Practice Makes Perfect

 290
practice makes perfect Basic 
English
P·22
EXERCISE
Pronunciation of Words Containing the Hard and Soft 
C
 Sounds
Some words contain both the hard and soft 
c
 sound. The hard 
c
 is pronounced
like a 
k
 and the soft 
c
 like 
s
.
cancel accident practice accept bicycle
k 
s 
k s 
k s 
k s 
s k
Listen carefully and repeat the following sentences.
1. It is very hard to concentrate when you play your drums.
k s
2. We have a lot of confidence in you.
k s
3. This is a very interesting concept.
k s
4. She is trying to conceal the truth.
k s
5. That was a wonderful concert.
k s
6. He hung his certificate on the wall for everyone to see.
s k
7. I would like to cancel my order.
k s
8. We were very concerned about you.
k s
9. What is the circumference of this circle?
s k 
s 
s k
10. The electricity went out during the storm.
k s
11. You should not criticize other people.
k s
12. Don’t accelerate in a residential zone.
k s
13. I do not have access to your file.
k s
14. Please be more specific about the details.
s k 
15. My kids love to go to the circus.
s k
16. He has a French accent.
k s
17. I almost had an accident on my way to work.
k s 
PMP Basic English_Lachance.indd 290
1/15/19 11:10 AM

---

Pronunciation Exercises 
291
18. They say that practice makes perfect.
k s
19. He is a successful businessman in Hong Kong.
k s
20. We didn’t accept the offer.
k s
21. You need more calcium in your diet.
k s
22. What is the weight capacity of this elevator?
k s 
23. The good news will circulate rapidly.
s k
24. The icicle fell off the house and hit me on the head.
s k
25. They are trying to find a vaccine for this disease.
k s
26. It’s a coincidence that we have the same name and birth date.
k s s
27. Do you recycle?
s k
28. I was not aware of the circumstances.
s k 
s
29. He studied commerce and international relations.
k s
30. There was no vacancy in the motel, so we slept in the van.
k s
PMP Basic English_Lachance.indd 291
1/15/19 11:10 AM

---

 292
practice makes perfect Basic 
English
P·23
EXERCISE
Pronunciation of Words with 
CH
 and 
SH
The letter combination 
ch
 has a strong and firm pronunciation:
child 
cherry 
choose 
chocolate 
cheese
The letter combination 
sh
 has a softer and lighter pronunciation:
she 
show fish 
shower crash
Listen carefully and repeat the following sentences.
1. She should change the channel.
2. I like shredded or chopped cheddar cheese chunks in my chicken soup.
3. I wish to add chopped shallots on the fresh fish on my dish.
4. She should share the cherries with the children.
5. Shelley chose to sell shells and Shane chose to sell shoes.
6. The Chinese children showed their teacher the chopsticks.
7. Don’t chew the shellfish because you will choke.
8. Each egg should hatch a chubby chick.
9. Charles put on cheap aftershave after his shower.
10. The ship left the shore.
11. It’s a challenge to sheer a sheep wearing shorts.
12. I sat in the shade on my chair at the beach.
13. The teacher used white chalk to write the new English words on the blackboard.
14. Please put the shovel in the shed and the chicken in the kitchen.
15. It’s my choice to work the dayshift.
16. I cherish our friendship.
17. We put fresh mushrooms, cashews, and chives in the salad.
18. The shampoo is on the shelf.
19. I had a cheeseburger and chips for lunch.
20. My publisher will publish this chapter.
21. Shirley wants to play checkers but Shane wants to play chess.
22. I have to buy a leash for my chihuahua.
23. Pull the chain to flush the toilet.
24. Put the cushion on the couch.
25. I took a chance and cashed the check.
26. He tried to catch the chipmunk with a net.
27. Your checkered shirt is on the bench at the park.
28. Shawn greets everyone with a firm handshake.
29. The children put the cheese on the dish and the chocolate chip cookies on the plate.
30. Charlie has two scars on his chin and one on his cheek.
PMP Basic English_Lachance.indd 292
1/15/19 11:10 AM

