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

Analyze the question: You are asked to find the word containing the long vowel sound /i:/, the sound in "see", "meat" and "machine".

Concept: /i:/ is a long, tense vowel. It is different from /ɪ/, the short vowel in "sit". Always go by how the word is pronounced, not how it is spelled.

Check each option:

• A. pit is /pɪt/. It has the short /ɪ/, so it is not correct.
• B. exile is /ˈeksaɪl/ or /ˈegzaɪl/. The vowels are /e/ and /aɪ/, so it has no /i:/.
• C. regal is /ˈri:gl/. The first syllable "re" is pronounced /ri:/, with a long /i:/ sound as in "reed". This is the one we want.
• D. serve is /sɜ:v/. It has the long central vowel /ɜ:/, not /i:/.

Answer: Only regal contains /i:/, so the answer is C.

Tip: In WASSCE sound questions, say each word aloud and listen to the vowel. Don't be fooled by the letter "e" or "i" in the spelling. "Exile" and "serve" both have an "e", but neither one gives /i:/. Note that "regal" is the only option where the "e" says its own long name.