Tax. — Choose the option that rhymes with the given word

Analyze the question: You need the word that rhymes with "Tax." Rhyming words share the same ending sound, from the last stressed vowel onward.

Explain the concept: "Tax" is pronounced /tæks/. The vowel is the short "a" sound (/æ/), followed by the consonant cluster /ks/. A true rhyme must match both the vowel and the ending consonants.

Solution, checking each option:

• A. Ask /ɑːsk/: the vowel is different (in Nigerian English it is often /a/, but the ending is /sk/, not /ks/). The ending sounds don't match.
• B. Box /bɒks/: it ends in /ks/, but the vowel is /ɒ/ (the "o" sound), not /æ/. This is only a partial rhyme.
• C. Lacks /læks/: same vowel /æ/ and same ending /ks/. This is a perfect rhyme with "tax."
• D. Back /bæk/: same vowel, but it ends in /k/ only, with no /s/. It is close, but not an exact rhyme.

Answer: C. Lacks. It is the only option with both the same vowel and the same ending consonants as "tax."

Exam tip: Don't rhyme by spelling. Say each word aloud and compare the vowel sound and the ending sound. If the two words differ in either one, it is not a true rhyme. Here, "back" misses the /s/ and "box" has the wrong vowel.