Podcasts Poems Pronunciation Poem

Introduction
Download the LearnEnglish stories and poems podcast. Youll find more information on this page:
http://www.britishcouncil.org/learnenglish-podcasts-stories-poems.htm
This support pack contains the following materials:
the poem that you can listen to in the podcast
a comprehension activity.
Read the poem
Pronunciation poem
Here is some pronunciation.
Ration never rhymes with nation,
Say prefer, but preferable,
Comfortable and vegetable.
B must not be heard in doubt,
Debt and dumb both leave it out.
In the words psychology,
Psychic, and psychiatry,
You must never sound the p.
Psychiatrist you call the man
Who cures the complex, if he can.
In architect, ch is k.
In arch it is the other way.
Please remember to say iron
So that it'll rhyme with lion.
Advertisers advertise,
Advertisements will put you wise.
Time when work is done is leisure,
Fill it up with useful pleasure.
Accidental, accident,
Sound the g in ignorant.
Relative, but relation,
Then say creature, but creation.
Say the a in gas quite short,
Bought remember rhymes with thwart,
Drought must always rhyme with bout,
In daughter leave the gh out.

Wear a boot upon your foot.

Root can never rhyme with soot.
In muscle, sc is s,
In muscular, it's sk, yes!
Choir must always rhyme with wire,
That again will rhyme with liar.
Then remember it's address.
With an accent like possess.
G in sign must silent be,
In signature, pronounce the g.
Please remember, say towards
Just as if it rhymed with boards.
Weight's like wait, but not like height.
Which should always rhyme with might.
Sew is just the same as so,
Tie a ribbon in a bow.
When You meet the queen you bow,
Which again must rhyme with how.
In perfect English make a start.
Learn this little rhyme by heart.

After you read

Exercise 1
Decide if each of the following 21 statements about the poem is True or False.
1. The word ration rhymes with the word nation.
2. The word ration rhymes with the word passion.
3. The letter b is not pronounced in the words doubt, debt, or dumb.
4. The letter p is pronounced in the word psychiatrist.
Page 1 of 2
The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.

Podcasts Poems Pronunciation Poem

5. In the word arch ch is pronounced k.
6. The word iron rhymes with lion.
7. The ei in the word leisure and the ea in the word pleasure are pronounced the same.
8. The letter g is not pronounced in the word ignorant.
9. The gh is the word daughter is pronounced.
10. The word foot rhymes with the word soot.
11. The word root rhymes with the word foot.
12. The sound of sc is the same in the words muscle and muscular.
13. The words liar, choir and wire all rhyme.
14. The g is pronounced in both sign and signature.
15. The words towards and boards rhyme.
16. The words weight and height rhyme.
17. The word which rhymes with the word might.
18. The word height rhymes with the word might.
19. The word sew rhymes with the word bow (as in "tie a bow").
20. The word sew rhymes with the word bow (as in "bow to the queen").
21. The word sew rhymes with the word how.

Answers
Exercise 1: 1. False (F); 2. True (T); 3. T; 4. F; 5. F; 6. T; 7. T; 8. F; 9. T; 10. T; 11. F; 12. F; 13. T; 14. F;
15. T; 16. F; 17. F; 18. T; 19. T; 20. F; 21. F

Page 2 of 2
The United Kingdoms international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We are registered in England as a charity.