Choose the word that has the same vowel sound as the one in bracket, from questions below Neighb[our]

Step 1: Analyze the question

We need the word whose underlined part has the same vowel sound as the "our" in neighb[our].

Step 2: Find the sound in "neighbour"

Neighbour is pronounced /ˈneɪ.bə/. The "our" at the end is the weak, unstressed vowel /ə/ (the schwa), as in "about" or "teacher". It is not the /ɔː/ of "four" and not the /aʊ/ of "hour".

Step 3: Check each option

| Option | Pronunciation | Sound of the key part | |---|---|---| | A. blood | /blʌd/ | /ʌ/ (a short, stressed vowel, different from schwa) | | B. standard | /ˈstæn.dəd/ | /ə/ (a schwa, same sound) | | C. board | /bɔːd/ | /ɔː/ (long vowel) | | D. source | /sɔːs/ | /ɔː/ (long vowel) |

The "our" in source looks like the "our" in neighbour, but it sounds different. In "source" it is a long /ɔː/, which is a common trap in this kind of question.

Step 4: Answer

The unstressed "ar" in standard is a schwa /ə/, matching the "our" in neighbour.

Correct option: B

Exam tip

Always go by sound, not spelling. The schwa /ə/ is the most common vowel sound in English and appears in unstressed syllables, such as the endings of neighbour, standard, teacher, doctor, sugar. If a bracketed part is in an unstressed syllable, check for a schwa first.