WAEC 2021 English Language · Question 104

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

Options

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

A.prune
B.great
C.bush
D.shone

Answer: A. prune

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question You are asked to find the word whose vowel sound matches the vowel sound in "shoe". The underlined part is not visible, but in "shoe" the sound is made by "oe", which gives the long /uː/ sound, as in "too".

Explain the concept In English, the same sound can be spelled in different ways. The long /uː/ sound can appear as:

oo (food)
oe (shoe)
u (rule, prune)
ew (chew)
ue (blue)

Solution: transcribe each option

A. prune is /pruːn/. The vowel is /uː/, which matches "shoe" /ʃuː/.
B. great is /greɪt/. The vowel is the diphthong /eɪ/, so it does not match.
C. bush is /bʊʃ/. The vowel is the short /ʊ/, which is a different sound from long /uː/, so it does not match.
D. shone is /ʃɒn/ in British English (/ʃoʊn/ in American English). Neither version matches.

Answer The only word with the long /uː/ sound is prune, so the answer is A.

Exam tip Do not be misled by "bush". It looks close to /uː/, but it is the short /ʊ/ sound (as in "put", "book"). To tell them apart, hold the sound. If you can stretch it out (shooo, pruuune), it is the long /uː/. If it is clipped (bush, put), it is the short /ʊ/. Always say the words aloud, since the spelling can mislead you.

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