WAEC 2020 English Language · Question 106

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

Question

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

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

A.pet
B.worth
C.sword
D.deed

Answer: B. worth

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: This is a vowel sound (phonetics) question. "Dirt" has the vowel sound in "ir", which is the long central vowel /ɜː/ (dɜːt).

Concept: Different spellings can give the same sound. The /ɜː/ sound can be spelled:

ir (bird, girl, dirt)
er (her, term)
ur (turn, burn)
or after "w" (work, worth, worm)
ear (learn, earth)

Step-by-step check of the options:

A. pet /pet/ has the short vowel /e/, which is not the same sound.
B. worth /wɜːθ/ has the long central vowel /ɜː/, which is the same as in "dirt". ✔
C. sword /sɔːd/ has the vowel /ɔː/ (the "w" is silent), which is not the same sound.
D. deed /diːd/ has the vowel /iː/, which is not the same sound.

Tip: Watch the pattern "wor-" in words like work, world, worm, worth. It sounds like /ɜː/, not /ɔː/. The exception is sword, which has a silent "w" and the /ɔː/ sound, so don't be tricked by the spelling.

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