Choose from the options lettered A - E the one that contains the sound segment represented by the given phonetic symbol /ʃ/

Analyze the question: You are asked to find the word that contains the sound /ʃ/, the "sh" sound as in ship.

Concept: In English, the /ʃ/ sound can be spelled in several ways, not just "sh". In words borrowed from French, "ch" is often pronounced /ʃ/ (e.g., machine, chef, champagne). The usual English "ch" is /tʃ/ (as in church), and the Greek-origin "ch" is /k/ (as in chronic).

Check each option:

• A. chalet is pronounced /ˈʃæleɪ/. The "ch" is /ʃ/, as in French loanwords. ✔
• B. chronic is pronounced /ˈkrɒnɪk/. The "ch" is /k/. ✘
• C. church is pronounced /tʃɜːtʃ/. The "ch" is /tʃ/, which is a different sound (the affricate). ✘
• D. source is pronounced /sɔːs/. The sound is /s/. ✘
• E. starch is pronounced /stɑːtʃ/. It ends in /tʃ/. ✘

Answer: Only chalet contains /ʃ/.

Tip: Remember the difference between /ʃ/ and /tʃ/. /ʃ/ is a smooth "sh" with no "t" at the start, while /tʃ/ has a "t" burst, as in church and starch. French-derived words like chalet, chef, chute, machine and parachute usually take /ʃ/ for "ch". Greek-derived words like chronic, chemistry, chorus and school take /k/.