Phoneme is defined as:

Phoneme is defined as:

• A. The smallest individual sounds in a word.
• B. The ability to hear rhymes.
• C. The onset and rime.
• D. The system that relates sounds to meanings by mouth.

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is what a phoneme is—the smallest unit of sound in a language that can change the meaning of a word. Think of the difference between the sounds at the start of “pat” and “bat.” Those initial sounds are distinct phonemes, and swapping one for the other changes the word entirely. Other ideas describe related but different concepts. Hearing rhymes is about recognizing similar ending sounds, not identifying the smallest unit of sound. Onset and rime refer to parts of a syllable rather than the most basic sound unit. The last description points to a broader system that connects sounds to meanings, which is a bigger framework than the single phoneme itself.

The main idea being tested is what a phoneme is—the smallest unit of sound in a language that can change the meaning of a word. Think of the difference between the sounds at the start of “pat” and “bat.” Those initial sounds are distinct phonemes, and swapping one for the other changes the word entirely.

Other ideas describe related but different concepts. Hearing rhymes is about recognizing similar ending sounds, not identifying the smallest unit of sound. Onset and rime refer to parts of a syllable rather than the most basic sound unit. The last description points to a broader system that connects sounds to meanings, which is a bigger framework than the single phoneme itself.