Choose the word that contains the sound represented by the given phonetic symbol /ʊ/

Analyze the question: You are asked to find the word that contains the vowel sound /ʊ/. This is the short vowel in words like "put" and "book". It is different from /uː/, the long vowel in "food".

Explain the concept:

• /ʊ/ is a short, relaxed vowel. Examples: book, good, foot, put, full.
• /uː/ is a long vowel. Examples: food, moon, juice, cool.
• /aʊ/ is a diphthong (a glide between two vowel sounds). Examples: house, mouse, now.

Solution, word by word:

• A. hook is pronounced /hʊk/. The "oo" is short, so it contains /ʊ/. ✔
• B. juice is pronounced /dʒuːs/. The vowel is long /uː/. ✘
• C. cool is pronounced /kuːl/. The vowel is long /uː/. ✘
• D. souse is pronounced /saʊs/. It has the diphthong /aʊ/, not the pure vowel /ʊ/. ✘

Answer: A. hook

Tip: The "oo" spelling can be either short or long. Short /ʊ/ often appears before the letter k (book, look, cook, hook, took). Long /uː/ often appears in words like cool, food, moon, pool. Say the word aloud. If your mouth stays short and relaxed, it is /ʊ/. If you stretch the sound, it is /uː/.