conglomerate — choose the one that has the correct stress as the word given below

Analyze the question: The word "conglomerate" is given, and you need to pick the option showing its correct stress pattern. This tests word stress for words with four syllables.

Explain the concept: Word stress is the syllable pronounced with the most force. In many longer words ending in -ate, the primary stress falls on the first or second syllable, not on the suffix. Whether it is the verb (kən-GLOM-ə-rayt) or the noun/adjective (kən-GLOM-ər-ət), the stress is on the same syllable.

Solution:

1. Break the word into syllables: con-glo-me-rate (4 syllables).
2. Check the dictionary pronunciation: /kənˈɡlɒmərət/ (noun/adjective) or /kənˈɡlɒməreɪt/ (verb).
3. The stress mark (ˈ) comes before glom, which is the second syllable "glo".
4. The first syllable "con" is a weak, unstressed syllable (/kən/), so option A is wrong.
5. The syllables "me" and "rate" are not stressed, so C and D are wrong. Even though "-rate" has a full vowel /eɪt/ in the verb, it carries only secondary stress at most.

So the stress pattern is: con-GLO-me-rate.

Correct answer: B. con-GLO-me-rate

Tip: Words that start with a weak prefix like con-, com-, de-, re- usually have the stress right after the prefix. Think of con-DUCT, com-PARE, con-GLOM-erate. For words ending in -ate with three or more syllables, count back: the stress usually falls on the third syllable from the end (CON-sol-i-date is an exception due to the prefix, but con-GLOM-er-ate and e-LAB-o-rate follow the pattern).