native language/tongue.
- connected with the people who originally lived in a country before other people, especially white
people, came there: native customs / rituals
- that you have naturally without having to learn it: native intelligence / ability / charm
Native to (a) (of animals and plants) existing naturally in a place
Go native: tr thnh ngi bn a
Native speaker: ngi ni ting m
d. nation (n) /nen/ a country considered as a group of people with the same language, culture and
history, who live in a particular area under one government.
- nation-wide (a) (adv) happening or existing in all parts of a particular country
- national (a) /nnl/ - national treasure / institution / campaign / trait (nt dn tc)
- national (n) cng dn ca mt nc
- national anthem: the official song of a nation that is sung on special occasions
- national assistance
- nationalism the desire by a group of people who share the same race, culture, language, etc. to form
an independent country
- nationalist (n) a person who wants their country to become independent
- nationalistic (a) having very strong feelings of love for and pride in your country, so that you think
that it is better than any other
- nationality (n) the legal right of belonging to a particular nation
- nationalize (v) sth to put an industry or a company under the control of the government, which
becomes its owner >< privatize (v)
to make somebody who was not born in a particular country a citizen of that country
Ex: nationalized Greeks in the USA: ngi Hi lp nhp quc tch M
- nationalization (n)

3. A. near

B. fear

C. rear

D. pear

a. Near /n(r)/ / nr / (a)

- near relative/relation
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Phonetics exercises

Composed by Emily Nguyen - 0974 614 552

- nearness (n) the nearness of death

- to the nearest followed by a number when counting or measuring approximately
Ex: We calculated the cost to the nearest 50 dollars.
- Near-sighted (a) cn th => near-sightedness (n)
- Near (v) go nearer (about place and time)
Ex: the day is nearing when well have to decide.
The old man is nearing his end.
- Near (pre)
- Near (adv) => as near as
There were about 500 people as near as I could judge.
b. Fear (n) the bad feeling that you have when you are in danger, when something bad might happen,
or when a particular thing frightens you.
Overcome by fear
Show / feel no fear
For fear of sth/ doing sth
For fear that + clause
In fear of sth
- fearful (of sth) (a) nervous and afraid
- Fearfulness (n)
- Fearless of sth (a): khng s ci g / can m
A fearless mountaineer: ngi leo ni can m
Fearless of consequences: khng lo s hu qu
Fearlessness (n)
- Fearsome (a) making people feel very frightened
The battlefield is a fearsome sight
Fear sth (v)
c. Rear (n) the back part of something
There are toilets at both front and rear of the plane.
A high gate blocks the only entrance to the rear.
- bring up the rear
to be at the back of a line of people, or last in a race
David was the first to reach the summit, followed by Pat, leaving Fergus to bring up the rear.
Usage note: at the back / at the rear / behind
At the back and at the rear have a similar meaning, but at the rear is used more in formal or official
language:
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Phonetics exercises

Composed by Emily Nguyen - 0974 614 552

Whats that at the back of the fridge?

Smoking is only allowed at the rear of the aircraft.
It is more usual to talk about the back door of a house but the rear exit of an aircraft or public building.
If something is behind something else it is near to the back of it but not part of it.
Compare: Our room was at the back of the hotel and Theres a lovely wood just behind our hotel.
- Rearmost (a) furthest back
- Reawards (adv) at or near the back of something
- Rear (v)
- Rearer (n)

4. A. loud

B. mouth

C. southern

D. boundary

a. loud (a) /lad/

- making a lot of noise: loud voice, scream, laughs
- (of colours, patterns, etc.) too bright and lacking good taste: That dress is a bit loud.
- Be loud in ones praise (of sb/sth):
Loud (adv) (use with verbs like sing, talk, laugh, etc)
Loudly (adv)
Louden (v)
Loudness (n)
Loudspeaker: a piece of equipment that changes electrical signals into sound, used in public places for
announcing things, playing music, etc
Loud-mouth: a person who is annoying because they talk too loudly or too much in an offensive or
stupid way
b. Mouth (n) ma
Mouths (n) maz
Down in the mouth: tht vng
Keep ones mouth shut: to not talk about something to somebody because it is a secret or because it
will upset or annoy them
Small-mouthed / wide-mouthed / open-mouthed
Loud-mouthed:
Foul-mouthed: using rude, offensive language
Mouthful (n) (c) an amount of food or drink that you put in your mouth at one time
A few mouthfuls of food
Mouth-to-mouth: h hi thi ngt
Mouth (v) /ma/ ni thm
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Phonetics exercises

