melancholy — choose the one that has the correct stress

Analyze the question: You are asked to pick the option that shows the correct stress pattern (the syllable pronounced with the most force) in the word melancholy.

Explain the concept: In English, stress falls on a particular syllable in a word. Many three- and four-syllable words ending in -y (like category, memory, melody) put the main stress on the first syllable. Stress also tends to avoid the final "-y" ending, which is weak.

Step-by-step solution:

1. Break the word into syllables: mel – an – chol – y (4 syllables).
2. Check the dictionary pronunciation: /ˈmelənkəli/, where the stress mark (ˈ) comes before the first syllable "mel".
3. Test the options: • A. MEL-an-chol-y: stress on the first syllable ✔ • B. mel-AN-chol-y: the second syllable is a weak vowel (/ə/), so it cannot carry stress ✘ • C. mel-an-CHOL-y: the third syllable is also weak (/kə/) ✘ • D. mel-an-chol-Y: the final -y is never stressed here ✘

Answer: A. MEL-an-chol-y

Tip: Compare melancholy with similar words such as MEL-o-dy, MEM-o-ry, and CEM-e-ter-y. Words ending in unstressed "-y" with a pattern of consonant + weak vowel usually keep the stress at the beginning. Also, the "an" and "chol" syllables contain the weak vowel /ə/, and weak vowels almost never take primary stress.