---

Pronunciation Exercises 
293
P·24
EXERCISE
Pronunciation of 
QU
The letter combination 
qu
 is pronounced like 
kw
.
quick 
quiet aqua equal equipment
Listen carefully and repeat the following sentences.
1. Please be quiet in my class.
2. My trip was free with my frequent flyer points.
3. Can I quote you, Mr. Morris?
4. They will have a liquidation sale.
5. Shane is the quarterback on our football team.
6. Did you ever see a black squirrel?
7. Please indicate the quality and quantity of the items you need.
8. She is overqualified for this job.
9. Is it a solid or liquid?
10. We require more information from you.
11. Please don’t squeeze the lemons.
12. A square has four equal sides.
13. My aquarium is leaking.
14. He is not a friend, he is just an acquaintance.
15. We are not equipped to go camping in the woods.
16. This will quench your thirst.
17. Are there any questions before we continue?
18. Two plus two equals four.
19. Why do you want to quit the team?
20. I made a beautiful quilt for my bed.
21. The cows will be in quarantine for six weeks.
22. I’m sorry but you don’t have the qualifications for this job.
23. The sea was aqua blue.
24. Did you feel the small earthquake last night?
25. Can you identify equivalent fractions?
26. Why do you always quarrel with her?
27. The quick duck said, “Quack, quack.”
28. The queen quickly quoted her cousin.
29. The squirrel required quality care.
30. A quarter is not square; it’s round.
PMP Basic English_Lachance.indd 293
1/15/19 11:10 AM

---

 294
practice makes perfect Basic 
English
P·25
EXERCISE
Pronunciation of 
V
The letter 
v
 is often confused with 
w
, but the pronunciation of 
v
 is very distinct.
Victor 
violin lovely 
volcano river
Listen carefully and repeat the following sentences.
1. The results of this new version may vary.
2. I have to clean the stove and oven today.
3. This old vehicle has no value.
4. We grow vegetables in the valley near our village.
5. Veronica is the new vice principal for grade seven.
6. Do you believe in heaven?
7. That was a marvellous volleyball game.
8. Vegetarians never eat veal or liver.
9. I take vitamins every day.
10. Even the volunteers voted for Evelyn.
11. We bought various souvenirs in Las Vegas.
12. Her voice is very lovely.
13. We visited a volcano while we were on vacation.
14. Valerie loves to walk along the river in the evening.
15. Have you ever been a victim of violence?
16. I love your black velvet gloves.
17. They have a variety of flavors. They even have vanilla.
18. Your vocabulary needs improvement.
19. The vacuum is very heavy.
20. The violent waves made the boat roll over.
21. Steven drives a Corvette.
22. Viviane didn’t give me a valid reason.
23. Thank you for that valuable advice.
24. Vampires are more active in the evening.
25. That is an invasion of privacy.
26. He always travels with his violin.
27. She is very brave because she removed the beehive.
28. All verbs contain vowels.
29. He solved the mystery and proved it to everybody.
30. You can buy the vase for Vicky if you save eleven more dollars.
PMP Basic English_Lachance.indd 294
1/15/19 11:10 AM

---

Pronunciation Exercises 
295
P·26
EXERCISE
Pronunciation of Words with Silent Letters
Many words contain letters that are not pronounced.
aisle 
know February 
knife foreign
x x x 
x 
x 
x 
x 
x 
x x
Listen carefully and repeat the following sentences.
1. Put the raspberries in the fridge not in the cupboard.
x 
x x 
x x 
x 
x
2. I met a handsome man with big muscles and a yacht.
x 
x 
x x 
x x
3. My mortgage is the only debt I have.
x x 
x 
x
4. There will be chaos if you resign from the family business.
x x x 
x 
x 
x x
5. Whose vehicle should we take on Wednesday?
x x x x x 
x 
x 
x 
x x
6. Who wrote the answer on the board with white chalk?
x 
x x 
x 
x 
x x 
x
7. What is wrong with your scissors?
x 
x 
x x x
8. Do you know who will design the new bridge?
x x x x 
x 
x 
x x
9. Use the whisk to whip the fudge.
x 
x 
x 
x x
10. I ate the whole egg even the yolk but not the salmon sandwich.
x x x x 
x 
x 
x
11. The plumber can’t come today because he has pneumonia.
x 
x 
x x 
x x
12. Would he like to talk to a psychiatrist?
x x 
x 
x 
x 
x
13. My folks will be home in half an hour.
x x 
x x x
14. I love the scent of your new cologne.
x 
x 
x 
x x
15. It’s an honor for me to present the sword to the knight.
x 
x 
x x x
16. He played guitar while I drank champagne under the crescent moon.
x x 
x 
x 
x x 
x
17. I hurt my knee, thumb, and wrist while I was wrestling with the swordfish.
x 
x x x 
x 
x 
x
PMP Basic English_Lachance.indd 295
1/15/19 11:10 AM

---