Choose the most appropriate stress pattern from the options below. The stressed syllables are written in capital letters.
productivity
Answer Details
The word "productivity" consists of five syllables: pro-duc-tiv-i-ty. To determine the correct stress pattern, it is essential to understand where the emphasis naturally falls in standard English pronunciation.
The most appropriate stress pattern for "productivity" is producTIvity. In English, multi-syllable words commonly have one syllable that is emphasized more than the others. For "productivity," the stress falls on the third syllable "TIv". This is because "productivity" follows a common stress pattern in English where the emphasis is placed on the antepenultimate syllable (the third syllable from the end) in words with more than three syllables.
Therefore, the correct stress pattern for "productivity" emphasizes the third syllable, making it producTIvity.