Difficulty: Easy

Average Score: 100%

In Russian, only one syllable is accented in every word, with few exceptions. As in English, the accent is not fixed in that it does not always fall on the same syllable (for example, the last syllable) of the word. Unaccented syllables are pronounced somewhat shorter and less distinctly than the accented ones.

The passage states that Russian and English are alike in that in both languages:

Rationale

The accent may fall on any syllable.

Both Russian and English languages allow for flexible accentuation, meaning that the stress can be placed on any syllable of a word rather than being confined to a specific position. This characteristic leads to variations in pronunciation and can change the meaning of words depending on which syllable is emphasized.

A (short syllables are not accented) YOUR ANSWER

This statement is incorrect as both Russian and English can have short syllables that are accented. In fact, in both languages, the positioning of the accent is not determined solely by the length of the syllables but can vary regardless of syllable length.

B (the last syllable of words cannot be accented) YOUR ANSWER

This option is misleading because, while certain words in both languages may have specific stress patterns, it is not a rule that the last syllable cannot receive an accent. In both languages, the last syllable can indeed be accented, depending on the word and its grammatical context.

C (only one syllable in each word is accented) YOUR ANSWER

This choice is partially true, as in both languages, typically only one syllable is stressed in each word; however, it does not capture the main similarity stated in the passage. The emphasis on the flexibility of accentuation across different syllables is a more critical feature that distinguishes both languages.

Conclusion

The passage illustrates the commonality between Russian and English in terms of accentuation, highlighting that stress can occur on any syllable within a word. This flexibility in accent placement is a defining characteristic of both languages, allowing for diverse pronunciations and meanings. Choices A, B, and C misrepresent the nature of syllable accents, while choice D accurately reflects the shared trait of syllable stress variability.

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