Speaking Prompts
Read the prompt, listen to the audio, then record your voice. Focus on PIE — pronunciation, intonation, and expression — to clearly show the meaning of similar-sounding or same-looking words.
Contract vs Contract
He read the contract twice before signing it, even as his muscles started to contract from stress. After he signed the contract, he worried he might contract the flu from the handshake.
PIE SPEAK: Contract - Same spelling, different sound and meaning.
Pronunciation
a paper agreement = CON-trakt (noun)
to catch or get sick = kun-TRAKT (verb)
Intonation Practice
He signed the CON-trakt.
Muscles kun-TRAKT under pressure.
Read the CON-trakt carefully.
Don’t let the flu kun-TRAKT you.
Expression Tip
If you’re signing something, say CON-trakt. If it’s shrinking or catching something, it’s kun-TRAKT.