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

Analyze the question: "host" is the word given. We need the word whose vowel sound matches the sound of "o" in "host".

Explain the concept: In "host", the "o" is pronounced /əʊ/, a diphthong like the sound in "go" or "boat". Matching vowel sounds in words with different spellings is a common WASSCE oral English task.

Show the solution: Transcribe each word.

• host: /həʊst/ → vowel /əʊ/
• A. now: /naʊ/ → vowel /aʊ/ (the sound in "cow"), which does not match
• B. hoarse: /hɔːs/ → vowel /ɔː/ (the sound in "horse"), which does not match
• C. thought: /θɔːt/ → vowel /ɔː/, which does not match
• D. known: /nəʊn/ → vowel /əʊ/, which matches

Answer: D. known

Tip: Watch out for the /əʊ/ sound (as in go, boat, so, know, home, toe). It can be spelled "o", "oa", "ow", "oe" or "o_e". Words like "now" (/aʊ/) look similar but sound different, so always say the word aloud to yourself rather than relying on spelling. Also remember that "hoarse" and "thought" share the /ɔː/ sound, which is a different sound from /əʊ/.