Identify the one with the different stress pattern

Analyze the question: We need the word whose stress falls on a different syllable from the others. All four are two-syllable words, so the question is whether the stress falls on the first or the second syllable.

Concept: In English, many two-syllable verbs take stress on the second syllable (re-DUCE, pro-LONG, re-MOVE). Many two-syllable nouns take stress on the first syllable (PUR-pose).

Step-by-step solution:

• A. reduce is stressed on the second syllable: /rɪˈdjuːs/ (re-DUCE)
• B. prolong is stressed on the second syllable: /prəˈlɒŋ/ (pro-LONG)
• C. remove is stressed on the second syllable: /rɪˈmuːv/ (re-MOVE)
• D. purpose is stressed on the first syllable: /ˈpɜːpəs/ (PUR-pose)

Three of the words (reduce, prolong, remove) have second-syllable stress, while purpose has first-syllable stress. So purpose is the odd one out.

Answer: D. purpose.

Tip: Words beginning with the prefixes re-, pro-, de-, con- and similar are usually verbs with stress on the second syllable (reduce, remove, prolong, protect, decide). If one word in the list does not start with such a prefix, it often has a different stress pattern. Practise saying each word aloud and tapping on the stressed syllable.