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Study skills

A syllable is a unit of pronunciation that has one vowel sound. You have learnt that a word can
be broken into syllables which help us in pronouncing the word correctly. For example,

in-de-ci-sion com-pe-ti-tion schol-ar-ship

(four syllables) (four syllables) (three syllables)

While speaking English, the individual syllables of a word are not pronounced with the same
weight or stress. One syllable receives more emphasis (stress) than the others. This is called
word stress. In each word, the syllable that is highlighted has to be stressed.

in-de-ci-sion com-pe-ti-tion schol-ar-ship

Now, find the word stress in these words. You can consult a good dictionary to check
your answers.

1. believe 2. wildest

3. expectations 4. swimming

5. urgent 6. effort

7. audience 8. dejected

Time to listen

Listen to this true account of a young girl who saved a toddler from drowning.*

Now, answer the questions that follow.
1. How old was Riley when she saved the toddler?

2. How did the toddler fall into the pool?

3. Why did Riley decide to dive in to save the toddler?

4. What would you say to Riley for her act?

* For listening text, turn to page 166-167.

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