Here's why:
* Spelling: The "a" in "rapid" is followed by a consonant ("p") and another consonant ("d"). This is a typical pattern for short vowels in English.
* Sound: The "a" in "rapid" makes a short, sharp sound, similar to the "a" in "cat" or "hat". It's not the long "a" sound you hear in words like "cake" or "name".
Let me know if you have any other words you want to analyze!