Answer the following question below and choose the option that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the letter (s) underlined. hair

Analyze the question: The word is "hair", and the underlined consonant is the "h" (the question doesn't show the underline, but the consonant in "hair" is the initial h). We need the option whose underlined sound is the same, which is /h/. The underlined letters in the options are most likely the initial "h" in each word.

Concept: In English, the letter "h" is sometimes silent. Always check how the word is actually pronounced.

Working through each option:

• A. heir is pronounced /eə/, so the h is silent.
• B. hour is pronounced /aʊə/, so the h is silent.
• C. honest is pronounced /ˈɒnɪst/, so the h is silent.
• D. house is pronounced /haʊs/, so the h is sounded as /h/.

"Hair" is pronounced /heə/, so it begins with the sound /h/. Only "house" shares this sound.

Answer: D. house.

Tip: Memorize the common silent-h words: hour, honest, heir, honour, honourable, exhaust, ghost, rhyme. If an option isn't on this list, the h is usually pronounced. In sound-matching questions like this one, say each word aloud and listen for the sound rather than looking at the spelling.