TEXES Science of Teaching Reading Practice Test

What defines a monophthong in phonetics?

1. A complex vowel composed of two configurations of vocal organs

2. The vowel and any following consonants

3. A simple vowel composed of a single configuration of vocal organs

4. Any consonants following the nucleus

The correct answer is: A simple vowel composed of a single configuration of vocal organs

A monophthong is defined as a simple vowel sound that is produced with a single, unchanging configuration of the vocal organs during its articulation. This means that as the sound is produced, the position of the tongue and the shape of the mouth remain stable throughout the duration of the vowel. Unlike diphthongs, which are made up of two vowel sounds combined in a way that the articulatory position changes, monophthongs maintain one stable vocal quality. For example, the vowel sound in 'cat' is a monophthong, as the tongue remains in the same position without any glide or change in quality as the sound is produced. The other options describe characteristics that do not accurately depict a monophthong. A complex vowel with two configurations and any consonants following the nucleus do not encapsulate the singular nature of a monophthong, which is solely about the uniform and consistent vowel sound itself.