Mississippi Foundations of Reading Practice Test

Which syllable type is represented in the word "baby"?

1. Open syllable

2. Closed syllable

3. Silent syllable

4. Compound syllable

The correct answer is: Open syllable

The syllable type represented in the word "baby" is an open syllable. An open syllable is characterized by having a vowel sound at the end, which is typically a long vowel sound. In "baby," the first syllable "ba" has the vowel 'a' that is open-ended, followed by a consonant, while the second syllable "by" also ends with a vowel sound. This structure makes both syllables in the word open syllables. Open syllables often create a long vowel sound, as seen here with the 'a' in "baby," which is pronounced as /eɪ/, contributing to the word's phonetic flow. In contrast, other syllable types have different characteristics; for instance, closed syllables end with a consonant and produce a short vowel sound, while compound syllables consist of two or more whole syllables combined, and silent syllables do not contribute to the phonetic structure of the word. Hence, the classification of "baby" as having open syllables is precise.