Which term describes repetitive oral practice of a language item?

• A. Cue
• B. Drill
• C. Imitation drill
• D. Chain drill

Answer: (B)

Drill is the practice method where a language item is repeated orally in a guided, controlled way to fix its form and usage and build automaticity in production. The emphasis is on repetition, accuracy, and smooth pronunciation, so learners can retrieve the pattern quickly in real communication. A teacher might model a sentence and have students repeat it, or substitute elements within a fixed structure to keep the focus on the target item. This makes drills different from other activities: imitation drill is a specific type that stresses exact mirroring of the model, chain drill involves passing a prompt from student to student in a sequence, and a cue is just a signal used to elicit a response rather than the repetitive practice itself.