NECO 2009 English Language · Question 30

Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the underlined letter(s) bed

Options

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

A.paid
B.people
C.prayed
D.quay
E.said

Answer: E. said

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: The word "bed" has the vowel sound /e/ (as in "red", "head"). We need the option whose vowel sound is also /e/.

Explain the concept: In English, the same sound can be spelled in many ways. The short /e/ sound appears in unusual spellings such as "said" /sed/, "head" /hed/, and "friend" /frend/.

Check each option:

A. paid /peɪd/ has the diphthong /eɪ/, so it does not match.
B. people /ˈpiːpl/ has the long vowel /iː/, so it does not match.
C. prayed /preɪd/ has the diphthong /eɪ/, so it does not match.
D. quay /kiː/ has the long vowel /iː/, so it does not match.
E. said /sed/ has the short vowel /e/, the same as "bed". This is a match.

Answer: E. said.

Tip: Memorize the common words where "ai" or "ea" sounds like /e/: said, again, against, head, bread, dead, instead, leather. "Paid," "maid," and "raid" are different, since they take the /eɪ/ sound. Exam setters like to test this contrast.

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