How does a vowel pair generally function?

A vowel pair typically functions such that the first vowel makes a sound while the second vowel is often silent. This is commonly observed in English words where the first vowel is usually a long vowel sound, while the second vowel serves to indicate that sound without being pronounced itself. For example, in the word "boat," the 'o' is pronounced while the 'a' is silent. This pattern allows for variations in vowel sounds, variations that can influence spelling and pronunciation rules in English.

The other response options do not accurately reflect how vowel pairs work in English phonetics. For instance, saying both vowels make a sound generally does not apply as one vowel often influences the pronunciation of the other indirectly. The choice that suggests only the second vowel sounds or that the first vowel makes a short sound also misrepresents the typical behavior observed in vowel pairs.