PRESENTATION SKILL: Supporting Opinions

LEARN

In class, you will often be asked to present your opinion on a discussion topic. Giving only your
opinion, however, is often not enough. Supporting your opinion with facts and statistics will
make your opinion stronger.

Opinion: Dubai is the most important center for shipping in the Middle East.

Support: • Fact: Many Chinese companies have moved to Dubai to trade with the Middle East.

• Fact: Cargo from Dubai goes to Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha, and Abu Dhabi.

• Statistic: 850 countries do business at the port in Dubai. A fact is information that you
can prove. A statistic is a number that shows a fact.

Link video

https://youtu.be/3WrZMzqpFTc

PRONUNCIATION SKILL: Stress in Numbers

LEARN

A. See the chart below for examples of typical stress in numbers. The stressed syllable or
word is in pink. Go online to listen.

Number Stress

Number ending in -teen Thir • teen

Multiples of ten Thir • ty

Compound numbers For • ty • eight

Hundreds Five • hun • dred

Thousands Ten • thou • sand

Millions Eight • mil • lion

 Zero Ze • ro

Fractions Two • thirds

PRONUNCIATION TIPS

1. Stress the last number in a compound number: 2,458

2. The number zero can also be pronounced like the letter o such as "Please turn to
page 105 (one-oh-five)."

3. Twenty is often pronounced as "twenny."

B. In phrases, numbers may be stressed differently. See the chart below for some
of these differences. The stressed syllable or word in each chunk is in pink. Go
online to listen.

Number Stress

Compound numbers in hundreds and Two • hun • dred • and • two

thousands (add “and”)
A • hun • dred • and • se • ven • ty • four

Percents Eight • per • cent

Numbers as adjectives Forty million passengers

Years 2005 (tow thousand five)

C. Shifting stress is when a word's stressed syllable changes based on how it is

used in the sentence. See the chart below for examples of shifting stress in numbers
ending in-teen. Go online to listen.

Stress on first syllable Stress on second syllable

When counting: thirteen, fourteen, When the number is at the end of a chunk:
fifteen, ect She's thirteen.
When numbers come before a noun:
thirteen years

To show contrast: She’s thirteen, not

fourteen!