Identify the syllable that receives primary stress in the four-syllable noun 'education':

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. the penultimate syllable, pronounced as e-du-CA-tion

  1. Step 1: Suffix stress rule: Words ending in the suffix '-tion' or '-sion' place primary stress on the penultimate syllable (the syllable immediately preceding the suffix). Step 2. In 'e-du-ca-tion', the penultimate syllable is 'CA'. Answer: e-du-CA-tion. Why not the others: First, second, and fourth syllables do not carry primary lexical stress.

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