WAEC 2023 English Language · Question 4

Orchid — choose the word that has the same consonant sound(s) as the one represented by the letter(s)…

Question

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

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

A.chagrin
B.scepter
C.skewer
D.sham

Answer: C. skewer

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: The word is "orchid", but the underlined letters aren't shown. In "orchid" the likely underlined letters are ch, which is pronounced /k/ (orchid = /ˈɔːkɪd/). So we need the word with the /k/ sound.

Concept: In English, "ch" has different sounds:

/tʃ/ as in chair, church
/ʃ/ as in chef, machine, chagrin
/k/ as in orchid, school, chemistry

Check each option:

A. chagrin is /ˈʃæɡrɪn/, so "ch" is /ʃ/. ✗
B. scepter is /ˈseptə/, so "sc" is /s/ (the c is soft, before e). ✗ The "c" here is /p/'s neighbour but still /s/. If the underlined part were "c" in scepter it is /s/, not /k/.
C. skewer is /ˈskjuːə/, so "sk" is /sk/, and the k is /k/. ✓
D. sham is /ʃæm/, so "sh" is /ʃ/. ✗

Answer: Only skewer contains the /k/ sound, matching the "ch" in orchid.

Tip: "ch" is /k/ in words of Greek origin (orchid, chemist, chorus, echo, school, stomach). Always match the sound, not the spelling. Here, "ch" and "k" give the same sound.

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