Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Practice Test

What is the outcome of blending sounds in phonemic awareness?

1. Recognizing the sounds in spoken words

2. Isolating letters in a written text

3. Identifying the meaning of print

4. Segmenting sounds from a word

The correct answer is: Recognizing the sounds in spoken words

Blending sounds in phonemic awareness is primarily about recognizing how individual phonemes (the smallest units of sound) come together to form spoken words. This skill is a critical component of early reading development, as it enables children to combine sounds to create words they hear. For instance, when a teacher says the sounds /b/, /a/, and /t/, a child who has developed the ability to blend those sounds will recognize that they form the word "bat." This foundational skill lays the groundwork for later reading and spelling abilities. The other choices involve different aspects of phonological awareness or literacy skills. Identifying the meaning of print refers to comprehension, which is not the focus of blending sounds, while isolating letters and segmenting sounds are distinct tasks that involve manipulating phonemes rather than blending them. Thus, recognizing the sounds in spoken words through blending is the correct outcome highlighted in this context.