Composed by Emily Nguyen - 0974 614 552

c. Southern /sn/ (a) located in the south or facing south; connected with or typical of the south part
of the world or a region
Southerner: ng a person who comes from or lives in the southern part of a country
Southernmost (a) furthest south
d. Boundary bandri (n) a real or imagined line that marks the limits or edges of something and
separates it from other things or places; a dividing line.
national boundaries (British English)
county boundaries
boundary changes/disputes
The fence marks the boundary between my property and hers.
Scientists continue to push back the boundaries of human knowledge.
The boundary between acceptable and unacceptable behavior.
He could just see her beyond the boundary wall of the cemetery.
to extend the boundaries of high art to include some popular music
Usage note
The point where you cross from one country to another is usually called the border. In British English
it can also be called the frontier, but this is often in a context of wildness, danger and uncertainty:
The rebels control the frontier and the surrounding area.
The line on a map that shows the border of a country can be called the boundary but boundary is not
used when you cross from one country to another: After the war the national boundaries were redrawn.
Thousands of immigrants cross the boundary every day.
Boundary can also be a physical line between two places, for example between property belonging to
two different people, marked by a fence or wall: the boundary fence/wall between the properties
+ across/along/on/over a/the border/boundary/frontier
+ at the boundary/frontier
+ the border/boundary/frontier with a place
+ the northern/southern/eastern/western border/boundary/frontier
+ a national/common/disputed border/boundary/frontier

5. A. prohibit

B. exhibition

C. dishonest

a. prohibit (v) prhbt / prohbt

prohibit somebody from doing something
Soviet citizens were prohibited from travelling abroad.
prohibit (somebody) doing something
The policy prohibits smoking on school grounds.
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D. dishonor

Phonetics exercises

Composed by Emily Nguyen - 0974 614 552

- Prohibition (n) prhbn / probn: cm

prohibition (against/on something) (formal) a law or a rule that stops something being done or used:
a prohibition against selling alcohol to people under the age of 18
prohibitions on the possession of dangerous weapons
- Prohibitionist (n): a person who supports the act of making something illegal, especially the sale of
alcoholic drinks
- Prohibitive (a) prhbtv / prohbtv: so high that it prevents people from buying something or
doing something
prohibitive costs
a prohibitive tax on imported cars
The price of property in the city is prohibitive.
+ preventing people from doing something by law:
prohibitive legislation
- Prohibitory (a)
b. exhibition /eksbn/ (n) a collection of things, for example works of art, that are shown to the
public
exhibition of something: the act of showing something, for example works of art, to the public.
She refused to allow the exhibition of her husband's work.
an exhibition of something (formal) the act of showing a skill, a feeling, or a kind of behavior.
We were treated to an exhibition of the footballer's speed and skill.an appalling exhibition of bad
manners
make an exhibition of yourself: (disapproving) to behave in a bad or stupid way in public.
I'm afraid Frank got drunk and made an exhibition of himself.
- Exhibitioner (n)
- Exhibitionism (n) behaviour that is intended to make people notice or admire you
- Exhibit (v) to show something in a public place for people to enjoy or to give them information
- Exhibit (n)
- Exhibitor (n) a person or a company that shows their work or products to the public
c. dishonest (a) dsnst / dsnst: not honest; intending to trick people >< honest (a)
Beware of dishonest traders in the tourist areas.
I don't like him, and it would be dishonest of me to pretend otherwise.
- Dishonesty (n)
Five civil servants were dismissed for dishonesty and misconduct.
d. Dishonor (n) /dsn(r)/ /dsnr/ >< honour (n)
a loss of honour or respect because you have done something immoral or unacceptable.
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Phonetics exercises

Composed by Emily Nguyen - 0974 614 552

Her actions have brought shame and dishonour on the profession.

