Here's why:
* Spelling: The "a" in "gate" is followed by a silent "e" at the end of the word. This is a common spelling pattern that usually indicates a long vowel sound.
* Pronunciation: The vowel sound in "gate" is the same as the vowel sound in "say" or "mate", which is a long "a" sound.
Therefore, "gate" has a long vowel sound, not a short vowel sound.