WAEC 2024 English Language · Question 84

/aɪ/ — From the words lettered A-D, choose the word that contains the sound represented by the given phonetic…

Question

From the words lettered A-D, choose the word that contains the sound represented by the given phonetic symbol. /aɪ/

A.freight
B.faith
C.said
D.piety

Answer: D. piety

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question: You need the word that contains the diphthong /aɪ/, the sound in "my", "time" and "light".

Explain the concept: /aɪ/ is a diphthong that glides from "ah" to "ee". Spelling can mislead you here, so listen to the sound rather than looking at the letters.

Check each option:

A. freight is /freɪt/. The "eigh" spelling gives /eɪ/, as in "weight". Not /aɪ/.
B. faith is /feɪθ/. The "ai" spelling gives /eɪ/. Not /aɪ/.
C. said is /sed/. The sound is /e/, the same as in "bed". Not /aɪ/.
D. piety is /ˈpaɪəti/. The "ie" in the first syllable is pronounced /aɪ/, as in "pie". This is the one.

Answer: D. "Piety" contains /aɪ/ in its first syllable (PI-e-ty).

Tip: Words with "ai" or "eigh" (faith, freight, rain, weigh) usually give /eɪ/, not /aɪ/. Words like "pie", "tie", "pious" and "piety" have /aɪ/. In phonetics questions, say each word aloud and listen for the vowel sound instead of trusting the spelling.

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