/s/ — choose the word that contains the sound represented by the phonetic symbol

Analyze the question: You are asked to find the word that contains the sound /s/ (the "s" sound as in sun or sit).

Concept: The symbol /s/ is a voiceless alveolar fricative. Do not confuse it with:

• /ʃ/ as in ship (the "sh" sound)
• /tʃ/ as in chair (the "ch" sound)
• /z/ as in zoo (the voiced "s")

Solution: Let's check each word by its pronunciation.

• A. cash is /kæʃ/. It ends with /ʃ/ (sh), so it has no /s/.
• B. church is /tʃɜːtʃ/. It has /tʃ/ twice, so it has no /s/.
• C. slash is /slæʃ/. It begins with /s/ (as in sleep) and ends with /ʃ/. So it does contain /s/.
• D. bees is /biːz/. The final "s" is pronounced /z/ because it follows a voiced vowel sound, so it has no /s/.

Answer: Only slash contains the /s/ sound, so the correct option is C.

Tip: Say the word slowly and listen to each sound, not the spelling. The letter "s" can be pronounced /s/, /z/ or /ʃ/. A plural "s" is /z/ after voiced sounds (bees, dogs) and /s/ after voiceless sounds (cats, books). Also, "sh" in cash and slash is /ʃ/, a different sound from /s/.