JAMB 2024 English Language · Question 185

Choose the option that has the same consonant sounds as represented by the underlined letter(s) clothe

Options

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

A.cloth
B.smooth
C.good
D.thesis

Answer: B. smooth

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: The underlined letters are not shown, but in "clothe" the sound in question is almost certainly the "th" in "clothe", which is the voiced dental fricative /ð/ (as in "this", "then"). We need the option with the same consonant sound.

Concept: English "th" has two sounds:

/θ/ (voiceless): thin, cloth, thesis, bath
/ð/ (voiced): this, clothe, smooth, breathe

A quick test: place your fingers on your throat. If you feel a vibration, the sound is voiced (/ð/). If not, it is voiceless (/θ/).

Solution:

clothe → /kləʊð/, with /ð/ (voiced)
A. cloth → /klɒθ/, with /θ/ (voiceless) ✗
B. smooth → /smuːð/, with /ð/ (voiced) ✓
C. good → /ɡʊd/, with /d/ ✗ (no "th" sound at all)
D. thesis → /ˈθiːsɪs/, with /θ/ (voiceless) ✗

Answer: The sound in "clothe" matches the "th" in smooth, so the answer is B.

Tip: Words ending in a silent "e" after "th" (clothe, breathe, bathe, soothe) usually take the voiced /ð/, while the same word without the "e" (cloth, breath, bath) usually takes the voiceless /θ/. Cloth versus clothe is a classic JAMB pair, so remember it.

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