Choose the word that has the same consonant sound as the one in bracket Non[ch]alant

Analyze the question: "Nonchalant" is pronounced /ˈnɒnʃəl(ə)nt/. The "ch" in it makes the /ʃ/ sound (as in "sh"), not the /tʃ/ sound of "chair". We need the option whose underlined sound is /ʃ/.

Concept: In English, "ch" has three common sounds:

• /tʃ/ as in chair, church, arch, chest
• /ʃ/ as in machine, chef, champagne, nonchalant (mostly words borrowed from French)
• /k/ as in school, chemist

Check each option:

• A. television has the sound /ʒ/ (the "s" in "vision"). This is similar to /ʃ/ but voiced, so it is not the same sound.
• B. arch has /tʃ/, as in "church". Not a match.
• C. champagne is pronounced /ʃæmˈpeɪn/, and "ch" is /ʃ/. This matches "nonchalant".
• D. chest has /tʃ/. Not a match.

Answer: C. champagne

Tip: Words with "ch" that come from French (chef, machine, chauffeur, champagne, chandelier, nonchalant, parachute) usually take the /ʃ/ sound. Words from Old English (chair, church, chest, arch) usually take /tʃ/. Also be careful with option A, since /ʒ/ and /ʃ/ are close cousins, but one is voiced and the other voiceless.