IPA Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. In a transcription such as /siːt/, what information does the mark /ː/ provide?
The preceding sound receives primary stress
The preceding sound has greater length
The preceding sound is voiced
The preceding sound forms a syllable by itself
2. Which word normally ends with the voiced consonant /z/?
Laugh, which ends with /f/
Cats, which ends with /s/
Kissed, which ends with /t/
Dogs, which ends with /z/
3. A learner must choose a broad IPA transcription for the English word “book.” Which option uses the usual vowel symbol?
/buːk/ — using the vowel commonly heard in “goose”
/bʊk/ — using the vowel commonly heard in “foot”
/bʌk/ — using the vowel commonly heard in “strut”
/bɒk/ — using the vowel commonly heard in British “lot”
4. The words “thin” and “fin” begin with different sounds. Which IPA symbol identifies the first sound in “thin”?
/θ/ — a voiceless dental fricative
/ð/ — a voiced dental fricative
/f/ — a voiceless labiodental fricative
/t/ — a voiceless alveolar stop
5. Which word normally begins with the voiced dental fricative /ð/?
This, beginning with /ð/
Thin, beginning with /θ/
Zip, beginning with /z/
Vision, beginning with /v/
6. Where is the primary stress mark /ˈ/ placed in an IPA transcription?
Immediately after the stressed vowel
At the end of the stressed syllable
Immediately before the stressed syllable
At the end of the complete word
7. Which IPA symbol matches the first sound in the English word “ship”?
/ʒ/ — the sound in the middle of “vision”
/s/ — the first sound in “sip”
/tʃ/ — the first sound in “chip”
/ʃ/ — the first sound in “ship”
8. In English IPA transcription, what sound does the symbol /j/ represent?
The initial affricate in “judge”
The short vowel in “kit”
The middle fricative in “vision”
The initial glide in “yes”
9. One source writes a word between slashes, while a detailed pronunciation study writes it in square brackets. What distinction do these conventions usually show?
Slashes show spelling, whereas brackets show pronunciation
Slashes usually enclose phonemic transcription, whereas brackets enclose phonetic detail
Slashes contain vowels, whereas brackets contain consonants
Slashes indicate errors, whereas brackets indicate corrected forms
10. Which sound begins the English word “chair”?
/ʃ/ — the sound beginning “share”
/k/ — the sound beginning “care”
/tʃ/ — the sound beginning “chair”
/dʒ/ — the sound beginning “jail”
11. A learner transcribes “sing” as /sɪn/. Which revised transcription correctly represents the word’s final sound?
/sɪm/, ending with the bilabial nasal /m/
/sɪng/, ending with an /n/ followed by a separate /g/
/sɪŋ/, ending with the velar nasal /ŋ/
/sɪɲ/, ending with the palatal nasal /ɲ/
12. A pronunciation dictionary gives the broad transcription /kæt/. Which word does it represent?
Cut, commonly transcribed /kʌt/
Cart, commonly transcribed /kɑːt/ in a non-rhotic accent
Cat, commonly transcribed /kæt/
Cot, commonly transcribed /kɒt/ in many British accents
13. Which word begins with the consonant sound /dʒ/?
Yacht, beginning with /j/
Judge, beginning with /dʒ/
Shoe, beginning with /ʃ/
Goat, beginning with /g/
14. In many English accents, the first vowel of “about” is reduced because it is unstressed. Which transcription best represents that vowel?
/e/ — a front vowel like the vowel in “dress”
/æ/ — a front vowel like the vowel in “trap”
/ɑː/ — a long open vowel like the vowel in “father”
/ə/ — the reduced vowel called schwa
15. A narrow transcription of “pin” is written [pʰɪn]. What does the raised ʰ indicate?
The /p/ is aspirated and released with a brief puff of air
A separate /h/ phoneme follows the /p/
The /p/ is pronounced with vocal-fold vibration
The following vowel carries primary stress
16. In broad IPA transcription, which sound contrast distinguishes “ship” from “sheep”?
/ɪ/ in “ship” versus /iː/ in “sheep”
/e/ in “ship” versus /æ/ in “sheep”
/ʊ/ in “ship” versus /uː/ in “sheep”
/s/ in “ship” versus /ʃ/ in “sheep”