-

Dishonor sb (v) lm ai mt danh d

Dishonourable (a) not deserving respect; immoral or unacceptable:

- Dishonourable record / reputation / discharge from the army.

II. Which word has the different position of stress from the others?
6. A. education

B. compulsory

C. intelligent

D. technology

a. Education (n) /eduken/

primary/elementary education
secondary education
further/higher/post-secondary education
students in full-time education
adult education classes
a college/university education
the state education system
a man of little education
- Educational (a) connected with education; providing education
- Educationist / educationalist (n) a specialist in theories and methods of teaching
b. Compulsory (a) /kmplsri/ : that must be done because of a law or a rule
- Compulsorily /kmplsrli/ (adv)
- Compel (v) bt buc
compel somebody to do something
The law can compel fathers to make regular payments for their children.
- Compelling (a) that makes you pay attention to it because it is so interesting and exciting
c. intelligent (a) /nteldnt /
Usage note:
+ Intelligent: good at learning, understanding and thinking in a logical way about things; showing
this ability:
He's a highly intelligent man.
She asked a lot of intelligent questions.
+ Smart (especially North American English) quick at learning and understanding things;
showing the ability to make good business or personal decisions: She's smarter than her
brother. That was a smart career move.

Phonetics exercises

Composed by Emily Nguyen - 0974 614 552

+ Clever (sometimes disapproving, especially British English) quick at learning and

understanding things; showing this ability: How clever of you to work it out! He's too clever
by half, if you ask me.
People use clever in the phrase: Clever boy/girl! to tell a young child that they have learnt or done
something well. When used to or about an adult clever can be disapproving.
+ Brilliant: extremely intelligent or skilful: He's a brilliant young scientist.
+ Bright: intelligent; quick to learn: She's probably the brightest student in the class.
Bright

is

used

especially

to

talk

about

young

people.

Common

collocations

of bright include girl, boy, kid, student, pupil.

+ clever/brilliant at something
a(n) intelligent/smart/clever/brilliant/bright child/boy/girl/man/woman
a(n) intelligent/smart/clever/brilliant thing to do
-

Intelligence (n)

Intelligentsia (n) nhng ngi c hiu bit rng v lin quan n cc vn vn ha, hc hnh,
etc

d. Technology teknldi / teknldi

Technological (a) scientific knowledge used in practical ways in industry, for example in designing
new machines
Technologist (n) an expert in technology

7. A. decision

B. redundant

C. assistant

a. Decision /dsn/
decision (on/about something)|decision (to do something)
to make a decision(= to decide)
(British English) to take a decision (= to decide)
We need a decision on this by next week.
Who took the decision to go ahead with the project?
He is really bad at making decisions.
We finally reached a decision (= decided after some difficulty).
We must come to a decision about what to do next by tomorrow.
- Decide dsad (v): gii quyt
- decide between A and B
Decide against / on something: cn nhc ri i ti quyt nh
- decided (a) r rng, dt khot
Decided about (a) kin quyt, quyt tm
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D. management

