The symbol /ʊ/ represents which vowel quality?

• A. Near-close near-back vowel
• B. Close-mid front vowel
• C. Open back unrounded vowel
• D. Mid central vowel

Answer: (A)

The symbol /ʊ/ marks a vowel that is near-close in height and near-back in backness, usually with rounding. Near-close means the tongue is high but not as high as the close vowels (like /i/ or /u/); near-back places the tongue toward the back of the mouth but not as far back as a fully back vowel. This combination—high-ish, back-ish, commonly rounded—fits /ʊ/, as heard in the English vowel in “foot” for many speakers.

The other options don’t fit because they describe vowels with different height or backness: a front vowel would place the tongue toward the front of the mouth, an open back unrounded vowel is low and back, and a mid central vowel sits around the center of the mouth and isn’t high or back like /ʊ/.