9.1 Underline all the consonant clusters within the words in this text (ie. not at the beginning or end of words). Note that some words have two consonant clusters.
When I started playing badminton, I was sixty and I hadn’t done any strenuous exercise for almost twenty years. But after just a few months I’d won the over-fifties national championship and an international competition. My husband thinks I’m crazy and that I’ll injure myself. But I’ve found a number of advantages in taking up a sport. I feel much healthier, and it’s important to be active at my age. And meeting new people has improved my social life. So I’ll carry on playing until I get too old.
Now check your answers in the Key. Then read the text aloud, focusing on the pronunciation of words with underlined consonant clusters.
9.2 Listen and repeat phrase 1 in column A with a slight pause between the two speech units. Then listen and repeat phrase 1 in column B, making sure you run the words together without a pause. Then do the same for phrases 2-10 (notice that the underlined clusters are the same in columns A and B). Some underlined consonant clusters in column B are simplified. Try to make the same simplifications when you repeat them (see Key for details of simplifications).
A |
B |
1 // Jack was in the audience// trying not to laugh// 2 // the ring looked very elegant// sparkling in the sunlight// 3 // here’s some milk// drink it now// 4 // I hear you won the contract// great news// 5 // if you’re going to the coast// fly there// 6 // if you find any of my old books// throw them away// 7 // it’s got two bedrooms// slightly small// 8 // it’s very old// Bridget says// 9 / there was a footprint// small like a child’’s// 10 // it was sad in some parts// humorous in others// |
// she’s a freelance translator// // the president spoke next// // she wore a silk dress// // it looked green to me// // it’s on the first floor// // he speaks three languages// // lift your arms slow!y// // there was a cold _breeze// // what’s that unpleasant smell// // it‘s huge// |
9.3 Match a word from box A with a word from box B to make compound nouns. Say the compounds aloud, making sure you run the words in the compound together.
A |
B |
blood direct general golf lamp first passive rock lost speech time tourist |
club property music peisening class shade smoking speech strike therapist trap travel |
EXAMPLE blood_poisoning (/d/ in ‘blood’ is pronounced like /b/)
Listen, check your answers and repeat the compounds, making the same simplifications of consonant clusters where these occur (see Key for details of simplifications).