Silent Letters English Exercises: Level B1-B2 (with Answers)

⏱ Time: 07:30 📝 Questions: 15 📊 Level: B1, B2 📚 Type: General English ⭐ XP: up to +16 (on pass)

How well do you really know Silent Letters? Find out with 15 exercises designed for B1-B2 learners. Instant scoring shows exactly where you stand, and detailed explanations turn every mistake into a learning moment. Retake any time to measure your improvement.

⏱ You have 07:30 to answer 15 questions. The timer only starts when you click Begin.

Q1  15
Q1 15

Question 1: The word 'kneel' is pronounced /niːl/, with the first letter unpronounced. What is this an example of in English spelling?

Question 1 options
A silent letter is a letter present in the spelling of a word that does not correspond to any sound in the word's pronunciation. The 'k' in 'kneel' is written but not spoken, making it a silent letter.
Q2 15

Question 2: She hurt her ___ while climbing over the fence.

Question 2 options
The correct spelling is 'knee,' where the 'k' is a silent letter before 'n' at the beginning of the word. 'Nee' is not the standard spelling of the body part. 'Knea' and 'kne' are misspellings.
Q3 15

Question 3: In English, the letter 'k' is always silent when it appears before the letter 'n' at the beginning of a word, as in 'knock' and 'knit.'

Question 3 options
This is true. When 'k' precedes 'n' at the start of an English word, the 'k' is always silent. This applies to words like 'knock,' 'knit,' 'knife,' 'knight,' and 'knowledge.'
Q4 15

Question 4: Which sentence contains the correct spelling of a word with a silent letter?

Question 4 options
The word 'doubt' is correctly spelled with a silent 'b.' The other options contain errors: 'nuckle' should be 'knuckle' (silent k), 'rythm' should be 'rhythm' (silent h), and 'colum' should be 'column' (silent n).
Q5 15

Question 5: Match each silent letter pattern (left) to a word that demonstrates it (right).

Question 5 options
Silent 'b' after 'm'
Silent 'k' before 'n'
Silent 'w' before 'r'
Silent 'l' before consonant
salmon
thumb
wrist
knight

Select an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.

Silent 'b' appears after 'm' in 'thumb'; silent 'k' appears before 'n' in 'knight'; silent 'w' appears before 'r' in 'wrist'; silent 'l' appears in 'salmon.'
Q6 15

Question 6: Which sentence contains a spelling error related to a silent letter?

Question 6 options
The word 'gost' is a spelling error; the correct spelling is 'ghost,' which contains a silent 'h.' The other sentences correctly spell words with silent letters: 'honest' (silent h), 'comb' (silent b), and 'autumn' (silent n).
Q7 15

Question 7: The ___ fixed the broken pipe in less than an hour.

Question 7 options
The correct spelling is 'plumber,' which contains a silent 'b.' 'Plumer' omits the silent 'b' entirely. 'Plummer' adds an incorrect extra 'm.' 'Plumper' is a different word meaning something fuller or rounder.
Q8 15

Question 8: The following sentence contains a spelling error: 'She used a sharp nife to cut the bread.' Which option correctly fixes the error?

Question 8 options
The word 'nife' is missing the silent 'k' that belongs at the beginning. The correct spelling is 'knife,' where the 'k' is silent before 'n.' The other options introduce additional errors: 'knive' is not the singular form, and 'kniefe' adds an unnecessary extra 'e.'
Q9 15

Question 9: Arrange the parts in the correct order to form a properly structured sentence about a word with a silent letter:

Question 9 options

Drag items or use arrows to arrange them in the correct order.

Q10 15

Question 10: You are writing a formal report and need to describe the appearance of a building. Which sentence uses correct spelling of words that contain silent letters?

Question 10 options
The correct option uses 'architecture' (where the 'ch' digraph is pronounced /k/, with no silent letter) and 'columns' (silent 'n') with proper spelling. The other options contain errors: 'arcitecture' omits the silent 'h,' 'colums' drops the silent 'n,' and 'rythmic' misspells 'rhythmic' by omitting the silent 'h.'
Q11 15

Question 11: Which statement correctly explains the difference between the silent 'e' at the end of a word and a silent 'b' at the end of a word?

Question 11 options
A silent 'e' at the end of a word (like 'cake') changes the preceding vowel from short to long, serving a clear pronunciation function. A silent 'b' after 'm' (like 'lamb') is a historical remnant that does not change the pronunciation of other letters in the word.
Q12 15

Question 12: You are writing an academic essay and want to describe someone's inner awareness. Which sentence uses the most appropriate register and correct spelling?

Question 12 options
The word 'conscience' contains a silent 'c' (the second 'c' in the 'sc' cluster) and is spelled correctly in this option. The formal register ('one's moral conscience') suits an academic essay. 'Conscence' and 'consience' are common misspellings, and 'that gut feeling' is too informal for academic writing.
Q13 15

Question 13: Every silent letter in English is simply a leftover from older pronunciation and serves no purpose in modern spelling.

Question 13 options
This is false. While many silent letters are historical remnants, some still serve a purpose. For example, the silent 'e' at the end of words like 'hope' signals that the preceding vowel is long, and the silent 'w' in 'write' helps distinguish it from the homophone 'right.'
Q14 15

Question 14: In the sentence 'The knight rode through the castle gates,' why does the word 'knight' retain the silent 'k' in its spelling?

Question 14 options
The silent 'k' in 'knight' is preserved because English spelling often reflects the historical pronunciation of words. In Old English, the 'k' was actually pronounced. Additionally, keeping the 'k' helps distinguish 'knight' from the homophone 'night' in written text.
Q15 15

Question 15: The following sentence sounds awkward: 'He had a det that he needed to pay.' Which is the best improved version?

Question 15 options
The word 'det' is a common misspelling of 'debt,' which contains a silent 'b.' The best improvement corrects the spelling to 'debt.' The other options either keep the misspelling or introduce new errors like 'deppt' or change the word entirely to 'debit,' which has a different meaning.