WAEC 2017 English Language · Question 73

/3:/ — choose the word that contains the sound represented by the given phonetic symbol

Question

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that contains the sound represented by the given phonetic symbol. /3:/

A.Firm
B.hear
C.many
D.plate

Answer: A. Firm

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question You are asked to find the word containing the vowel sound /ɜ:/ (the long "er" sound, as in bird or nurse).

Explain the concept The /ɜ:/ sound is a long central vowel. It is commonly spelled with ir, er, ur, or (as in work), and ear (as in learn). Say "her" or "bird" aloud and you will hear it.

Show the solution Let's check each word's vowel sound:

A. Firm is /fɜ:m/. The "ir" gives the long /ɜ:/ sound. ✔
B. Hear is /hɪə/. This has the diphthong /ɪə/, not /ɜ:/. ✘
C. Many is /meni/. This has the short vowel /e/. ✘
D. Plate is /pleɪt/. This has the diphthong /eɪ/. ✘

Answer: Only firm contains /ɜ:/, so the correct option is A.

Tip: Watch out for the "ear" spelling. Hear is /ɪə/, but earn, learn and search have /ɜ:/. The letters ir, ur and er before a consonant (bird, turn, term) almost always give /ɜ:/, so memorize "bird, nurse, her, work, learn" as your /ɜ:/ key words.

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