Short Vowels — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Which word has a short o sound?
A) stop
B) stove
C) stone
D) store
Stop is CCVC with short o; the others have long o from silent e or r-controlled o. The CCVC pattern keeps the vowel short.
2. Which word has a short a sound?
A) cape
B) clap
C) cake
D) came
Clap is CCVC with short a. Cape, cake, and came all use silent e for long a. Silent e is the key signal for long vowels.
3. Which word has a short e sound?
A) deep
B) dear
C) desk
D) deed
Desk is CVCC with short e. The others have long e or r-controlled e. CVCC patterns keep the vowel short.
4. Which word has a short a sound?
A) face
B) fast
C) fade
D) fame
Fast is CVCC with short a. Face, fade, and fame all use silent e to make long a. Silent e signals a long vowel.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Please stop at the red light before crossing the road.
Stop is a CCVC word with the short o sound. The st- blend does not change the short vowel in the middle.
2. We clap our hands loudly to the music at recess.
Clap is a CCVC word with short a. The cl- blend keeps the short a sound between l and p.
3. My school desk is made of smooth polished wood.
Desk is a CVCC word with short e. The -sk ending keeps the vowel short.
4. The fastest cheetah runs very fast across the plain.
Fast is a CVCC word with short a. The -st ending locks in the short vowel sound.
5. I love to spin the spinning top around and around.
Spin is a CCVC word with short i. The sp- blend does not change the short vowel.