MLAT - Modern Language Aptitude Phonetic Script and Association Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A linguist is creating a phonetic script where 't' represents the sound in 'top', 'k' represents the sound in 'kit', 'ah' represents the vowel sound in 'hot', and 'uh' represents the vowel sound in 'cup'. Which of the following correctly transcribes the nonsense word that sounds like 'tahk'?
- tuhk
- kah
- tahk (Correct answer)
- tahd
Correct answer: tahk
The sound 'tahk' is composed of three distinct sounds. The initial sound is 't' (represented by 't'), the middle vowel sound is 'ah' as in 'hot' (represented by 'ah'), and the final sound is 'k' (represented by 'k'). Combining these symbols according to the rules gives 'tahk'.
Question 2: In a system for phonetic association, the symbol 'p' makes the 'p' sound from 'pat'. The symbol 'z' makes the 'z' sound from 'zap'. The symbol 'ee' represents the long 'ee' sound from 'feet'. If you hear the sound 'zeep', which written form is correct?
- zeep (Correct answer)
- zeet
- peez
- zep
Correct answer: zeep
The sound 'zeep' starts with the 'z' sound (symbol 'z'), is followed by the long 'ee' sound (symbol 'ee'), and ends with the 'p' sound (symbol 'p'). The correct combination of these symbols is 'zeep'.
Question 3: Given the following phonetic key: 'v' = the 'v' sound in 'vest'; 'k' = the 'k' sound in 'key'; 'uh' = the vowel sound in 'dug'. Which of the following options represents the sound 'kuhv'?
- vuhk
- kuhv (Correct answer)
- kahv
- kuv
Correct answer: kuhv
The initial sound is 'k', represented by the symbol 'k'. The middle vowel sound is 'uh' as in 'dug', represented by the symbol 'uh'. The final sound is 'v', represented by the symbol 'v'. Therefore, the correct transcription is 'kuhv'.
Question 4: A researcher is developing a phonetic script for a field study. The associations are: 't' for the 't' sound, 'p' for the 'p' sound, 'ah' for the vowel in 'pot', and 'ee' for the vowel in 'see'. During a drill, an assistant says a word that sounds like 'paht'. How should the researcher transcribe this word?
- peet
- taht
- pahp
- paht (Correct answer)
Correct answer: paht
The word 'paht' is broken down into three sounds. The first sound is 'p', which corresponds to the symbol 'p'. The middle vowel sound is 'ah' as in 'pot', corresponding to the symbol 'ah'. The final sound is 't', corresponding to the symbol 't'. Assembling these gives 'paht'.
Question 5: You are presented with a new phonetic system where: 'z' = 'z' sound (as in 'zoo'), 'v' = 'v' sound (as in 'vote'), 'ee' = 'ee' sound (as in 'cheese'), 'uh' = 'u' sound (as in 'must'). Which of the following sounds corresponds to the written word 'zuhv'?
- A sound rhyming with 'love'. (Correct answer)
- A sound rhyming with 'Steve'.
- A sound like 'zoov'.
- A sound like 'ziv'.
Correct answer: A sound rhyming with 'love'.
The phonetic word 'zuhv' is composed of 'z' ('z' sound), 'uh' (the vowel sound in 'must' or 'love'), and 'v' ('v' sound). When pronounced together, it creates a sound that rhymes with 'love' or 'dove'.
Question 6: In a phonetic transcription exercise, you learn that 'k' stands for the 'k' sound, 't' for the 't' sound, and 'ee' for the vowel sound in 'bee'. An audio clip plays a sound that rhymes with 'meet'. Which of the following is the most likely transcription?
- keet (Correct answer)
- ket
- kaht
- teek
Correct answer: keet
The target sound rhymes with 'meet', meaning it ends with an 'eet' sound. The only option that fits this pattern using the provided key ('t' for 't', 'ee' for 'ee') is 'keet'. The initial 'k' sound is represented by 'k', the 'ee' sound by 'ee', and the final 't' sound by 't'.
