WAEC 2014 English Language · Question 123

heavy — choose the word that has the same consonant sound(s) as the one represented by the letter(s)…

Question

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that has the same consonant sound(s) as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined below. heavy

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

A.honour
B.heir
C.beehive
D.when

Answer: C. beehive

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

The question doesn't show which letter is underlined in "heavy", but in this type of question it is almost certainly the h at the start of the word, which is the sound /h/.

Step 1: Identify the sound

In "heavy" /ˈhevi/, the underlined h is pronounced /h/. It is a voiceless glottal fricative, a breathy sound made at the back of the throat.

Step 2: Check each option

A. honour /ˈɒnə/: the h is silent, so there is no /h/ sound.
B. heir /eə/: the h is silent, so there is no /h/ sound.
C. beehive /ˈbiːhaɪv/: the h is clearly pronounced as /h/, the same as in "heavy".
D. when /wen/: the wh is pronounced /w/ (or /hw/ in some accents). In standard Nigerian English it is /w/, not /h/.

Step 3: Answer Only beehive has the same /h/ sound as "heavy".

Exam tip: Remember the common silent-h words: honour, honest, hour, heir, exhaust, vehicle. If the underlined letter is h and an option is one of these words, eliminate it immediately. Also, in "wh" words like when, where and what, the sound is usually /w/, not /h/. The exception is words like who and whole, where it is /h/.

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