Here's why:
* Short Vowel Sound: The "o" in "smoke" makes a short "o" sound, similar to the "o" in "hot" or "dog".
* Long Vowel Sound: Long vowel sounds are usually indicated by a vowel followed by a silent "e" (like "bake") or a vowel followed by another vowel (like "meat").
Therefore, the "o" in "smoke" makes a short vowel sound, not a long vowel sound.