Upper Primary English Quizzes on Pronunciation of the Letter K

Upper Primary School English Quiz - Pronunciations 05 - The Letter K (Questions)

The letter K is the eleventh letter of the English alphabet and is a consonant with a particularly harsh sound. Perhaps, it is the least complicated of all letters in the sense that its pronunciation is straightforward and uncomplicated. It has only one sound with a little bit of variation on stress when used in particular words - the K sound, is as it appears in the words KING, BOOK, CAKE and TAKER.

By and large the sanctity of the K sound is maintained in all words where the K letter features. Normally, it is also the dominant sound when used with other letters. For instance, in BACK, ASK, TINKLE and CASKET.

The letter K holds itself even with letters such as H or N as the words KHAKI and SHANK prove.

[readmore]The letter K has one significant contribution to the English language. It lends its sound to the letter C and to the combination of letters CH. When used with the letter C (as in SACK) the K sound is the dominant sound and the C is silent. Words such as CUT, ACORN and ATTIC do not have the K letter but use the K sound.

The only letter which dominates the letter K is the letter N. When it is placed before K, in words such as KNEE, KNOW, KNIT and KNOT, the K simply falls silent.

Play this quiz and check your knowledge of the letter K.

Choose the group in which each word contains the K sound.

[ ]	king, cope, cover, baker
[ ]	knee, know, knit, knot
[ ]	cede, city, cellar, cite
[ ]	rancid, acetate, cyber, acidity

Choose the group in which no words contain the K sound.

[ ]	kettle, dislike, kayak
[ ]	naked, napkin, shaky
[ ]	mankind, market, monkey
[ ]	descent, science, knowledge

Choose the group in which each word contains the K sound.

[ ]	knowhow, cipher, cyst, lunacy
[ ]	prank, cater, darkness, cajole
[ ]	knife, space, audience, balance
[ ]	piece, peace, kneel, penknife

Choose the group in which no words contain the K sound.

[ ]	ankle, bark, earmark, shackle
[ ]	hulk, ink, jack, creak
[ ]	knob, cease, known, civet
[ ]	keynote, leak, mistake, milk

Choose the group in which each word contains the K sound.

[ ]	excess, knaves, scene, obscene
[ ]	chancy, captaincy, knight, infancy
[ ]	knead, sufficient, pharmacy, policy
[ ]	cucumber, donkey, curse, killer

How many K sounds can you find in the sentence - 'My pride took a knock as the teacher rapped me on the knuckles'?

[ ]	Three
[ ]	Four
[ ]	Two
[ ]	One

How many K sounds can you find in the sentence - 'I cursed myself for taking my cute niece on the bus from the First Block bus stop near my house'? Don't forget that C is often pronounced with the K sound!

[ ]	Two
[ ]	Three
[ ]	Four
[ ]	One

How many K sounds can you find in the sentence - 'The words cradle, crutches, clear, cycle, knead, knockout and kickback are difficult words to pronounce'? Don't forget the Cs!

[ ]	Eight
[ ]	Nine
[ ]	Five
[ ]	Seven

Choose the sentence about the letter K which is false.

[ ]	The word 'keepsake' has two K sounds.
[ ]	The word knowledgeable has no K sound.
[ ]	The word 'knuckle' has only one K sound.
[ ]	The word 'kick' has only one K sound.

10.

How many K sounds can you find in the sentence - 'When the lights came on the thief was taken aback and, in a kneejerk reaction, knocked down the ancient musket'.

[ ]	Five
[ ]	Six
[ ]	Seven
[ ]	Four

Upper Primary School English Quiz - Pronunciations 05 - The Letter K (Answers)

Choose the group in which each word contains the K sound.

[x]	king, cope, cover, baker
[ ]	knee, know, knit, knot
[ ]	cede, city, cellar, cite
[ ]	rancid, acetate, cyber, acidity

K lends its sound to many words where C is followed by O. In answer 2 all the words have a silent K. The Cs in answers 3 and 4 don't use the K sound but the S sound instead

Choose the group in which no words contain the K sound.

[ ]	kettle, dislike, kayak
[ ]	naked, napkin, shaky
[ ]	mankind, market, monkey
[x]	descent, science, knowledge

The K is silent in 'knowledge'. Note that words such as 'mascot' and 'rascal' borrow the K sound. The words in the other options use the normal K sound

Choose the group in which each word contains the K sound.

[ ]	knowhow, cipher, cyst, lunacy
[x]	prank, cater, darkness, cajole
[ ]	knife, space, audience, balance
[ ]	piece, peace, kneel, penknife

K lends its sound to many words where C is followed by A. The words in the other options have a silent K in them or a C which is pronounced with the S sound

Choose the group in which no words contain the K sound.

[ ]	ankle, bark, earmark, shackle
[ ]	hulk, ink, jack, creak
[x]	knob, cease, known, civet
[ ]	keynote, leak, mistake, milk

The K is silent in 'knob' and 'known'. The words in the other answers with a letter C in them are pronounced with the S sound and the words in other options with a letter K use the normal K sound

Choose the group in which each word contains the K sound.

[ ]	excess, knaves, scene, obscene
[ ]	chancy, captaincy, knight, infancy
[ ]	knead, sufficient, pharmacy, policy
[x]	cucumber, donkey, curse, killer

K lends its sound to many words where C is followed by U. The words in the other options have either a silent K in them a C pronounced with the S sound

How many K sounds can you find in the sentence - 'My pride took a knock as the teacher rapped me on the knuckles'?

[x]	Three
[ ]	Four
[ ]	Two
[ ]	One

Remember that in 'knock' and 'knuckles' the first K is silent as it comes before an N

[ ]	Two
[ ]	Three
[x]	Four
[ ]	One

Remember that 'cute' and 'cursed' are words with U following C and in such words the K sound is used

How many K sounds can you find in the sentence - 'The words cradle, crutches, clear, cycle, knead, knockout and kickback are difficult words to pronounce'? Don't forget the Cs!

[ ]	Eight
[x]	Nine
[ ]	Five
[ ]	Seven

Remember K is silent in 'knead' and at the beginning of 'knockout'. Also, note that K lends its sound to many words where C is followed by a consonant or the letter U

Choose the sentence about the letter K which is false.

[ ]	The word 'keepsake' has two K sounds.
[ ]	The word knowledgeable has no K sound.
[ ]	The word 'knuckle' has only one K sound.
[x]	The word 'kick' has only one K sound.

In 'kick' both the K sounds are used

10.

How many K sounds can you find in the sentence - 'When the lights came on the thief was taken aback and, in a kneejerk reaction, knocked down the ancient musket'.

[x]	Five
[ ]	Six
[ ]	Seven
[ ]	Four

Remember that the first K is silent both in 'kneejerk' and 'knocked' as it is followed by a letter N