What is the meaning of the alphabetic principle?

• A. Each letter makes a predictable sound
• B. Letters don't always correspond to sounds
• C. Reading meaning comes from pictures
• D. Spelling is not related to sounds

Answer: (B)

The idea being tested is that letters are connected to the sounds of spoken language, and readers use that link to decode words. In practice, this means learners recognize common sound-letter patterns and blend them to pronounce unfamiliar words. It’s also important to know that English isn’t perfectly regular—some letters or letter combinations don’t match a single sound in every word, and some letters can be silent. So the meaning captures both the general relationship between letters and sounds and the reality that there are exceptions learners must navigate. This helps explain why decoding relies on patterns while still accommodating irregular spellings.