Phonetics exercises

Composed by Emily Nguyen - 0974 614 552

- decider (n) trn u quyt nh

- decisive (a) c tc ng quan trng, quyt nh
a decisive factor/victory/battle
a decisive step(= an important action that will change a situation) towards a cleaner environment
- decisiveness (n)
b. redundant (a) /rdndnt/: without a job because there is no more work available for you in a
company: d tha
Phrases of losing your job
lose your job (British English)
become/be made redundant
be offered/take voluntary redundancy/early retirement
face/be threatened with dismissal/ (British English) the sack / (British English) compulsory
redundancy
dismiss/fire/ (especially British English)
sack an employee/a worker/a manager
lay off staff/workers/employees (AustralE, NZE, SAfrE)
retrench workers
cut/reduce/downsize/slash
the workforce(British English)
make staff/workers/employees redundant
- redundancy (n)
c. assistant /sstnt/ (n) a person who helps or supports somebody, usually in their job
- assistance (n) help or support
- assist (v) sb in/with sth or sb in doing sth: help somebody to do something
d. management /mndmnt/ (n) the act of running and controlling a business or similar organization:
qun l
The people who run and control a business or similar organization.
The shop is now under new management.
junior/middle/senior management
a management decision/job
- manage (v) qun l / gii quyt xoay s
manage with/without somebody/something
Usage note:

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Phonetics exercises

Composed by Emily Nguyen - 0974 614 552

Can is used to say that somebody knows how to do something: Can you play the piano? It is also used
with verbs of seeing, noticing, etc: I can hear someone calling, and with passive infinitives: The DVD
can be rented from your local store.
Can or be able to are used to say that something is possible or that somebody has the opportunity to
do something: Can you/are you able to come on Saturday?
You use be able to to form the future and perfect tenses and the infinitive: Youll be able to get a taxi
outside the station. I havent been able to get much work done today. Shed love to be able to
play the piano.
Could is used to talk about what someone was generally able to do in the past: Our daughter could
walk when she was nine months old.
You use was/were able to or manage (but not could) when you are saying that something was possible
on a particular occasion in the past: I was able to/managed to find some useful books in the library. I
could find some useful books in the library. In negative sentences, could not can also be used: We
werent able to/didnt manage to/couldnt get there in time. Could is also used with this meaning with
verbs of seeing, noticing, understanding, etc: I could see there was something wrong.
Could have is used when you are saying that it was possible for somebody to do something in the past
but they did not try: I could have won the game but decided to let her win.
- manager (n) a person who is in charge of running a business, a shop/store or a similar organization or
part of one
- manageress (n) a woman who is in charge of a small business, for example, a shop/store, restaurant
or hotel
- managerial (a) connected with the work of a manager

8. A. theory

B. delicious

C. generate

D. confidence

a. theory /ri / /'ri / /iri/: a formal set of ideas that is intended to explain why something happens
or exists
- theorist (n) a person who develops ideas and principles about a particular subject in order to explain
why things happen or exist
- theorizer (n) a person who develops ideas and principles about a particular subject in order to explain
why things happen or exist
- theorize (about sth) (v) to suggest facts and ideas to explain something; to form a theory
or theories about something
- theoretical (a) concerned with the ideas and principles on which a particular subject is based, rather
than with practice and experiment
b. delicious (a) /dls/ having a very pleasant taste or smell
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Phonetics exercises

Composed by Emily Nguyen - 0974 614 552

c. generate (v) /denret/ to produce or create something

generate electricity/heat/power
to generate income/profit
- generation (n) all the people who were born at about the same time / the production of something,
especially electricity, heat, etc
generation gap: the difference in attitude or behaviour between young and older people that causes a
lack of understanding
- generative (a) that can produce something
generative processes
- generator my pht in
d. confidence /knfdns/ the feeling that you can trust, believe in and be sure about the abilities or
good qualities of somebody/something
confidence (in somebody/something)
He answered the questions with confidence.
People often lose confidence when they are criticized.
He gained confidence when he went to college.
She suffers from a lack of confidence.
While girls lack confidence, boys often overestimate their abilities
I didn't have any confidence in myself at school.
- be in somebody's confidence: to be trusted with somebody's secrets
- take somebody into your confidence: to tell somebody secrets and personal information about
yourself
She took me into her confidence and told me about the problems she was facing.
Confidence trick
- confident (a) of sb/sth: feeling sure about your own ability to do things and be successful
- confidential (a) meant to be kept secret and not told to or shared with other people / trusted with
private or secret information (confidential secretary)
- confidentiality (n) a situation in which you expect somebody to keep information secret

