WAEC 2017 English Language · Question 72

ready — choose the word that has the same vowel sound(s) as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined

Question

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

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

A.stir
B.heat
C.bet
D.seed

Answer: C. bet

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question The question asks which word has the same vowel sound as the underlined part of "ready". The underlining isn't shown here, but in "ready" the only vowel spelling that is tricky is ea, so the underlined letters are almost certainly "ea".

Explain the concept In English, the letters "ea" can be pronounced in different ways:

/iː/ as in heat, meat
/e/ as in ready, bread, head
/ɑː/ or /ɜː/ in words like heart and earn

So you must go by the sound, not the spelling.

Solve step by step

Say "ready" aloud: /ˈredi/. The "ea" sounds like /e/, the short vowel in "bed".
Check each option: • A. stir /stɜː/ has the long vowel /ɜː/. No match. • B. heat /hiːt/ has the long vowel /iː/. No match, even though it is spelled with "ea". • C. bet /bet/ has the short vowel /e/. Match. • D. seed /siːd/ has the long vowel /iː/. No match.
Only "bet" has the /e/ sound found in "ready".

Correct answer: C. bet

Exam tip Never be fooled by spelling. "Heat" looks like "ready" because both contain "ea", but the sounds are different. Say each word aloud (or in your head) and compare the sounds. A handy group to remember is the /e/ "ea" words: bread, head, dead, read (past tense), instead, ready.

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