WAEC 2020 English Language · Question 130

hall — 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. hall

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

A.shortage
B.love
C.courage
D.country

Answer: A. shortage

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: "hall" has the vowel sound /ɔ:/ (as in "all," "call," "ball"). We need the option with the same vowel sound. The underlined letters aren't shown here, but the vowel in "hall" is "a" (before "ll").

Explain the concept: In English, the same sound can be spelled in different ways. "Hall" is pronounced /hɔ:l/, which has the long /ɔ:/ vowel.

Check each option:

A. shortage /ˈʃɔ:tɪdʒ/. The stressed vowel "or" is /ɔ:/, the same as in "hall." ✔
B. love /lʌv/. The vowel is /ʌ/. ✘
C. courage /ˈkʌrɪdʒ/. The vowel is /ʌ/. ✘
D. country /ˈkʌntri/. The vowel is /ʌ/. ✘

Options B, C and D all have the short /ʌ/ sound (as in "cup"), which is different from /ɔ:/. Only "shortage" has /ɔ:/ in its stressed syllable, so it matches "hall."

Answer: A. shortage.

Tip: Group words by sound, not spelling. The /ɔ:/ sound appears in "hall, short, saw, door, caught." The /ʌ/ sound appears in "love, come, country, courage, son." Notice that "o" often sounds like /ʌ/ in words like "love," "come," and "money." Remember these as common exceptions.

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