JAMB 2010 English Language · Question 36

Roared? — Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the underlined letters

Question

Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the underlined letters. Roared?

In the original paper part of this question is underlined. The underline isn't shown here: see the explanation below.

A.towered
B.coast
C.brought
D.rod

Answer: C. brought

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: The word is "roared" and the underlined part is most likely "oar" (the vowel sound in "roared"). We need to find the option with the same vowel sound.

Explain the concept: "Roared" is pronounced /rɔːd/. The vowel is the long /ɔː/ sound, as in "door" or "board". The "r" after the vowel isn't pronounced in standard Nigerian or British English, so the vowel is a long, rounded "aw" sound.

Check each option:

A. towered /ˈtaʊəd/: the vowel is the diphthong /aʊ/ (as in "now"). Not a match.
B. coast /kəʊst/: the vowel is the diphthong /əʊ/ (as in "go"). Not a match.
C. brought /brɔːt/: the vowel is long /ɔː/, the same as in "roared" /rɔːd/. Match.
D. rod /rɒd/: the vowel is the short /ɒ/ (as in "hot"). Not a match, because it is short while "roared" is long.

Answer: Option C, brought, has the same vowel sound /ɔː/ as "roared".

Tip: In vowel-sound questions, always check the length (long or short) and whether the sound is a single vowel or a diphthong. "Rod" and "roared" look alike but differ in length: /ɒ/ is short and /ɔː/ is long. A quick way to remember: "ought" words (brought, thought, bought) share the /ɔː/ sound with "oar" and "door".

AI can make mistakes. Report anything that looks wrong.