calculation — choose the one that has the correct stress

Analyze the question: You are asked to pick the syllable of "calculation" that carries the main (primary) stress. The word has four syllables: cal-cu-la-tion.

Explain the concept: In English, words ending in -tion (also -sion, -cian, -ic, -ity) usually take the primary stress on the syllable just before the suffix. Examples:

• eduCAtion
• inforMAtion
• proNUNciation
• communiCAtion

The suffix "-tion" itself is never stressed in these words.

Solution:

1. Break the word into syllables: cal | cu | la | tion
2. Identify the suffix: -tion (the last syllable)
3. Stress falls on the syllable right before it: la
4. So the word is pronounced: cal-cu-LA-tion

Checking the options:

• A. CAL-cu-la-tion: stress on the first syllable. Wrong. (This pattern fits "calculator" in some pronunciations, not "calculation".)
• B. cal-CU-la-tion: wrong. (This pattern fits "calculate" with stress on CAL, not CU.)
• C. cal-cu-LA-tion: correct.
• D. cal-cu-la-TION: wrong, since -tion is never stressed here.

Tip: For words ending in -tion, count back one syllable from the end and stress that one. Use this for calculation, education, examination, and many others. It works in most WASSCE, NECO and JAMB stress questions.