WAEC 2018 English Language · Question 23

/ ð / — 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. / ð /

A.thyme
B.pith
C.smooth
D.thin

Answer: C. smooth

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: The symbol /ð/ is the voiced "th" sound, as in "this", "that", "then", "mother". It is different from /θ/, the voiceless "th" as in "think" or "bath".

Explain the concept: To tell them apart, put your fingers on your throat and say the sound.

/ð/ makes your throat vibrate (voiced).
/θ/ gives no vibration (voiceless).

Check each option:

A. thyme is pronounced /taɪm/. The "th" is just a /t/ sound, so there is no /ð/.
B. pith is pronounced /pɪθ/. It ends with the voiceless /θ/.
C. smooth is pronounced /smuːð/. It ends with the voiced /ð/. ✔
D. thin is pronounced /θɪn/. It begins with the voiceless /θ/.

Answer: Only "smooth" contains /ð/, so the correct option is C.

Tip: A final "th" after a long vowel, especially when the word is a verb, is often voiced: smooth, breathe, bathe, soothe. Compare these with the noun forms breath and bath, which end in /θ/. Also remember that "thyme" is a trap word, because its "th" is pronounced /t/.

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