Listen to the first sound.

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@media(max-width:760px){main{padding:24px}.split{grid-template-columns:1fr;gap:20px}h1{font-size:31px}}@media(max-width:480px){main{padding:18px 16px}h1{font-size:28px}.panel{padding:16px}header{margin-bottom:18px}table.responsive,table.responsive tbody,table.responsive tr,table.responsive td{display:block;width:100%}table.responsive thead{display:none}table.responsive tr{border-bottom:1px solid #aebec2;padding:10px 0}table.responsive td{border:0;padding:4px 0}td .mobile-label{display:inline;font-weight:650}fieldset{padding:14px}.toolbar button{flex:1 1 auto}}@media print{body{background:white}main{max-width:none;padding:0}button{color:black!important;background:white!important}.panel{break-inside:avoid}footer{margin-top:18px}}
.practice-grid{display:grid;grid-template-columns:1fr 1fr;gap:0 20px}.practice-grid fieldset{background:#fff}.practice-grid legend{font-size:18px}.practice-grid details p{font-size:14px}@media(max-width:620px){.practice-grid{grid-template-columns:1fr}}</style></head><body><main><header><p class="eyebrow">A / An · Six original practice phrases</p><h1>Listen to the first sound.</h1><p class="lede">Choose an article before each phrase. A vowel letter alone does not decide the answer. Say the phrases aloud yourself.</p></header>
<div class="callout"><b>Sound rule</b><p>Use <b>a</b> before a consonant sound and <b>an</b> before a vowel sound in the next spoken word.</p></div><div class="practice-grid"><fieldset><legend>1. ___ useful guide</legend><div><label class="choice"><input type="radio" name="article-0" value="a">a</label><label class="choice"><input type="radio" name="article-0" value="an">an</label></div><button data-check="0" aria-controls="feedback-0">Check phrase</button><details id="hint-0"><summary>First-sound hint</summary><p>“Useful” starts with the consonant sound at the beginning of “you.”</p></details><p id="feedback-0" class="feedback" role="status" data-state="unanswered">Not answered</p></fieldset><fieldset><legend>2. ___ unusual route</legend><div><label class="choice"><input type="radio" name="article-1" value="a">a</label><label class="choice"><input type="radio" name="article-1" value="an">an</label></div><button data-check="1" aria-controls="feedback-1">Check phrase</button><details id="hint-1"><summary>First-sound hint</summary><p>“Unusual” starts with a vowel sound, unlike “useful.”</p></details><p id="feedback-1" class="feedback" role="status" data-state="unanswered">Not answered</p></fieldset><fieldset><legend>3. ___ one-time event</legend><div><label class="choice"><input type="radio" name="article-2" value="a">a</label><label class="choice"><input type="radio" name="article-2" value="an">an</label></div><button data-check="2" aria-controls="feedback-2">Check phrase</button><details id="hint-2"><summary>First-sound hint</summary><p>“One” starts with the consonant sound at the beginning of “won.”</p></details><p id="feedback-2" class="feedback" role="status" data-state="unanswered">Not answered</p></fieldset><fieldset><legend>4. ___ honest answer</legend><div><label class="choice"><input type="radio" name="article-3" value="a">a</label><label class="choice"><input type="radio" name="article-3" value="an">an</label></div><button data-check="3" aria-controls="feedback-3">Check phrase</button><details id="hint-3"><summary>First-sound hint</summary><p>The h is silent; the first spoken sound is a vowel.</p></details><p id="feedback-3" class="feedback" role="status" data-state="unanswered">Not answered</p></fieldset><fieldset><legend>5. ___ helpful note</legend><div><label class="choice"><input type="radio" name="article-4" value="a">a</label><label class="choice"><input type="radio" name="article-4" value="an">an</label></div><button data-check="4" aria-controls="feedback-4">Check phrase</button><details id="hint-4"><summary>First-sound hint</summary><p>The h is pronounced in “helpful.”</p></details><p id="feedback-4" class="feedback" role="status" data-state="unanswered">Not answered</p></fieldset><fieldset><legend>6. ___ empty box</legend><div><label class="choice"><input type="radio" name="article-5" value="a">a</label><label class="choice"><input type="radio" name="article-5" value="an">an</label></div><button data-check="5" aria-controls="feedback-5">Check phrase</button><details id="hint-5"><summary>First-sound hint</summary><p>“Empty,” the next word after the article, starts with a vowel sound.</p></details><p id="feedback-5" class="feedback" role="status" data-state="unanswered">Not answered</p></fieldset></div><div class="toolbar"><button class="primary" id="check-all">Check all six</button><button id="reset">Reset practice</button></div><p id="practice-status" role="status" class="small">0 of 6 phrases checked.</p><section class="section"><label for="reason"><b>Explain the contrast:</b> Why do “useful” and “unusual” take different articles even though both begin with u?</label><textarea id="reason" placeholder="Write your reason here; discuss it with your teacher."></textarea><p class="small">The explanation is for your discussion, not automatic grading. No audio or pronunciation evaluation is provided.</p></section><footer>Original illustrative example · Local controls only. Changes are temporary and clear when this page is reloaded. Keep actual records in your approved source tools.</footer></main><script>const $=s=>document.querySelector(s);const $$=s=>Array.from(document.querySelectorAll(s));function pressed(attr,i){$$('[data-'+attr+']').forEach(b=>b.setAttribute('aria-pressed',String(Number(b.dataset[attr])===i)));}

const articles=[["useful guide","a","“Useful” starts with the consonant sound at the beginning of “you.”"],["unusual route","an","“Unusual” starts with a vowel sound, unlike “useful.”"],["one-time event","a","“One” starts with the consonant sound at the beginning of “won.”"],["honest answer","an","The h is silent; the first spoken sound is a vowel."],["helpful note","a","The h is pronounced in “helpful.”"],["empty box","an","“Empty,” the next word after the article, starts with a vowel sound."]];const checked=new Set();function report(){$('#practice-status').textContent=checked.size+' of 6 phrases checked.';}function check(i){const chosen=$('input[name="article-'+i+'"]:checked'),out=$('#feedback-'+i);if(!chosen){out.textContent='Not answered — choose a or an before checking.';out.dataset.state='unanswered';checked.delete(i);}else{const correct=chosen.value===articles[i][1];out.textContent=(correct?'Correct: ':'Try again: ')+articles[i][1]+' '+articles[i][0]+'. '+articles[i][2];out.dataset.state=correct?'correct':'incorrect';checked.add(i);}report();}
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