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

Analyze the question: You are asked to find the word in which the sound /b/ is actually pronounced. The trick is that English has several words with a "b" in the spelling that is silent.

Explain the concept: In English, the letter "b" is silent in two common patterns:

• After "m" at the end of a word, as in womb, thumb, comb, tomb, climb, lamb.
• Before "t" in some words, as in doubt, debt, subtle.

Step-by-step solution:

• A. womb is pronounced /wuːm/. The "b" is silent, so there is no /b/ sound.
• B. doubt is pronounced /daʊt/. The "b" is silent, so there is no /b/ sound.
• C. public is pronounced /ˈpʌblɪk/. The "b" is clearly sounded in the middle, so the /b/ sound is present.
• D. thumb is pronounced /θʌm/. The "b" is silent, so there is no /b/ sound.

Answer: Option C, public, is the only word in which the /b/ sound is pronounced.

Exam tip: In "which word contains this sound" questions, first cross out words with silent letters. Remember the pattern "mb" at the end of a word means silent b (womb, thumb, comb, bomb, climb), and "bt" means silent b (doubt, debt). Whatever remains is your answer.