For the question, choose the option that has the same vowel sound as the ones represented by the letter(s) underlined. wound

The word "wound" (meaning an injury) is pronounced /wuːnd/. The underlined vowel combination "ou" produces the long vowel /uː/, the same sound found in "boot", "moon", and "food".

Examining each option:

• foot is pronounced /fʊt/, with the short vowel /ʊ/. Although close in quality, /ʊ/ is shorter and more lax than /uː/ - not a match.
• book is pronounced /bʊk/, also with /ʊ/ - not a match for the same reason.
• blood is pronounced /blʌd/, with the vowel /ʌ/ (as in "cup") - a completely different sound.
• moon is pronounced /muːn/, with /uː/ - an exact match for the vowel in "wound".

The correct answer is moon, because its vowel /uː/ is identical to that in "wound".

Exam tip: The spelling "oo" and "ou" can represent different vowel sounds depending on the word. "Foot" and "book" have /ʊ/, while "moon" and "wound" have /uː/. "Blood" and "flood" use yet another sound, /ʌ/. These irregular spelling-to-sound correspondences must be memorised.