Choose the word that has the same consonant sound as the one in bracket; Smoo[th]

Analyze the question: "Smoo[th]" has the letters "th" at the end. In "smooth," this is the voiced /ð/ sound (as in "the," "this," "that"). It is not the voiceless /θ/ sound (as in "think," "bath"). We need the option whose "th" is also voiced /ð/.

Concept: English "th" has two sounds:

• Voiceless /θ/: your vocal cords do not vibrate (think, worth, wealth, bath).
• Voiced /ð/: your vocal cords vibrate (smooth, brother, mother, this).

Tip for checking: put your fingers on your throat. If you feel a vibration, it is voiced.

Solution, option by option:

• A. worth → /wɜːθ/. The "th" is voiceless /θ/. ✗
• B. wealthy → /ˈwelθi/. The "th" is voiceless /θ/. ✗
• C. brother → /ˈbrʌðə/. The "th" is voiced /ð/. ✓
• D. dress → /dres/. There is no "th" at all. The consonants are /d/, /r/, /s/. ✗

Answer: The "th" in "brother" has the same voiced /ð/ sound as in "smooth," so the correct option is C.

Exam tip: Words ending in a silent "e" after "th" (smooth, breathe, bathe, soothe) are usually voiced, while the noun forms without the "e" (breath, bath) are voiceless. Also, "th" in the middle of everyday words like mother, father, brother, other, and weather is usually voiced. Remember "wealthy" and "healthy" are the exceptions to this: they are voiceless.