For this question, the word in capital letters has the emphatic stress. Choose the option to which the sentence relates. The woman was delivered of a baby BOY.

Analyze the question

This is an emphatic stress question. The word in capital letters (BOY) carries the stress, which means the speaker is highlighting that word, usually to correct or contrast it with another possibility. The sentence is therefore the answer to a question that asks about that stressed element.

Explain the concept

Emphatic stress places the focus on one word. The question the sentence answers will have the same information as the sentence, except that the stressed word is replaced by a contrasting alternative.

Here, the stressed word is BOY. The sentence says: "The woman was delivered of a baby BOY." Everything else (the woman, delivered, a baby) is given information. The new or corrected information is the sex of the baby. So the question being answered must have asked about a different sex, which is a girl.

Solution

Check each option:

• A. Was the girl delivered of a baby girl? This changes "woman" and "boy." Two things differ, so this is not a match.
• B. Was the woman delivered of two baby boys? This questions the number (one vs. two), not the sex. Stress would fall on "baby" or "one/two," not "BOY."
• C. Was the woman delivered of a baby girl? Everything is the same except "girl," which is the contrast to "BOY." The reply, "The woman was delivered of a baby BOY," corrects "girl." This is a match.
• D. Was the girl delivered of a baby boy? This questions "woman" vs. "girl." The stress would fall on WOMAN.

Answer: C

Exam tip

Find the capitalized word, then pick the option that is identical to the sentence except for a contrasting word in that position. If an option changes more than one word, or changes a different word, eliminate it.