WAEC 2017 English Language · Question 110

In the following question, the main/primary stress is indicated by writing the sylable on which it occurs in…

Question

In the following question, the main/primary stress is indicated by writing the sylable on which it occurs in capital letters. From the words lettered A to D, choose the one that has the correct stress. institution

A.IN-sti-tu-tion
B.in-STI-tu-tion
C.in-sti-TU-tion
D.in-sti-tu-TION

Answer: C. in-sti-TU-tion

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: You are asked to pick the syllable that carries the main stress in the word "institution".

Concept: In English, words ending in -tion (such as -ation, -ution, -ition) usually have the main stress on the syllable just before the "-tion" suffix. The "-tion" syllable itself is never stressed.

Examples:

ed-u-CA-tion
pol-LU-tion
so-LU-tion
con-sti-TU-tion

Solution:

Break the word into syllables: in-sti-tu-tion (4 syllables).
Identify the suffix: -tion (the last syllable).
Apply the rule: stress falls on the syllable before -tion, which is tu.
The correct stress pattern is therefore: in-sti-TU-tion.

Check the options:

A. IN-sti-tu-tion: stress on the first syllable. Wrong.
B. in-STI-tu-tion: stress on the second syllable. Wrong.
C. in-sti-TU-tion: stress on the syllable before -tion. Correct.
D. in-sti-tu-TION: stress on the suffix. Wrong.

Tip: For any word ending in -tion, -sion, -cian, -tial, put the stress on the syllable immediately before the ending. Compare "constitution" (con-sti-TU-tion) and "institution" (in-sti-TU-tion), which follow the same pattern.

AI can make mistakes. Report anything that looks wrong.