9. A. faithfully

B. sincerely

C. completely

D. extremely

a. faithful (a) /fefl/: to sb: staying with or supporting a particular person, organization or belief
a faithful servant/friend/dog
- true and accurate; not changing anything
a faithful copy/account/description
- faithfulness (n)
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Phonetics exercises

Composed by Emily Nguyen - 0974 614 552

- faithless (a) not loyal; that you cannot rely on or trust

- faithlessness (n)
- faith (n) in sth: trust in somebody's ability or knowledge; trust that somebody/something will do
what has been promised
break / keep faith with sb: khng gi / gi li ha vi sb
- in good faith c thin
b. sincere /ns(r)/ /snsr/ (A) of feelings, beliefs or behaviour) showing what you really think or
feel
a sincere attempt to resolve the problem
sincere regret
Please accept our sincere thanks.
a sincere apology
sincere in something
She is never completely sincere in what she says about people.
-

Sincerity snserti

c. complete /kmplit/ (a) used when you are emphasizing something, to mean to the greatest
degree possible
complete with something: [not before noun] including something as an extra part or feature
The furniture comes complete with tools and instructions for assembly.
The book, complete with CD, costs 35.
-

completely (adv)

completeness (n)

complete (v) finish sth

completion (n) the act or process of finishing something; the state of being finished and complete

d. extreme (a) /kstrim/ as far as possible from the centre, the beginning or in the direction
mentioned
Kerry is in the extreme west of Ireland.
She sat on the extreme edge of her seat.
Politicians on the extreme left of the party
-

very great in degree

We are working under extreme pressure at the moment.

People living in extreme poverty
I'm having extreme difficulty in not losing my temper with her.
The heat in the desert was extreme.
-

Extreme (n) thi cc

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Phonetics exercises

Composed by Emily Nguyen - 0974 614 552

Extremist (n) a person whose opinions, especially about religion or politics, are extreme, and who
may do things that are violent, illegal, etc. for what they believe

Extremism (n) political, religious, etc. ideas or actions that are extreme and not normal,
reasonable or acceptable to most people

Extremity (n) the furthest point, end or limit of something

10. A. vegetable

B. interesting

C. volleyball

D. detective

a. vegetable /vedtbl/ (n) a plant or part of a plant that is eaten as food

green vegetables (= for example cabbage )
root vegetables (= for example carrots )
a salad of raw vegetables
a vegetable garden/patch/plot
vegetable matter (= plants in general)
-

A person who is physically alive but not capable of much mental or physical activity, for example
because of an accident or illness: severe brain damage turned him into a vegetable

a person who has a boring life: Since losing my job I've been a vegetable.

Vegan (n) = vegetarian

Vegetarianism (n)

Vegetate (v) to spend time doing very little and feeling bored

Vegetation (n) plants in general, especially the plants that are found in a particular area or
environment
b. interesting (a) ntrst / ntrest >< uninteresting (a)

interested (a) giving your attention to something because you enjoy finding out about it or doing
it; showing interest in something and finding it exciting

uninterested (a) not interested; not wanting to know about somebody/something

disinterested (a) you can be fair in judging a situation because you do not feel personally involved
in it: A solicitor can give you disinterested advice

interest (v) oneself/sb in sth (v)

interest (n) in sth

in sbs interest / in the interest(s) of sth: in order to help or achieve something
c. volleyball vlibl / vlibl / vlibl
d. detective /dtektv/ a person, especially a police officer, whose job is to examine crimes and
catch criminals
Detective Inspector (Roger) Brown
detectives from the anti-terrorist squad
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Phonetics exercises

Composed by Emily Nguyen - 0974 614 552

a detective story/novel
-

detect (v) discover or notice something, especially something that is not easy to see, hear, etc
The tests are designed to detect the disease early.
an instrument that can detect small amounts of radiation
Do I detect a note of criticism?

Detection (n) the process of detecting something; the fact of being detected

Detector (n) a piece of equipment for discovering the presence of something, such as metal,
moke, explosives or changes in pressure or temperature.

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