Which of the following is an example of a homophone?

Which of the following is an example of a homophone?

• A. Read and red
• B. Close and close
• C. Pair and pear
• D. Right and write

Answer: (C)

The correct choice illustrates a homophone well, as "pair" and "pear" are pronounced the same way but have different meanings and spellings. "Pair" refers to a set of two items, such as shoes or socks, while "pear" is a type of fruit. This distinction is essential to understanding homophones, which are defined as words that sound alike but are not the same in meaning or spelling. Other options, while some may contain homophonic elements, do not align as clearly with the definition. For example, "read" and "red" are homographs, as they share a spelling but differ in pronunciation and meaning based on context. Similarly, "close" and "close" can mean different things (to shut versus near) but are pronounced the same way. "Right" and "write" do represent homophones, but they have more contextual implication in terms of specific uses rather than the straightforward pairing provided by "pair" and "pear." Focusing on clarity in meaning and pronunciation is why "pair" and "pear" stands out prominently as an example of homophones.

The correct choice illustrates a homophone well, as "pair" and "pear" are pronounced the same way but have different meanings and spellings. "Pair" refers to a set of two items, such as shoes or socks, while "pear" is a type of fruit. This distinction is essential to understanding homophones, which are defined as words that sound alike but are not the same in meaning or spelling.

Other options, while some may contain homophonic elements, do not align as clearly with the definition. For example, "read" and "red" are homographs, as they share a spelling but differ in pronunciation and meaning based on context. Similarly, "close" and "close" can mean different things (to shut versus near) but are pronounced the same way. "Right" and "write" do represent homophones, but they have more contextual implication in terms of specific uses rather than the straightforward pairing provided by "pair" and "pear."

Focusing on clarity in meaning and pronunciation is why "pair" and "pear" stands out prominently as an example of homophones.