Matching Subtle Rhyme Patterns — C2 English Pronunciation Practice Test

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

C2. 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

Matching

How to approach this practice

Read the instructions and work through the questions before opening the answers.

1. Question 1 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Listen to words A, B and C. Match each recorded word to the written word that rhymes with it.

   Return to the passage, recording or visual

   Answer choices

   • reclaim
   • retain
   • debate

   Items

   • Recording A
   • Recording B
   • Recording C
   Check answers and explanations

   1. Recording A

   retain

   2. Recording B

   reclaim

   3. Recording C

   debate

   Recording A: “ascertain” rhymes with “retain”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match. Recording B: “proclaim” rhymes with “reclaim”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match. Recording C: “equate” rhymes with “debate”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match.

2. Question 2 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Listen to words A, B and C. Match each recorded word to the written word that rhymes with it.

   Return to the passage, recording or visual

   Answer choices

   • complete
   • proceed
   • intervene

   Items

   • Recording A
   • Recording B
   • Recording C
   Check answers and explanations

   1. Recording A

   proceed

   2. Recording B

   complete

   3. Recording C

   intervene

   Recording A: “concede” rhymes with “proceed”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match. Recording B: “discrete” rhymes with “complete”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match. Recording C: “convene” rhymes with “intervene”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match.

3. Question 3 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Listen to words A, B and C. Match each recorded word to the written word that rhymes with it.

   Return to the passage, recording or visual

   Answer choices

   • align
   • survive
   • describe

   Items

   • Recording A
   • Recording B
   • Recording C
   Check answers and explanations

   1. Recording A

   survive

   2. Recording B

   describe

   3. Recording C

   align

   Recording A: “derive” rhymes with “survive”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match. Recording B: “prescribe” rhymes with “describe”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match. Recording C: “refine” rhymes with “align”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match.

4. Question 4 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Listen to words A, B and C. Match each recorded word to the written word that rhymes with it.

   Return to the passage, recording or visual

   Answer choices

   • provoke
   • compose
   • promote

   Items

   • Recording A
   • Recording B
   • Recording C
   Check answers and explanations

   1. Recording A

   provoke

   2. Recording B

   promote

   3. Recording C

   compose

   Recording A: “evoke” rhymes with “provoke”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match. Recording B: “devote” rhymes with “promote”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match. Recording C: “impose” rhymes with “compose”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match.

5. Question 5 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Listen to words A, B and C. Match each recorded word to the written word that rhymes with it.

   Return to the passage, recording or visual

   Answer choices

   • announce
   • account
   • confound

   Items

   • Recording A
   • Recording B
   • Recording C
   Check answers and explanations

   1. Recording A

   confound

   2. Recording B

   announce

   3. Recording C

   account

   Recording A: “expound” rhymes with “confound”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match. Recording B: “pronounce” rhymes with “announce”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match. Recording C: “amount” rhymes with “account”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match.

6. Question 6 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Listen to words A, B and C. Match each recorded word to the written word that rhymes with it.

   Return to the passage, recording or visual

   Answer choices

   • conception
   • division
   • insertion

   Items

   • Recording A
   • Recording B
   • Recording C
   Check answers and explanations

   1. Recording A

   division

   2. Recording B

   insertion

   3. Recording C

   conception

   Recording A: “provision” rhymes with “division”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match. Recording B: “assertion” rhymes with “insertion”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match. Recording C: “perception” rhymes with “conception”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match.

7. Question 7 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Listen to words A, B and C. Match each recorded word to the written word that rhymes with it.

   Return to the passage, recording or visual

   Answer choices

   • illusion
   • decision
   • adhesion

   Items

   • Recording A
   • Recording B
   • Recording C
   Check answers and explanations

   1. Recording A

   adhesion

   2. Recording B

   decision

   3. Recording C

   illusion

   Recording A: “cohesion” rhymes with “adhesion”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match. Recording B: “precision” rhymes with “decision”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match. Recording C: “conclusion” rhymes with “illusion”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match.

8. Question 8 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Listen to words A, B and C. Match each recorded word to the written word that rhymes with it.

   Return to the passage, recording or visual

   Answer choices

   • paralysis
   • minority
   • economy

   Items

   • Recording A
   • Recording B
   • Recording C
   Check answers and explanations

   1. Recording A

   minority

   2. Recording B

   economy

   3. Recording C

   paralysis

   Recording A: “authority” rhymes with “minority”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match. Recording B: “autonomy” rhymes with “economy”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match. Recording C: “analysis” rhymes with “paralysis”: their last stressed vowel and following sounds match.

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.