JAMB 2021 English Language · Question 119

choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the letter(s) underlined from the options lettered A-E Head

Options

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

A.bead
B.red
C.rear
D.stir
E.heel

Answer: B. red

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: The word "Head" is given (the underlined part is "ea"). We need the option whose vowel sound matches the vowel sound in "head".

Explain the concept: In English, the letters "ea" can be pronounced in different ways:

/iː/ as in bead, heal
/e/ as in head, bread
/ɪə/ as in rear, hear

So we must go by the sound, not the spelling.

Solution:

"Head" is pronounced /hed/. The vowel sound is the short /e/.
A. bead /biːd/: long /iː/. No.
B. red /red/: short /e/. Yes, this matches.
C. rear /rɪə/: diphthong /ɪə/. No.
D. stir /stɜː/: long /ɜː/. No.
E. heel /hiːl/: long /iː/. No.

Only "red" has the same /e/ vowel sound as "head".

Answer: B (red)

Tip: In JAMB vowel-sound questions, say each word aloud and ignore the spelling. Remember that "ea" has a short /e/ sound in words like head, bread, dead, health, breath. Group words by sound: short /e/ (red, bed, said) versus long /iː/ (bead, heel, see).

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