Ielts speaking--how to improve your bandscore

What are some peculiar features of English sounds?
Certain sounds change when they are paired with another sound. One obvious
example is /s/. This can be pronounced in two different ways: /s/ and /z/.
It is pronounced /z/ when se comes after a vowel, just like the case of lose, use,
and cause.

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When s is preceded by a voiced sound, it is read as /z/. These are the sounds that
create a vibration in your vocal cords as you produce them. Like /r/, /g/, /d/, /b/,
/th/ (then), /v/, /l/, /z/, and /j/. Take for example eggs, beds, and dollars.
For the past tense of the regular verbs with infinitive forms that end in voiceless
sounds like /p/, /k/, /s/, /ch/, /sh/, /f/, /x/, /h/, ed is pronounced as /t/. Examples
are asked, baked, brushed, cooked, cracked, and crashed.
For infinitive verbs that end in voiced consonant sounds like /l/, /v/, /n/, /m/, /r/,
/b/, /g/, /w/, /y/, and /z/ and vowels, the ed in the past form is read as /d/.
Examples are the following:
agreed
allowed
answered
appeared
arrived
believe
belonged
burned
called
For verbs whose base forms end in /t/ or /d/, the ed is pronounced as id, such as
in wanted or decided.
Activity A
Look up the following words and write the transcription for each.
1. archipelago
2. populace
3. thoroughly
4. migration
5. comprehension
6. preference
7. usually
8. exaggerate
9. television
10. media

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Answer
1. archipelago: [ahr-kuh-’pel-uh-goh], /ɑrkə’pɛlə,goʊ/
2. populace: [’pop-yuh-luhs], /’pɒpyələs/
3. thorough: [’thur-uh], /’θ∆r/ə
4. migration: [mahy-’grey-shuhn], /maɪ’greɪʃən/
5. comprehension: [kom-pri-’hen-shuhn], /,kɒmprɪ’hɛnʃən/
6. preference: [pref-er-uhns], /’prɛfərəns/
7. usual: [’yoo-zhoo-uhl], /’yuʒuəl/
8. exaggerate: [ig-’zaj-uh-reyt], /ɪg’zædʒə,reɪt/
9. television: [’tel-uh-vizh-uhn], /’tɛlə,vɪʒən/
10. media: [’mee-dee-uh], /’midiə/