Advanced Placement (AP) English Language and Composition Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Enhance your AP English Language skills. Tackle flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Ace your exam with confidence!

Start Multiple Choice Practice Test
Start Flash Cards

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

Alliteration is based on what key feature?

  1. The repetition of identical vowel sounds

  2. The repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of words

  3. The use of rhyming words at the end of phrases

  4. The variation of syllabic stress in speech

The correct answer is: The repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of words

Alliteration is defined by the repetition of the same consonant sounds at the beginning of words. This literary device is often used to create rhythm, enhance mood, and unify phrases in poetry and prose. By starting several words with the same consonant sound, alliteration draws attention to those words and improves the auditory quality of language, making it more engaging for the reader or listener. While the other options present different linguistic concepts, they do not accurately describe alliteration. Identical vowel sounds refer to assonance, while rhyming words at the end of phrases pertain to rhyme. The variation of syllabic stress relates to meter and prosody in poetry, which is different from alliteration. Thus, the distinctive feature defining alliteration is indeed the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.

More Questions Like This