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

Analyze the question: You are asked to find the word containing the sound /ʒ/. This is the "voiced palato-alveolar fricative", the middle sound in words like vision and measure.

Explain the concept: /ʒ/ is the voiced partner of /ʃ/ (as in ship). Both are made in the same place, but /ʒ/ uses the voice (vocal cords vibrate). Common spellings are "s" in pleasure, treasure, usual, and "ge" in garage, beige.

Check each option:

• A. pressure /ˈpreʃə/: the "ss" gives the voiceless /ʃ/, not /ʒ/.
• B. nurture /ˈnɜːtʃə/: the "t" gives /tʃ/, as in church.
• C. treasure /ˈtreʒə/: the "s" is pronounced /ʒ/. ✔
• D. champagne /ʃæmˈpeɪn/: the "ch" gives /ʃ/, not /ʒ/.

Answer: The correct option is C. treasure.

Tip: Compare the pairs. Pressure has /ʃ/ (voiceless, like "sh"), while treasure has /ʒ/ (voiced). Put your fingers on your throat: for /ʒ/ you feel a vibration, for /ʃ/ you don't. Also remember that "-sure" after a vowel, as in measure, pleasure and treasure, is usually /ʒ/, while "-ssure", as in pressure, is usually /ʃ/.