Mississippi Foundations of Reading Practice Test

Which of the following describes a consonant blend?

1. Two letters whose sounds can be blended together

2. Three or more letters that create a single sound

3. A single letter representing a vocal sound

4. A group of vowels combined

The correct answer is: Two letters whose sounds can be blended together

A consonant blend consists of two or more consonant sounds that are pronounced in succession, with each sound retaining its own identity. When you encounter a consonant blend, you can hear each consonant as you say the blend, such as in the words "bl" in "black" or "st" in "stop." This allows for the distinct sounds of each consonant to be combined to form a single syllable, which is essential for developing phonemic awareness in early readers. Other options do not accurately describe a consonant blend. For example, a structure involving three or more letters creating a single sound refers more accurately to a consonant digraph, where two letters together represent one sound, like "sh" in "ship." A single letter representing a vocal sound pertains to individual phonemes or letters rather than blends, while a group of vowels combined involves vowel teams or diphthongs. Understanding the specific nature of consonant blends helps in teaching and recognizing phonetic structures in words.