JAMB 2011 English Language · Question 17

Weight? — Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the underlined letter(s)

Question

Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the underlined letter(s). Weight?

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

A.whale
B.white
C.whet
D.writhe

Answer: A. whale

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: "Weight" is /weɪt/, and the vowel sound is the diphthong /eɪ/. The underlined letters aren't shown, but they would be "eigh". We need the option with the same /eɪ/ sound.

Check each option:

A. whale is /weɪl/. The vowel is /eɪ/, which matches weight.
B. white is /waɪt/. The vowel is /aɪ/, which does not match.
C. whet is /wet/. The vowel is /e/, which does not match.
D. writhe is /raɪð/. The vowel is /aɪ/, which does not match.

Answer: A.

Concept: The /eɪ/ sound can be spelled in many ways: "eigh" (weight, eight, neighbour), "ai" (rain, wait), "a-e" (whale, cake), "ay" (day), and "ey" (they).

Tip: In vowel-sound questions, ignore the spelling and say each word aloud in your head. Write the sound of the given word first, then match it. Words like weight and wait, or white and wight, are common traps because the spellings look similar but the sounds differ.

AI can make mistakes. Report anything that looks wrong.