BCECE LE Phonetics & Speech Sounds – Set 1

Step 1: Analyze the sound of 'ch' in each word.
Step 2: 'Chorus' is derived from Greek and 'ch' is pronounced as /k/ (/ˈkɔːrəs/). In 'Charm' and 'Teacher' it is /tʃ/, and in 'Machine' it is /ʃ/.
Step 3: Option C is the correct answer.

Step 1: The commonly taught Received Pronunciation (RP) inventory has 24 consonant phonemes.
Step 2: These are counted separately from the vowel phonemes; the total phoneme inventory is commonly described as 44 sounds (20 vowels and 24 consonants).
Step 3: Therefore, option C (24) is correct. Counts may differ in other English accents.

Step 1: Define bilabial nasal sound /m/. It requires articulation using both lips.
Step 2: In 'Come', 'Thumb' (b is silent), and 'Autumn' (n is silent), the final sound is the bilabial nasal /m/. In 'Opinion' (/əˈpɪnjən/), the nasal sound is alveolar nasal /n/.
Step 3: Option D is NOT a bilabial nasal.

Step 1: The word 'psalm' is commonly pronounced /sɑːm/ (British English) or /sɑːm/ (many other accents).
Step 2: The initial 'p' and the letter 'l' are not pronounced; the spoken sounds are represented by 's', 'a', and 'm'.
Step 3: Therefore, option A, 'P and L', is correct.

Step 1: Pronounce 'Receipt' (/rɪˈsiːt/).
Step 2: The letter 'P' in '-pt' is completely unarticulated.
Step 3: Option B ('P') is the silent letter.