Question

Задача 1. Pronunciation trouble

“Dearest creature in creation,
Study English pronunciation.
I will teach you in my verse
Sounds like corpse, corps, horse, and worse.
I will keep you, Suzy, busy,
Make your head with heat grow dizzy.
Tear in eye, your dress will tear.
So shall I! Oh hear my prayer.”
It’s a famous poem about difficulties in English spelling and pronunciation.
You know that some words have the same spelling but different pronunciation and meaning just like the words ‘tear’ and ‘tear’ in the verse. In the following sentences find the words that can have more than one pronunciation and meaning.
Write them out.
1) Do people still have to bow to the Queen?
2) Lead is a chemical element that is a soft heavy grey metal.
3) Our lawyer went over the contract in minute detail.

Answer 1

bow [baʊ] кланяться, поклониться, поклон
bow [bəʋ] лук, бант

to lead [li:d] руководить, управлять
lead  [led] свинец, свинцовый

minute [ˈmɪnɪt]  минута, момент
minute [maɪ’nu:t] мелкий, мельчайший