A mouthful of English

Exams such as Cambridge PET require candidates to describe a picture in the Speaking Paper. Here's some advice on how to practise for this.

Can you distinguish the words desert and dessert clearly when you say them? Which one is food? Which one refers to an area of land? Part of the secret is stressing the correct syllable. A de sert – stressed on the first syllable – is a desolate area of land with little or no vegetation. A de ssert – stressed on the second syllable – is a sweet course eaten at the end of a meal. To practise, use both words in the same sentence: Ice cream is the perfect dessert for the desert!