Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that contains the sound segment represented by the given phonetic symbol /əʊ/

Analyze the question: You are asked to find the word containing the diphthong /əʊ/, the sound in "go," "boat," and "know."

Explain the concept: /əʊ/ is a diphthong that glides from a mid central vowel (like the "uh" sound) to a short rounded /ʊ/. Spellings like "ow" can represent either /əʊ/ (as in "low," "snow") or /aʊ/ (as in "cow," "now"). So you must check the pronunciation, not the spelling.

Solution, checking each option:

• A. bough is /baʊ/. The vowel is /aʊ/, as in "now." Not correct.
• B. month is /mʌnθ/. The vowel is /ʌ/. Not correct.
• C. mower is /ˈməʊə/. It is the person or machine that mows, from "mow" /məʊ/, as in "lawn mower." The first syllable has /əʊ/. Correct.
• D. spouse is /spaʊs/. The vowel is /aʊ/. Not correct.
• E. towel is /ˈtaʊəl/. The vowel is /aʊ/. Not correct.

Answer: C. mower

Tip: Watch out for "ow" and "ou" spellings. Compare them with known pairs:

• /əʊ/: low, mow, know, snow, grow
• /aʊ/: cow, bough, now, towel, spouse

"Bough" rhymes with "cow," while "mow" rhymes with "go." Say the word aloud to hear which one it matches.