Initial Sounds in Work and Study Words — B1 English Pronunciation Practice Test
About this practice test
Practise B1 English pronunciation by listening for initial sounds in work and study words in recorded word groups, then review the sound contrasts.
What you’ll practice
Hear the difference
Recognise vowel and consonant contrasts in clear recordings.
Stress and rhythm
Identify strong syllables and emphasized words.
Listen and review
Replay each recording and learn from answer explanations.
What to expect:
5 questions with explanations to review after submission.
Study the questions and tasks
Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.
- Practice level
- B1. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.
- Question formats
- Single choice
How to approach this practice
Read the instructions and work through the questions before opening the answers.
Recording 1
Read the transcript
subject. science. seminar. zero.
Recording 2
Read the transcript
project. budget. progress. practice.
Recording 3
Read the transcript
guide. college. course. career.
Recording 4
Read the transcript
chapter. challenge. journal. choice.
Recording 5
Read the transcript
theory. thesis. therefore. thankful.
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Question 1 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the four words. Which word begins with a different sound from the other three?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- subject
- science
- seminar
- zero
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- zero
Subject, science and seminar share /s/ at the beginning; zero has /z/.
subject: This word shares /s/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /z/ sound.
science: This word shares /s/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /z/ sound.
seminar: This word shares /s/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /z/ sound.
zero: Subject, science and seminar share /s/ at the beginning; zero has /z/.
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Question 2 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the four words. Which word begins with a different sound from the other three?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- project
- budget
- progress
- practice
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- budget
Project, progress and practice share /p/ at the beginning; budget has /b/.
project: This word shares /p/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /b/ sound.
budget: Project, progress and practice share /p/ at the beginning; budget has /b/.
progress: This word shares /p/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /b/ sound.
practice: This word shares /p/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /b/ sound.
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Question 3 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the four words. Which word begins with a different sound from the other three?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- guide
- college
- course
- career
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- guide
College, course and career share /k/ at the beginning; guide has /ɡ/.
guide: College, course and career share /k/ at the beginning; guide has /ɡ/.
college: This word shares /k/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /ɡ/ sound.
course: This word shares /k/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /ɡ/ sound.
career: This word shares /k/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /ɡ/ sound.
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Question 4 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the four words. Which word begins with a different sound from the other three?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- chapter
- challenge
- journal
- choice
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- journal
Chapter, challenge and choice share /tʃ/ at the beginning; journal has /dʒ/.
chapter: This word shares /tʃ/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /dʒ/ sound.
challenge: This word shares /tʃ/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /dʒ/ sound.
journal: Chapter, challenge and choice share /tʃ/ at the beginning; journal has /dʒ/.
choice: This word shares /tʃ/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /dʒ/ sound.
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Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the four words. Which word begins with a different sound from the other three?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- theory
- thesis
- therefore
- thankful
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- therefore
Theory, thesis and thankful share /θ/ at the beginning; therefore has /ð/.
theory: This word shares /θ/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /ð/ sound.
thesis: This word shares /θ/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /ð/ sound.
therefore: Theory, thesis and thankful share /θ/ at the beginning; therefore has /ð/.
thankful: This word shares /θ/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /ð/ sound.
What to review next
Review the feedback and revisit the topics you found difficult before trying again.
A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.