NECO 2009 English Language · Question 32

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

Options

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

A.break
B.knowledge
C.mean
D.petal
E.privilege

Answer: D. petal

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: "dread" is pronounced /drɛd/, so the vowel sound is /ɛ/ (as in "bed"). We need the option whose underlined vowel has this same sound. The underlined letters were not shown, so we check each word for the /ɛ/ sound.

Check each option:

A. break: /breɪk/, vowel /eɪ/. No.
B. knowledge: /ˈnɒlɪdʒ/, with /ɒ/ in the first syllable. The "ow" is pronounced /ɒ/, and the "e" is part of /ɪdʒ/. The only candidate for /ɛ/ would be the "e" at the end, which is silent. No.
C. mean: /miːn/, vowel /iː/. No.
D. petal: /ˈpɛtəl/, vowel /ɛ/. Yes, this matches "dread".
E. privilege: /ˈprɪvɪlɪdʒ/ (or /ˈprɪvlɪdʒ/), vowel /ɪ/. No.

Tip: The letters "ea" can be pronounced in several ways. Learn the groups:

/ɛ/: dread, bread, head, health
/iː/: mean, seat, leaf
/eɪ/: break, great, steak (the rare ones, so memorize them!)

When a question gives you a vowel sound, say each option aloud quietly and match the sound, not the spelling.

AI can make mistakes. Report anything that looks wrong.