JAMB English Language 2023 Paper

Concept:Vowel sounds are identified by pronunciation, not by spelling.The word in the bracket contains the short vowel sound $\text{/i/}$, as heard in "bit".Explanation:The target sound is the short $\text{/i/}$ which appears in the bracketed word.Now go through each option to find that same vowel sound.Option A: "cacophony" is pronounced with its final syllable "ny" sounding like "nee", which carries the short $\text{/i/}$ at the end.This final sound matches the vowel in the bracket.Option B: "says" is pronounced with the vowel of "set", not with the short $\text{/i/}$.Option C: "cage" is pronounced with the long "a" vowel sound found in "late", not the short $\text{/i/}$.Option D: "kite" is pronounced with the "ai" diphthong sound found in "my", not the short $\text{/i/}$.Only "cacophony" contains the exact vowel sound required, so it is the correct choice.Answer:A. cacophony