Cardinal Richelieu was shrewd and powerful and had enormous influence upon the King of France. - Shrewd and powerful Cardinal Richelieu had enormous influence upon the King of France. | Lesson 4 Section 1. Spelling Silent Consonants A. 1. The consonant b is silent a in -bt before t debt doubt subtle b in -mb after m limb lamb climb dumb crumb thumb tomb comb. N o t e However b is always pronounced in its medial position in such words as timber number amber etc. 2. The consonant c is silent a in - sc - before e i y initially scene scientist scissors scythe medially descend discipline fascinate finally acquiesce reminisce b in -scl- in a few words muscle corpuscle c before t in a few words and also in some names of English counties Connecticut Gloucester Leicester d in acqu- from Lat. prefix ad- qu- acquaint acquire acquit e in exce- exci- from Lat. prefix ex- qu- excellent except excite f in four loans from Russian czar czarevna czarina czarevitch. 3. The letter-combination ch is silent in a few words yacht fuchsia. 4. The letter g is silent a initially in gn- gnat gnaw gnash gnarl gnome b finally in -gm - ign paradigm sovereign resign feign design c medially in the words champagne signor a chignon cognac. N o t e However in some derivatives g is always audible in its medial position malignant resignation signal etc. Exercise 1. Insert the appropriate word with silent b c or g from the above lists. 1. The building was of a modern . but inside it was panelled with carved oak. 2. The only way to deceive him is to . a heart attack and ask him to call for an ambulance. 3. At the station they saw no one . porters and a villager or two unknown to them. 4. His fingers are all . . 5 Give me a . and . and I ll make of you the most stylish woman in St. Beam. 6. He was certain of seeing unique and astonishing . . 7. I owe him a . of gratitude for the numberless 31 favours he has done me. 8. All the . and uncertainty made her feel miserable and unhappy. 9. The boy was . from birth but didn t suffer because of it as he never realized what he lacked. 10. John was . by the hypnotic atmosphere. 11. Bread . were always scattered under the kitchen window and birds .
