girl — choose the word that has the same consonant sound(s) as ihe one represented by the leter(s) underlined

The question: the underlined letter(s) in "girl" is not shown, but it is almost certainly the g, which is pronounced /g/ (a hard "g").

Step 1: Find the sound in "girl" "girl" = /gɜːl/. The initial consonant sound is the hard /g/.

Step 2: Check each option

• A. badge (/bædʒ/): the "dg" makes the /dʒ/ sound, as in "judge". Not a match.
• B. gist (/dʒɪst/): here "g" is soft, making /dʒ/. Not a match.
• C. bringing (/ˈbrɪŋɪŋ/): the "ng" makes the /ŋ/ sound. The "g" is silent in the sense that it is part of the nasal sound, so it is not /g/. Not a match.
• D. examine (/ɪgˈzæmɪn/): the "x" here is pronounced /gz/, so it contains the /g/ sound. This matches "girl".

Step 3: Answer The only option containing the hard /g/ sound is examine, where "x" is pronounced /gz/.

Tip: Remember that "g" is hard (/g/) before a, o, u, and most times before consonants. It is often soft (/dʒ/) before e, i, y, as in "gist" and "gentle". Exceptions such as "girl", "give" and "get" are common in exams, so learn them. Also watch for "x" turning into /gz/ in words like "exam", "exact" and "examine".