brutality — choose the one that has the correct stress

Analyze the question: The word is brutality (/bruːˈtæləti/). We need to find where the primary stress falls.

Concept: In English, words ending in -ity usually take the primary stress on the syllable immediately before the suffix. This is a common rule for words ending in -ity, -ic, -ion, -ical and so on, where stress falls on the penultimate syllable of the base.

Examples:

• ab-NOR-mal-i-ty → abnorMALity
• ne-CES-si-ty → neCESsity
• ca-PAC-i-ty → caPACity

Solution:

1. Break the word into syllables: bru - tal - i - ty (4 syllables).
2. The suffix is -ity, so stress goes on the syllable just before it: tal.
3. The stressed syllable is the second one: bru-TAL-i-ty.
4. Check the options: • A. BRU-tal-ity: stress on the first syllable ✗ • B. bru-TAL-i-ty: stress on the second syllable ✓ • C. bru-tal-I-ty: stress on the third syllable ✗ • D. bru-tal-i-ty: no stress marked ✗

Answer: B. bru-TAL-i-ty

Tip: For any word ending in -ity, find the "ity" and stress the syllable right before it. This works for ability, activity, majority, brutality, personality and more. Remember: "Before -ity, the stress goes."