20 cặp từ Homophones dễ nhầm lần trong kĩ năng IELTS Listening
Homophones là những từ có phát âm giống hệt nhau nhưng thường có cách viết khác nhau và ý nghĩa thì khác nhau hoàn toàn. Trong IELTS Listening, homophones là một dạng bẫy nguy hiểm, đánh lạc hướng thí sinh, dẫn đến việc hiểu sai nghĩa của cả câu nói trong đoạn hội thoại. Vì vậy hãy cùng Oxford English UK ghi nhớ 20 cặp từ Homophones dễ nhầm lần để tránh mất điểm đáng tiếc trong IELTS Listening các bạn nhé.
- AIR/HEIR: /ɛː/
Air: oxygen and other gases that we breathe in
Ex: It’s spring. Love is in the air and the birds are singing.
Heir: the person who is next in line in a family and inherits something
Ex: When the new royal heir is born, hundreds of balloons are sent up in the air to celebrate the event.
- AISLE/ISLE: /ʌɪl/
Aisle: a passageway between seats in rows
Ex: Would you like a window or an aisle seat?
An aisle seat, please. I wouldn’t like to sit next to the window, I’m afraid of heights.
Isle: a small island
Ex: They’re planning to build an airport on the isle. I think it’s a fantastic idea.
- BALD/BAWLED: /bɔːld/
BALD: someone who has no hair on his head is bald
Ex: Will you love me if I go bald?
Don’t worry. Look at how handsome Bruce Willis is. And he is bald.
BAWLED: past form of ’bawl’, it means ’cry loudly’
Ex: When I realized I was going bald, I bawled like a child. I don’t want to look like Captain Picard from Star Trek.
You shouldn’t have bawled so hard. Captain Picard is really cool.
- BAND/BANNED: /band/
BAND: a group of people
Ex: I’d like to form a rock band. Can you play any musical instruments?
BANNED: (ban-banned-banned) to prohibit, not allow
Ex: I’d love to be in a rock band, but I thought you were banned from playing loud music in the house.
- BARE/BEAR
BARE: naked, not covered
Ex: Susy was wearing a daring dress at the party. It revealed her bare legs.
BEAR: a big animal with dark brown coat that lives in woods and eats smaller animals and fruit
Ex: I took my son to the zoo to see the new baby bear. He loved it. I think I’ll get him a Teddy bear for his next birthday.
- BE/BEE: /biː/
BE: exist (am,is,are,was,were,been)
Ex: I’d like to be famous one day.
BEE: a flying, stinging insect that makes honey
Ex: I wonder what it’s like to be a bee. Bees seem to be working all day.
- BREAK/BRAKE: /breɪk/
BREAK: smash something by dropping, bending or damaging it somehow
Ex: You’ll break something if you keep playing football in the living room. Can you stop it, please?
BRAKE: a device to make a car go slower/stop
Ex: I’ll have to get my brakes checked. I think there’s something wrong with them.
Is the garage open on Sunday? I don’t want you to crash the car.
- BORED/BOARD: /bɔːd/
BORED: not interested in your current activity
Ex: I’m bored with you. Are homophones the only thing you can talk about?
BOARD: a flat piece of wood on which you can write, play a game or do sports like surfing, skateboarding etc.
Ex: Whenever the teacher goes to the whiteboard and writes something on it, the students start chatting.
- BUY/BY: /bʌɪ/
BUY: getting something for money
Ex: I’d like to buy a piano, but my husband doesn’t really like the idea.
BY: through, via
Ex: Do you go to work by car?
No, I can’t drive. I always go by train.
- CELL/SELL: /sɛl/
CELL: a room in a prison/ the smallest part of an organism
Ex: How many cells are there in a human body?
SELL: giving something to somebody in return for money
Ex: I’ve decided to sell my house and move to Australia.
- CENT/SCENT: /sɛnt/
CENT: 1/100th of a dollar
Ex: They don’t deserve a cent after what they have done to you.
SCENT: smell, odour, fragrance
Ex: Could you feel the scent of jasmine in the garden? It was so lovely.
- CLAWS/CLAUSE: /klɔːz/
CLAWS: a sharp, curvy structure at the end of the paws of animals
Ex: I’m not sure if I should trim my cat’s rear claws. Do you know anything about cats?
CLAUSE: a section of a legal document
Ex: Don’t sign that contract before you read and understand every word and clause!
- CURRENT/CURRANT: /ˈkʌr(ə)nt/
CURRENT: happening/existing now
Ex: Are you happy in your current job?
Yes, I am. My current employer is much nicer than the previous one.
CURRANT: a small, black or red berry that grows on bushes
Ex: Would you like some ice-cream with your blackcurrants?
I’d love some, thanks. Ice-cream and currants are my ideas of heaven.
- DEAR/DEER: /dɪə/
DEAR: loved and valued
Ex: You are my dearest friend, you know.
Am I? You’re dear to me as well.
DEER: an animal with hooves and antlers that lives in the woods
Ex: I had venison steak for lunch.
What’s venison?
Oh dear, you don’t know? It’s deer meat.
- DIE/DYE: /dʌɪ/
DIE: stop living
Ex: My dog’s very old. I’m afraid he’ll die soon.
DYE: to colour materials or hair
Ex: I’m thinking of dying my hair. Should I dye it blue or pink?
I think your parents will just die if you show up with pink hair.
Right, I’ll dye it blue then.
- FAIR/FARE: /fɛː/
FAIR: honest/ consistent with rules/ light in colour, clear
Ex: Mum, that’s not fair! I did the washing up yesterday. It’s Jack’s turn today.
FARE: money you pay for transportation
Ex: I can’t visit my parents very often. The train fare is too expensive.
- FLEE/FLEA: /fliː/
FLEE: run away from danger
Ex: If I was a bit younger, I’d flee this boring town and move to the capital.
FLEA: a small insect that lives in the fur of animals
Ex: Do you think fleas go into human hair?
Well, a flea may jump on it if you’re around animals, but I don’t think it would like it there.
- FLOUR/FLOWER: /ˈflaʊə/
FLOUR: white powder-like foodstuff that’s obtained by grinding grains
Ex: Can you buy some flour on your way home? I’d like to make pizza for dinner.
Of course, I will. I would do anything to have pizza for dinner.
FLOWER: the most beautiful part of plants that blossoms and smells nice
Ex: You should make your wife breakfast in bed a few times every month. And don’t forget to lay a single flower on the tray before you serve it.
- GUERRILLA/GORILLA: /ɡəˈrɪlə/
GUERRILLA: a member of a small group of irregular soldiers
Ex: Guerrilla warfare has had a big impact on the area. It’s not a safe place to go on holiday any more.
GORILLA: the largest and strongest ape
Ex: Have you seen the film ’King Kong’? It’s about a giant gorilla that is taken to New York to be exhibited.
- HAIR/HARE: /hɛː/
HAIR: what grows on your head
Ex: Her hair used to be much shorter. Do you think she’s got hair extensions?
HARE: an animal that’s similar to a rabbit, but has longer ears and legs
Ex: Rabbits live underground, but hares live in overground nests.
Can I get a pet hare?
