Choose the options that have the same consonant as the ones represented by the letter(s) underlined leisure

Analyze the question

The word "leisure" has an underlined consonant, which is probably the "s" in "leisure" (the underline didn't show in the question, but this is the standard version of this question). The sound of "s" in "leisure" is /ʒ/, as in "measure" or "vision". We need the option with the same /ʒ/ sound.

Concept

The /ʒ/ sound (voiced palato-alveolar fricative) is spelled in different ways: "s" in leisure, pleasure, treasure, "si" in vision, "g" in garage. It is different from /ʃ/ (as in sure, ship) and from /dʒ/ (as in judge, ledger).

Solution

Transcribe each option:

• A. sure /ʃʊə/: the "s" is /ʃ/ (voiceless), so this is not a match.
• B. ledger /ˈledʒə/: the "dg" is /dʒ/ (an affricate), so this is not a match.
• C. treasure /ˈtreʒə/: the "s" is /ʒ/, so this is a match.
• D. judge /dʒʌdʒ/: the "dge" is /dʒ/, so this is not a match.

Only treasure has the /ʒ/ sound found in leisure /ˈleʒə/.

Answer: C. treasure

Tip

Watch for the trap pairs: /ʃ/ (sure) is voiceless, /ʒ/ (leisure) is voiced, and /dʒ/ (judge) starts with a "d" sound. To distinguish /ʒ/ from the others, remember the pattern "-sure" after a vowel (measure, pleasure, treasure, leisure), which is nearly always /ʒ/. The exception is sure and sugar, which have /ʃ/.