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B2 Upper-intermediate Pronunciation Work 18 minutes 8 questions

Reduced Vowels in Longer Words — B2 English Pronunciation Practice Test

About this practice test

Practise B2 English pronunciation by identifying reduced vowels in longer words in recordings, with sound choices and playable examples.

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: 8 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
B2. 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

The proposal received considerable support.

Recording 2

Read the transcript

The catering manager offered each visitor a banana.

Recording 3

Read the transcript

The agreement lists the people we must protect.

Recording 4

Read the transcript

The results of the trial were dramatic.

Recording 5

Read the transcript

The researchers compared the patterns.

Recording 6

Read the transcript

The team submitted its final design.

Recording 7

Read the transcript

Please keep a copy of the document.

Recording 8

Read the transcript

They eventually agreed on a solution.

  1. Question 1 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Focus on the first vowel in the last word. Which sound do you hear?

    Return to the passage, recording or visual
    1. /ə/ — as in about
    2. /uː/ — as in food
    3. /ɑ/ — as in car
    Check answers and explanations
    Answer
    /ə/ — as in about

    The target word or phrase is “support”. Listen for /ə/ in the first vowel of the last word.

    /ə/ — as in about: The target word or phrase is “support”. Listen for /ə/ in the first vowel of the last word.

    /uː/ — as in food: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ɑ/ — as in car: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

  2. Question 2 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Focus on the first vowel in the last word. Which sound do you hear?

    Return to the passage, recording or visual
    1. /uː/ — as in food
    2. /ə/ — as in about
    3. /iː/ — as in see
    4. /eɪ/ — as in day
    Check answers and explanations
    Answer
    /ə/ — as in about

    The target word or phrase is “banana”. Listen for /ə/ in the first vowel of the last word.

    /uː/ — as in food: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ə/ — as in about: The target word or phrase is “banana”. Listen for /ə/ in the first vowel of the last word.

    /iː/ — as in see: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /eɪ/ — as in day: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

  3. Question 3 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Focus on the first vowel in the last word. Which sound do you hear?

    Return to the passage, recording or visual
    1. /ə/ — as in about
    2. /oʊ/ — as in go
    3. /ʊ/ — as in good
    4. /ɑ/ — as in car
    Check answers and explanations
    Answer
    /ə/ — as in about

    The target word or phrase is “protect”. Listen for /ə/ in the first vowel of the last word.

    /ə/ — as in about: The target word or phrase is “protect”. Listen for /ə/ in the first vowel of the last word.

    /oʊ/ — as in go: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ʊ/ — as in good: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ɑ/ — as in car: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

  4. Question 4 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Focus on the first vowel in the last word. Which sound do you hear?

    Return to the passage, recording or visual
    1. /æ/ — as in cat
    2. /ɑ/ — as in car
    3. /eɪ/ — as in day
    4. /ə/ — as in about
    Check answers and explanations
    Answer
    /ə/ — as in about

    The target word or phrase is “dramatic”. Listen for /ə/ in the first vowel of the last word.

    /æ/ — as in cat: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ɑ/ — as in car: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /eɪ/ — as in day: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ə/ — as in about: The target word or phrase is “dramatic”. Listen for /ə/ in the first vowel of the last word.

  5. Question 5 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Focus on the first vowel in the last word. Which sound do you hear?

    Return to the passage, recording or visual
    1. /ɛ/ — as in bed
    2. /ʌ/ — as in cup
    3. /æ/ — as in cat
    4. /ə/ — as in about
    Check answers and explanations
    Answer
    /æ/ — as in cat

    The target word or phrase is “patterns”. Listen for /æ/ in the first vowel of the last word.

    /ɛ/ — as in bed: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ʌ/ — as in cup: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /æ/ — as in cat: The target word or phrase is “patterns”. Listen for /æ/ in the first vowel of the last word.

    /ə/ — as in about: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

  6. Question 6 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Focus on the first vowel in the last word. Which sound do you hear?

    Return to the passage, recording or visual
    1. /iː/ — as in see
    2. /ɪ/ — as in fish
    3. /ə/ — as in about
    4. /ɛ/ — as in bed
    Check answers and explanations
    Answer
    /ɪ/ — as in fish

    The target word or phrase is “design”. Listen for /ɪ/ in the first vowel of the last word.

    /iː/ — as in see: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ɪ/ — as in fish: The target word or phrase is “design”. Listen for /ɪ/ in the first vowel of the last word.

    /ə/ — as in about: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ɛ/ — as in bed: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

  7. Question 7 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Focus on the first vowel in the last word. Which sound do you hear?

    Return to the passage, recording or visual
    1. /ɑ/ — as in car
    2. /ə/ — as in about
    3. /oʊ/ — as in go
    4. /ʌ/ — as in cup
    Check answers and explanations
    Answer
    /ɑ/ — as in car

    The target word or phrase is “document”. Listen for /ɑ/ in the first vowel of the last word.

    /ɑ/ — as in car: The target word or phrase is “document”. Listen for /ɑ/ in the first vowel of the last word.

    /ə/ — as in about: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /oʊ/ — as in go: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ʌ/ — as in cup: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

  8. Question 8 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Focus on the first vowel in the last word. Which sound do you hear?

    Return to the passage, recording or visual
    1. /uː/ — as in food
    2. /oʊ/ — as in go
    3. /ʊ/ — as in good
    4. /ə/ — as in about
    Check answers and explanations
    Answer
    /ə/ — as in about

    The target word or phrase is “solution”. Listen for /ə/ in the first vowel of the last word.

    /uː/ — as in food: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /oʊ/ — as in go: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ʊ/ — as in good: Replay the recording and compare the target sound with the examples.

    /ə/ — as in about: The target word or phrase is “solution”. Listen for /ə/ in the first vowel of the last word.

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.

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