JAMB 2024 English Language · Question 6

Yesterday — Choose the option that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the letter(s)…

Question

Choose the option that has the same consonant sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined. Yesterday

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

A.Jam
B.Union
C.Jump
D.Umbrella

Answer: B. Union

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: The word is "Yesterday", and the underlined part isn't shown here. In "Yesterday", the only letter that could be underlined as a consonant sound matching these options is y, which represents the sound /j/ (as in "yes"). This is a semi-vowel, or glide.

Explain the concept: In English, the letter "y" at the start of a word usually makes the /j/ sound, as in yes, yellow, yard. Be careful not to confuse this with the letter "j", which makes the /dʒ/ sound, as in jam or jump. The letters look related, but the sounds are different.

Solution, step by step:

Yesterday begins with /j/ (as in "yes").
A. Jam begins with /dʒ/. This is a different sound.
B. Union begins with "u", which is pronounced /juː/. The first sound is /j/, which matches "Yesterday".
C. Jump begins with /dʒ/. This is a different sound.
D. Umbrella begins with the vowel /ʌ/. This is not a consonant sound.

Answer: The correct option is B. Union. Both words begin with the /j/ sound.

Tip: Don't let spelling fool you in sound questions. Say each word aloud and listen to the sound, not the letter. Words like union, use, university, and European all start with /j/, even though they begin with a vowel letter. The letter "j" itself (jam, jump) makes /dʒ/.

AI can make mistakes. Report anything that looks wrong.