For the question, choose the most appropriate stress pattern from the options. The stressed syllables are written in capital letters. convalescent

Analyze the question: You are asked to find the correct stress pattern for the word convalescent (meaning: recovering health after illness).

Concept: Words ending in -escent usually take the main stress on the syllable just before the ending, which is the -LES- syllable. Compare:

• adolESCent (a-do-LES-cent)
• effervESCent
• obsoLEScent
• phosphoRESCent

In the same way, the -escent ending pulls the stress to the "-es-" syllable.

Step-by-step solution:

1. Break the word into syllables: con-va-les-cent (4 syllables).
2. Identify the ending: -escent (here "les-cent").
3. Words with the suffix -escent take stress on the -es- syllable, which is the third syllable here: con-va-LES-cent.
4. Check the options: • A. CONvalescent (stress on 1st) ✗ • B. conVAlescent (stress on 2nd) ✗ • C. convaleSCENT (stress on last) ✗ • D. convaLEscent (stress on 3rd, "LES") ✓

Tip: Remember the rule: -escent words stress the "-es-" syllable (adoLEScent, convaLEscent, fluoRESCent). If you see a word ending in -escent, stress the syllable just before "-cent."