Which of the following is the best definition of phonological awareness?

A. Sensitivity to units of sound used in the English language
B. Awareness that the speech stream consists of a sequence of sounds or phonemes
C. Awareness of the smallest unit of sound
D. Ability to follow verbal instructions

my answer is c.

I agree.

thanks Ms. Sue

I just took the exam and the correct answer was a.

You're welcome, Daniela. I don't see much difference between a and c. However -- as always -- be sure to check your book carefully.

I took 90 points in exam. Thanks for your help.

The best definition of phonological awareness is actually option B: Awareness that the speech stream consists of a sequence of sounds or phonemes.

To arrive at this answer, let's break down the choices and analyze them:

A. Sensitivity to units of sound used in the English language:
This definition is partially correct, as phonological awareness does involve being aware of units of sound. However, it is not limited to just the English language, as phonological awareness applies to any spoken language.

B. Awareness that the speech stream consists of a sequence of sounds or phonemes:
This is the best definition of phonological awareness. It refers to the understanding that words can be broken down into individual sounds, or phonemes, and that these sounds can be combined to make words.

C. Awareness of the smallest unit of sound:
While this definition is close, it does not fully capture the essence of phonological awareness. Phonemes are the smallest units of sound, but phonological awareness involves more than just recognition of individual sounds.

D. Ability to follow verbal instructions:
This definition does not align with the concept of phonological awareness. Phonological awareness focuses on understanding the structure and components of spoken language, rather than the ability to follow instructions.

Therefore, the correct answer is option B: Awareness that the speech stream consists of a sequence of sounds or phonemes.