WAEC 2024 English Language · Question 49

/v/ — 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. /v/

A.of
B.few
C.off
D.photo

Answer: A. of

Explanation written with AI and checked against the answer key

Analyze the question You are asked to find the word that contains the consonant sound /v/ (the voiced labiodental fricative, the sound at the start of "van" and "very").

Explain the concept In English, the letter "f" is usually pronounced /f/, but there is one very common exception: the word "of". It is pronounced /ɒv/, not /ɒf/. The letter "f" is also silent in some words, and "ph" normally gives /f/.

Solution: check each option

A. of is pronounced /ɒv/. It contains /v/. ✔
B. few is pronounced /fjuː/. It begins with /f/, so there is no /v/. ✘
C. off is pronounced /ɒf/. It ends in /f/, which is the voiceless counterpart of /v/. ✘
D. photo is pronounced /ˈfəʊtəʊ/. "ph" gives /f/. ✘

Answer The word containing /v/ is "of", which is option A.

Exam tip Remember the pair of /ɒv/ and off /ɒf/. They look almost the same but sound different. The voiced /v/ makes your vocal cords vibrate. Put your fingers on your throat and say "of" and "off" to feel the difference. WAEC often tests this contrast.

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