gi(gg)le — choose the word that has the same consonant sound(s) as the one represented by the letter(s) in…

Analyze the question: This is a phonetics question on consonant sounds. In "giggle", the letters "gg" represent the sound /g/ (as in go), the hard g. We need the option whose "g" gives that same /g/ sound.

Explain the concept: The letter "g" has two main sounds:

• Hard g /g/, as in go, game, giggle
• Soft g /dʒ/, as in gem, giant, gesture

(There is also /ʒ/, as in genre and measure.)

Solution: check each option

• A. league is pronounced /liːg/. The final "g" (in "gue") is the hard /g/. This matches giggle.
• B. ensign is pronounced /ˈensaɪn/. The "g" is silent, so it has no matching sound.
• C. genre is pronounced /ˈʒɒnrə/. The "g" is /ʒ/, which does not match.
• D. gesture is pronounced /ˈdʒestʃə/. The "g" is /dʒ/, the soft g, so it does not match.

Answer: The only word with the hard /g/ sound is league, which is option A.

Exam tip: Always go by the sound, not the spelling. For "g" questions, ask yourself: does it sound like go (/g/), like judge (/dʒ/), like the s in measure (/ʒ/), or is it silent (as in sign, ensign, foreign)? Say each word aloud quietly to hear it.