Connecticut Foundations of Reading Test (FORT) Practice

Which of the following best describes the term "rime"?

1. The vowel and all sounds that follow it in a syllable

2. The first sound in a syllable

3. The syllable without any vowels

4. The main part of a word that carries its meaning

The correct answer is: The vowel and all sounds that follow it in a syllable

The term "rime" is best described as the vowel and all sounds that follow it in a syllable. This concept is crucial in phonics and phonemic awareness, as it helps in understanding how words are constructed and how they can be manipulated, which is fundamental for developing reading skills. In a syllable, the rime consists of the vowel and any subsequent consonants, allowing learners to recognize patterns in spelling and pronunciation. For example, in the word "cat," the rime is the "at" part, consisting of the vowel "a" and the consonant "t" that follows. Recognizing rimes helps in decoding new words and improving reading fluency, as it allows students to group words with similar endings together, making them easier to read and process. The other options do not accurately reflect the definition of "rime": the first sound in a syllable refers to the onset, the syllable without any vowels doesn't describe the rime and instead would refer to consonants, and the main part of a word that carries its meaning pertains more to the root or base of a word rather than the phonic structure involved in rime.