Mississippi Foundations of Reading Practice Test

Which of the following best defines "alliteration"?

1. The repetition of initial phoneme across syllables or words

2. A method used for teaching reading comprehension

3. A type of phonetic variant in speech

4. The combination of parts of a word into a whole

The correct answer is: The repetition of initial phoneme across syllables or words

The definition of "alliteration" refers specifically to the repetition of initial phonemes, which are the sounds at the beginning of words, across a sequence of syllables or words. This literary device is commonly used to create rhythm, enhance the aesthetic quality of language, and aid in memorization, making it effective in poetry and prose. For instance, in phrases like "She sells seashells by the seashore," the repeated 's' sound exemplifies alliteration. This technique draws attention to the words, making the language more engaging and memorable. While the other options describe different concepts in language and literacy, they do not align with the definition of alliteration. Teaching reading comprehension involves a range of strategies, phonetic variants deal with sound alterations, and combining parts of a word refers to morphological processes, but none of these accurately represents alliteration itself.