For the question, choose the most appropriate stress pattern from the options. The stressed syllables are written in capital letters. convalescent

Assessment: JAMB UTME - Use of English - 2025 Subject: English Language

Question 1 Report

For the question, choose the most appropriate stress pattern from the options. The stressed syllables are written in capital letters.

convalescent

Answer Details

The word convalescent has four syllables: con-va-LES-cent. The primary stress falls on the third syllable: /ˌkɒnvəˈlesənt/.

This word derives from the Latin convalescere ("to grow strong"). In English, the stress pattern places the primary accent on "-LES-," which is the syllable that is spoken most prominently. The first syllable "con-" carries a secondary (weaker) stress, while "-va-" and "-cent" are unstressed.

Stressing the first syllable (CONvalescent), the second (conVAlescent), or the fourth (convaleSCENT) would produce incorrect pronunciations that do not match standard English usage.

The correct stress pattern is convaLEscent.

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