Rhythm and Rhythmic Groups

To acquire correct reading habits it is advisable to attach the unstressed syllables to the preceding stressed word rather than to the following one.

Task 1.

John’s away on business.

Thank you for the letter.

What a delightful surprise.

Somebody called when you were out.

Will it be a nuisance if I leave it here?

They went for a walk in the park.

I’m going to the theatre to night.

I sent them a photo of the children.

You can get there by bus from Liverpool Street.

I think it would be better to wait till to morrow.

Perhaps we might go to the theatre together for once.

I don’t think they will have come back from their trip to Paris by then.

I would have tried to see his point of view.

Task 2.

As we felt hot and dusty after our trip we bathed and rested a while. By that time it was five thirty,  and we decided to stroll down to the dining-room and see what was on the menu for dinner. We decided not to eat until six o’clock. So since there was half an hour to kill we went into the lounge to watch the television for a while.

Task 3.

A bad tempered dog one day found his way into a manger,  and found it ↑so nice and comfortable  that he made up his mind to stop there. When ever the cattle came near to eat their hay  he growled and barked at them to frighten them off. “What a very selfish dog,” exclaimed one of the oxen. “He can’t eat the hay himself  and he won’t let us eat  who can.

Scales and Terminal Tones

Practice reading these sentences.

1. Thats good. Thats good. That’s good. That’s good?

Don’tleave. Don’t leave. Don’t leave. Don’t leave?

Ask John. Ask John. Ask John. Ask John?

Not now. Not now. Not now. Not now?

Who’s that? Who’s that? Who’s that? Who’s that?

Why not? Why not? Why not? Why not?

What for? What for? What for? What for?

How strange. How strange How strange. How strange?

Next week. Next week. Next week. Next week?

Come here. Come here. Come here. Come here?

2. Who did you go with?

Who did you go with?

Who did you go with?

Who did you go with?

3. I think you’d better ask the others.

I think you’d better ask the others.

I think you’d better ask the others.

You think I’d better ask the others?

4. I’ll finish it now.

I’ll finish it now.

I’ll finish it now.

You’ll finish it now?

5. You can easily catch the last train.

You can easily catch the last train.

You can easily catch the last train.

You can easily catch the last train?

6. Does she know the way?

Does she know the way?

Does she know the way?

Does she know the way?

7. It’s always better to wait.

It’s always better to wait.

It’s always better to wait.

It’s always better to wait?

8. How long do you want to keep it?

How long do you want to keep it?

How long do you want to keep it?

How long do I want to keep it?

9. Nobody told me what to do about it.

Nobody told me what to do about it.

Nobody told me what to do about it.

Nobody told me what to do about it?

10. John told me not to come.

John told me not to come.

John told me not to come.

John told me not to come?

11. Henry said he’d wait for us at home.

Henry said he’d wait for us at home.

Henry said he’d wait for us at home.

Henry said he’d wait for us at home?

12. Why does he refuse to listen?

Why does he refuse to listen?

Why does he refuse to listen?

Why does he refuse to listen?

13. Who’s going to support him?

Who’s going to support him?

Who’s going to support him?

Who’s going to support him?

14. I don’t think I’IIfollow your advice.

I’m afraid I’ve made a mistake.

Don’t take it too much to heart.

Why don’t I write to the secretary?

Could anything have been simpler than that?

Are you travelling on your own?

My message didn’t reach him in time?

I don’t believe it’s possible.

It doesn’t matter, dear.

I thought it was going to rain.

It’s much too late to have any regrets now.

When did I see him?

From which station?

You saw him when?

What time do you want me?

I saw him a few moments ago.