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

Analyze the question: You are asked to find the word that contains the consonant sound /k/ (the sound at the start of "cat" or "kite").

Concept: In English, the letter "c" and the letter combination "ch" can each be pronounced in different ways. Here are the sounds that matter:

• "c" before e, i, or y is usually soft, sounding like /s/ (e.g., "city").
• "ch" is usually /tʃ/ (e.g., "chair"), but in words of Greek origin it is often /k/ (e.g., "chemist", "school", "chorus").

Solution, option by option:

• A. civil: The first "c" comes before "i", so it is soft and sounds /s/. The word is /ˈsɪvl/. The sounds are /s/, not /k/. ❌
• B. choral: This comes from Greek "chorus", so "ch" is pronounced /k/. The word is /ˈkɔːrəl/. It starts with /k/. ✅
• C. chore: Here "ch" is /tʃ/, so the word is /tʃɔː/. ❌
• D. choose: "ch" is /tʃ/, so the word is /tʃuːz/. ❌

Answer: The correct option is B. choral, which begins with /k/.

Tip: Words of Greek origin with "ch" usually take the /k/ sound: choir, chorus, chemistry, character, school, echo, ache, stomach. Common everyday words like chair, church, choose, chore, chin take /tʃ/. A word that sounds like "chorus" is a good clue for "choral."