Which of the following statement/s is/are true? (a) The initial sound in the English word window is not the same as the final sound in it, though the word begins and ends with the same letter of the alphabet. (b) The vowel in the English word cot and that in the English word fool are articulated with the same degree of lip-rounding. (c) The letter 'u' in English always represents the same sound in English words. (d) The letter 's' in the English word sugar represents the same sound as the letters 'ti' in the word nation.

Question

Accepted Answer

Here's a detailed explanation justifying why Option 3 is the correct answer and why the other options are incorrect:

**Why Option 3 is Correct: Statements (a) and (d) are true**

*   **Statement (a): The initial sound in the English word *window* is not the same as the final sound in it, though the word begins and ends with the same letter of the alphabet.** This statement is true. The word "window" starts with the /w/ sound (a voiced labio-velar approximant) and ends with the /oʊ/ sound (a diphthong). While both begin and end with the letter 'w', the *sounds* are different.

*   **Statement (d): The letter 's' in the English word *sugar* represents the same sound as the letters 'ti' in the word *nation*.** This statement is also true. In "sugar," the 's' is pronounced as /ʃ/ (a voiceless postalveolar fricative), which is the "sh" sound. Similarly, in "nation," the 'ti' is also pronounced as /ʃ/. This is a common phonetic phenomenon in English where 'ti' followed by a vowel often produces the /ʃ/ sound.

**Why the Other Options are Incorrect:**

*   **Option 1: Only statement (a) is true:** This is incorrect because statement (d) is also true, as explained above.

*   **Option 2: Only statement (b) is true:** This is incorrect. Statement (b) claims that the vowel in "cot" and "fool" are articulated with the same degree of lip-rounding. This is false. The vowel in "cot" (/ɑː/ in some dialects, /ɒ/ in others) typically involves minimal lip rounding. The vowel in "fool" (/uː/) requires significant lip rounding. Therefore, they are not articulated with the same degree of lip-rounding.

*   **Option 4: Statements (b) and (c) are true:** This is incorrect because both statements (b) and (c) are false. We've already established that statement (b) is false. Statement (c) claims that the letter 'u' always represents the same sound in English words. This is demonstrably false. Consider words like "cut" (/ʌ/), "flute" (/uː/), "bury" (/ɛ/), and "minute" (/ɪ/ or /aɪ/). The letter 'u' represents different sounds in each of these words.