Mississippi Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What constitutes a consonant cluster?

1. A combination of vowels that creates a unique sound

2. Two letters that form a single sound

3. Three or more letters whose sounds can be blended together

4. A string of letters that cannot be pronounced

The correct answer is: Three or more letters whose sounds can be blended together

A consonant cluster refers to a specific arrangement of consonant sounds that occur together in a syllable without any vowels separating them. The correct definition identifies a grouping of three or more consonant letters that can be pronounced in succession, allowing their individual sounds to blend together smoothly. For instance, in the word 'strengths,' the initial consonant cluster 'str' consists of three consonants that are articulated in a single syllable. In contrast, the other options address different concepts. A combination of vowels creating a unique sound pertains to vowel digraphs or diphthongs, which involve vowels rather than consonants. Two letters forming a single sound could refer to a digraph, where two consonants together represent one phoneme, like "sh" or "ch." Meanwhile, a string of letters that cannot be pronounced describes a grouping that lacks phonetic viability, which does not apply to consonant clusters that can indeed be articulated.