Which task involves recognizing specific sounds in a given context?

The correct task that involves recognizing specific sounds in a given context is sound isolation. This task focuses on the ability to identify a single sound within a word, phrase, or stream of speech. For example, when an individual is asked to identify the initial sound in the word “cat,” they pinpoint the 'k' sound amidst the entire word. This skill is essential in helping learners distinguish between different phonemes, which contributes to their overall language processing abilities.

In contrast, sound blending involves combining individual sounds to form a word. Sound segmentation is the process of breaking down a word into its individual sounds, while sound matching requires learners to find corresponding sounds between words or sounds. These tasks serve different purposes in phonemic awareness but do not specifically concentrate on the recognition of specific sounds in context as sound isolation does.