JAMB 2024 English Language · Question 164

youth — Choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined

Question

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

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

A.should
B.bout
C.choose
D.butcher

Answer: C. choose

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

The underlined letters aren't shown in your question, but for "youth" the vowel sound is almost certainly the "ou" (the whole word is the only natural choice). I'll work with that.

Step 1: Find the sound in "youth" "Youth" is pronounced /juːθ/. The vowel sound in the word is the long /uː/, as in "food" or "moon". The "y" is a separate /j/ sound, and "th" is the final consonant.

Step 2: Find the vowel sound in each option

A. should /ʃʊd/ has the short /ʊ/ sound, as in "put". It does not match.
B. bout /baʊt/ has the diphthong /aʊ/, as in "now". It does not match.
C. choose /tʃuːz/ has the long /uː/ sound. It matches "youth".
D. butcher /ˈbʊtʃə/ has the short /ʊ/ sound, as in "put". It does not match.

Step 3: Answer "Youth" and "choose" share the long /uː/ vowel sound, so the answer is C.

Exam tip: The letters "ou" can be pronounced in many different ways in English:

/uː/ as in youth, soup, group
/aʊ/ as in bout, house
/ʊ/ as in should, could, would
/ʌ/ as in country, double

Don't rely on spelling. Say each word aloud in your head and compare the sounds. Also remember that "should, could, would" all have the short /ʊ/ sound, which is a common trap in JAMB.

AI can make mistakes. Report anything that looks wrong.