Spelling Patterns — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Which word has a silent letter?
A) lamp
B) wrist
C) step
D) plan
"Wrist" has a silent w at the beginning, following the wr- pattern where only the r sound is pronounced.
2. Which vowel team word is spelled correctly?
A) trane
B) trian
C) train
D) trayn
"Train" is spelled correctly because it uses the vowel team ai, where the a makes its long sound and the i is silent.
3. What is the correct spelling when you double the consonant in "get" and add -ing?
A) geting
B) getting
C) gettting
D) gitting
"Get" has a short vowel followed by one consonant, so you double the t before adding -ing to spell "getting" and keep the short e sound.
4. Which group of words all contain a silent letter?
A) comb, lamb, crumb
B) jump, camp, lamp
C) hand, band, sand
D) belt, melt, felt
"Comb," "lamb," and "crumb" all end with a silent b -- you never hear the b sound, but it must be written in each word.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. Please listen carefully when the teacher is speaking. (silent t word)
"Listen" has a silent t tucked between the s and the e, so you say "lissen" but must include the t when you spell it.
2. She could smell the cookies baking from down the hall. (consonant blend sm-)
"Smell" starts with the consonant blend sm-, where the s and m sounds flow together, and it has a double l at the end.
3. The baby grabbed the rattle and shook it loudly. (grab → double b + -ed)
"Grab" has a short vowel followed by one consonant, so you double the b before adding -ed to spell "grabbed" and protect the short a sound.
4. A large group of fish swimming together is called a school. (vowel team oo word: sch-)
"School" uses the vowel team oo for the long oo sound and starts with the unusual blend sch-, and it can mean both a place of learning and a group of fish.
5. He used his knuckle to scratch an itch on his arm. (silent k word: kn-)
"Knuckle" follows the kn- pattern with a silent k, so you only hear "nuckle" but must write the k at the start.