Precise Stressed Vowels in Formal Words — C1 English Pronunciation Practice Test
About this practice test
Practise C1 English pronunciation by listening for precise stressed vowels in formal 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
- C1. 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
decisive. contagious. persuasive. invasive.
Recording 2
Read the transcript
strategic. cohesive. judicial. convenient.
Recording 3
Read the transcript
assertive. remarkable. subservient. observant.
Recording 4
Read the transcript
redundant. abundant. reluctant. consistent.
Recording 5
Read the transcript
paradoxical. methodical. theoretical. astronomical.
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Question 1 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the four words. Which word has a different vowel sound in its main stressed syllable?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- decisive
- contagious
- persuasive
- invasive
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- decisive
Contagious, persuasive and invasive share /eɪ/ in the main stressed syllable; decisive has /aɪ/.
decisive: Contagious, persuasive and invasive share /eɪ/ in the main stressed syllable; decisive has /aɪ/.
contagious: This word shares /eɪ/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /aɪ/ sound.
persuasive: This word shares /eɪ/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /aɪ/ sound.
invasive: This word shares /eɪ/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /aɪ/ sound.
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Question 2 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the four words. Which word has a different vowel sound in its main stressed syllable?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- strategic
- cohesive
- judicial
- convenient
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- judicial
Strategic, cohesive and convenient share /iː/ in the main stressed syllable; judicial has /ɪ/.
strategic: This word shares /iː/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /ɪ/ sound.
cohesive: This word shares /iː/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /ɪ/ sound.
judicial: Strategic, cohesive and convenient share /iː/ in the main stressed syllable; judicial has /ɪ/.
convenient: This word shares /iː/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /ɪ/ sound.
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Question 3 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the four words. Which word has a different vowel sound in its main stressed syllable?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- assertive
- remarkable
- subservient
- observant
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- remarkable
Assertive, subservient and observant share /ɝː/ in the main stressed syllable; remarkable has /ɑː/.
assertive: This word shares /ɝː/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /ɑː/ sound.
remarkable: Assertive, subservient and observant share /ɝː/ in the main stressed syllable; remarkable has /ɑː/.
subservient: This word shares /ɝː/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /ɑː/ sound.
observant: This word shares /ɝː/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /ɑː/ sound.
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Question 4 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the four words. Which word has a different vowel sound in its main stressed syllable?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- redundant
- abundant
- reluctant
- consistent
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- consistent
Redundant, abundant and reluctant share /ʌ/ in the main stressed syllable; consistent has /ɪ/.
redundant: This word shares /ʌ/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /ɪ/ sound.
abundant: This word shares /ʌ/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /ɪ/ sound.
reluctant: This word shares /ʌ/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /ɪ/ sound.
consistent: Redundant, abundant and reluctant share /ʌ/ in the main stressed syllable; consistent has /ɪ/.
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Question 5 · Single choice
Choose one answer.
Listen to the four words. Which word has a different vowel sound in its main stressed syllable?
Return to the passage, recording or visual- paradoxical
- methodical
- theoretical
- astronomical
Check answers and explanations
- Answer
- theoretical
Paradoxical, methodical and astronomical share /ɑː/ in the main stressed syllable; theoretical has /ɛ/.
paradoxical: This word shares /ɑː/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /ɛ/ sound.
methodical: This word shares /ɑː/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /ɛ/ sound.
theoretical: Paradoxical, methodical and astronomical share /ɑː/ in the main stressed syllable; theoretical has /ɛ/.
astronomical: This word shares /ɑː/ with the matching group. Listen for the different /ɛ/ 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.