Which one of the following words has a different sound ( underlined ) at the beginning?

Question

Accepted Answer

Option 1, "sure," is the correct answer because it has a different sound at the beginning compared to the other options. Let's analyze each option to understand why "sure" is distinct:

1. **Sure**: The word "sure" begins with the "sh" sound, which is phonetically represented as /ʃ/. This sound is produced by placing the tongue close to the roof of the mouth and allowing air to pass through, creating a soft, hissing sound.

2. **Cell**: The word "cell" begins with the "s" sound, phonetically represented as /s/. This sound is produced by placing the tongue close to the roof of the mouth but without the tongue touching it, allowing air to pass through and creating a sharp, hissing sound.

3. **Sell**: Similar to "cell," the word "sell" also begins with the "s" sound, /s/. The pronunciation and production of this sound are identical to that of "cell."

4. **Psychology**: The word "psychology" begins with the "s" sound, /s/, despite the initial "p" in the spelling. The "p" is silent, and the pronunciation starts with the same "s" sound as in "cell" and "sell."

In summary, "sure" is the only word among the options that begins with the "sh" sound /ʃ/, making it distinct from the other words, which all start with the "s" sound /s/. This difference in initial sound is why Option 1 is the correct answer.