Use Of English 2014 Jamb Examination

Cool - /kuːl/
The underlined letters in 'cool' represent the long back rounded vowel /uː/.
Should - /ʃʊd/
Full - /fʊl/
Luke - /luːk/
Look - /lʊk/
The word 'Luke' contains the same long /uː/ sound found in 'cool'. In contrast, 'should', 'full', and 'look' all contain the short /ʊ/ sound. Therefore, 'Luke' is the only option that matches the vowel length and quality of the target word.

Odour - /ˈəʊ.də/
The underlined part 'our' in 'odour' represents the schwa sound /ə/ because it is an unstressed syllable at the end of the word.
Floor - /flɔː/
Flow - /fləʊ/
Sugar - /ˈʃʊɡ.ə/
Hold - /həʊld/
The word 'sugar' also ends with an unstressed syllable where the 'ar' is pronounced as a schwa /ə/. 'Floor' uses a long /ɔː/, while 'flow' and 'hold' contain the diphthong /əʊ/. Consequently, 'sugar' shares the same weak vowel sound as the ending of 'odour'.

Palm - /pɑːm/
The underlined 'a' in 'palm' represents the long open back unrounded vowel /ɑː/. Note that the 'l' is silent in this word.
Plait - /plæt/
Ranch - /rɑːntʃ/
Florid - /ˈflɒr.ɪd/
Launch - /lɔːntʃ/
In many standard British English pronunciations (Received Pronunciation), 'ranch' is pronounced with the long /ɑː/ sound, matching 'palm'. 'Plait' uses the short /æ/ sound, 'florid' uses the short /ɒ/, and 'launch' uses the long /ɔː/. Thus, 'ranch' provides the closest vowel match for 'palm'.

Vision - /ˈvɪʒ.ən/
The underlined 's' in 'vision' represents the voiced postalveolar fricative /ʒ/.
Enclosure - /ɪnˈkləʊ.ʒə/
Instruction - /ɪnˈstrʌk.ʃən/
Mansion - /ˈmæn.ʃən/
Nation - /ˈneɪ.ʃən/
In 'enclosure', the 's' also produces the voiced /ʒ/ sound. The other three options—'instruction', 'mansion', and 'nation'—all feature the voiceless postalveolar fricative /ʃ/ (the 'sh' sound). Because 'enclosure' and 'vision' both share the voiced version of this sound, they are phonetically matched.

Gnash - /næʃ/
The underlined letters 'gn' in 'gnash' represent the alveolar nasal consonant /n/. The 'g' is silent.
Ring - /rɪŋ/
Forge - /fɔːdʒ/
New - /njuː/
King - /kɪŋ/
In the word 'new', the letter 'n' represents the same /n/ consonant sound found in 'gnash'. In contrast, 'ring' and 'king' end with the velar nasal /ŋ/, and 'forge' contains the affricate /dʒ/. Therefore, 'new' is the correct match for the /n/ sound.

Epitaph - /ˈep.ɪ.tɑːf/
The underlined letters 'ph' in 'epitaph' represent the voiceless labiodental fricative consonant sound /f/.
Pneumonia - /njuːˈməʊ.ni.ə/
Pseudo - /ˈsjuː.dəʊ/
Fan - /fæn/
Paper - /ˈpeɪ.pə/
In the word 'fan', the letter 'f' represents the same /f/ sound found at the end of 'epitaph'. Conversely, 'pneumonia' starts with the /n/ sound (the 'p' is silent), 'pseudo' starts with the /s/ sound (the 'p' is silent), and 'paper' contains the voiceless bilabial plosive /p/. Therefore, 'fan' is the correct phonetic match for the target sound.

Ever - /ˈev.ə/
For two words to rhyme, they must share the same stressed vowel sound and all subsequent sounds. 'Ever' ends with the /ev.ə/ sequence.
Heavier - /ˈhev.i.ə/
Favour - /ˈfeɪ.və/
Fever - /ˈfiː.və/
Never - /ˈnev.ə/
The word 'never' perfectly matches the /ev.ə/ ending of 'ever'. While 'heavier' has a similar stressed vowel, the extra 'i' syllable prevents a perfect rhyme. 'Favour' uses the diphthong /eɪ/, and 'fever' uses the long vowel /iː/, making 'never' the only true rhyming option.

Keep - /kiːp/
A rhyme for 'keep' must contain the long vowel /iː/ followed by the voiceless bilabial plosive /p/.
Dead - /ded/
Reap - /riːp/
Seethe - /siːð/
Threat - /θret/
The word 'reap' shares the exact same vowel and final consonant sound as 'keep' (/iːp/). 'Dead' and 'threat' both use the short vowel /e/, and while 'seethe' uses the long /iː/, it ends with the voiced dental fricative /ð/ rather than the required /p/ sound.

Tax - /tæks/
The word 'tax' ends with the consonant cluster /ks/ preceded by the short vowel /æ/.
Ask - /ɑːsk/
Box - /bɒks/
Lacks - /læks/
Back - /bæk/
The word 'lacks' is a perfect rhyme for 'tax' because it shares the same vowel sound /æ/ and the identical final consonant cluster /ks/. 'Ask' uses a different vowel and reverses the consonant order (/sk/), 'box' uses a different vowel /ɒ/, and 'back' lacks the final /s/ sound.

Valedictory (adjective/noun) - /ˌvæl.əˈdɪk.tər.i/
In English phonology, the word 'valedictory' contains five syllables: val-e-dic-to-ry. The primary stress falls on the third syllable (DIC). Words ending in suffixes like '-tory' or '-ary' often follow patterns where the stress is placed four syllables from the end or on the antepenultimate syllable depending on the root. In this case, 'valeDICtory' follows the standard pronunciation where the emphasis is placed clearly on the middle syllable. Therefore, the pattern valeDICtory correctly identifies the syllable with the highest pitch and loudness.