Here's why:
* The "o" in "stole" is pronounced like the "o" in "go" or "no." This is a long vowel sound, represented by the vowel "o" with a macron over it (ō).
* Short vowel sounds are typically found in words where the vowel is followed by a single consonant (e.g., "cat," "dog," "pen"). The "o" in "stole" is followed by two consonants ("l" and "e").
Therefore, the "o" in "stole" is a long vowel sound.