The word in capital letters has the emphatic stress. Choose the option to which the given sentence relates. Maiduguri is the CAPITAL of Borno State.

Analyze the question

Emphatic stress falls on the word that carries the new or contrasting information. The stressed word in the sentence is CAPITAL, so the sentence answers a question that is about whether Maiduguri is the capital or something else, such as just a town, in Borno State.

Concept

The emphasized word is the focus of the question the sentence answers:

• Stress on Borno would answer "Which state is Maiduguri the capital of?" (option B).
• Stress on Maiduguri would answer "What is the capital of Borno State?" (option D).
• Stress on capital answers a question about the status or role of Maiduguri, as in "Is Maiduguri a town in Borno State?" The reply stresses that it is the capital, not just a town.

Step-by-step check

• A. "Is Maiduguri the capital of Plateau State?" The contrast here is the state, so the stress would fall on Borno. Not a match.
• B. "Which State is Maiduguri the capital of?" The focus is the state, so the stress would fall on Borno. Not a match.
• C. "Is Maiduguri a town in Borno State?" The focus is on what Maiduguri is, a town or the capital. The reply "Maiduguri is the CAPITAL of Borno State" corrects or upgrades that idea. This matches.
• D. "What is the capital Borno State?" This is also grammatically faulty (it is missing "of"). The focus would be on Maiduguri. Not a match.

Tip: In emphatic stress questions, ask yourself, "Which question would make this stressed word the natural reply?" Match the stressed word to the part of the question that is new or in doubt.