In the following options lettered A to D, all the words except one have the same stress pattern. Identify the one with the different stress pattern.

Analyze the question: We need the word whose stress pattern differs from the others. Each word has two syllables, so the question is whether the stress falls on the first or second syllable.

Concept: Many two-syllable nouns and adjectives are stressed on the first syllable. Verbs with prefixes like a-, be-, re- are usually stressed on the second syllable.

Step-by-step solution:

• A. cleric /ˈklɛrɪk/ has stress on the 1st syllable: CLE-ric
• B. allow /əˈlaʊ/ has stress on the 2nd syllable: al-LOW
• C. classic /ˈklæsɪk/ has stress on the 1st syllable: CLAS-sic
• D. patridge is most likely a misspelling of partridge /ˈpɑːtrɪdʒ/. It has stress on the 1st syllable: PAR-tridge

Three words (cleric, classic, partridge) are stressed on the first syllable. Only allow is stressed on the second syllable.

Answer: B. allow

Tip: In stress questions, look for the odd one out. The schwa /ə/ in an unstressed first syllable (as in a-llow, a-bout, a-gree) is a strong sign that the stress falls on the second syllable. Words with a weak first syllable like this almost always have second-syllable stress.