Language analysis course: vowels

Multiple-choice exercise

ELT Concourse home
Choose the correct answer for each question.

  1. How many vowel sounds are there in English?
    1.   20
    2.   24
    3.   21
    4.   26
  2. Which of these is not a minimal pair: then - than, sure - far, bought - boat?
    1.   then - than
    2.   sure - far
    3.   bought - boat
  3. The difference between the vowel at the end of marry and the vowel at the end of free is ...
    1.   ... length
    2.   ... non-existent
    3.   ... lip rounding
  4. You make a vowel by ...
    1.   ... letting the air flow freely
    2.   ... constricting the air flow
    3.   ... interrupting the air flow
  5. How many vowels are there in this word: cowering?
    1.   five
    2.   three
    3.   two
    4.   four
  6. The vowel in the middle of fish 'n' chips is ...
    1.   /ɪ/
    2.   /iː/
    3.   /ə/