Answer the following question below and choose the appropriate stress pattern from the options. The syllables are underlined in capital letters. demarcation

Analyze the question: The word is demarcation (/ˌdiːmɑːˈkeɪʃn/). You must identify which syllable carries the primary stress.

Concept: In English, words ending in -tion put the primary stress on the syllable immediately before the suffix. Examples: eduCAtion, informAtion, celebRAtion.

Step-by-step solution:

1. Break the word into syllables: de - mar - ca - tion (4 syllables).
2. Identify the suffix: -tion.
3. Apply the rule: stress falls on the syllable just before -tion, which is ca.
4. Pronunciation: de-mar-CA-tion, with the "ca" sounding like /keɪ/.

Checking the options:

• A. demarCAtion: stress on "ca", the syllable before -tion. ✔
• B. DEmarcation: stress on the first syllable. ✘
• C. deMARcation: stress on "mar". ✘ (This would be a secondary stress at most.)
• D. demarcaTION: stress on -tion. ✘ (-tion is never stressed in this type of word.)

Answer: The primary stress is on the third syllable, so the correct option is A.

Tip: For words ending in -tion, -sion, -ic, -ial, -ity, the stress usually falls on the syllable just before the ending. Tap it out: eduCAtion, demarCAtion, comMIssion. Remember this and you can answer many JAMB stress questions quickly.