New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What does phonological awareness encompass?

1. Only the ability to read aloud accurately

2. Ability to identify and manipulate sounds in spoken language

3. Understanding written words and their definitions

4. Recognizing letter names only

The correct answer is: Ability to identify and manipulate sounds in spoken language

Phonological awareness refers to the ability to recognize and manipulate the various sound units in spoken language. This includes skills such as identifying and working with syllables, onsets and rimes, and phonemes. Being able to segment, blend, and manipulate sounds is crucial for developing reading and writing skills, as it lays the foundation for understanding how sounds correlate with letters in written language. This multifaceted skill set goes beyond just verbal identification; it involves actively engaging with the sounds themselves, demonstrating a deeper level of comprehension necessary for literacy development. For example, a child who can identify that the word "cat" consists of three distinct phonemes /k/, /æ/, and /t/ is exhibiting phonological awareness. In contrast, the incorrect options do not encapsulate the comprehensive nature of phonological awareness. Reading aloud accurately pertains more to fluency than to sound manipulation. Understanding written words and their definitions involves comprehension skills, which go beyond the auditory focus of phonological awareness. Recognizing letter names touches on letter identification but does not include the manipulation of sounds or the broader auditory processing necessary for phonological skills.