Which statement describes a closed syllable?

• A. Ends in a vowel and long vowel sound
• B. Ends in a vowel with a short vowel sound
• C. Ends in a consonant and short vowel sound
• D. Ends in a silent e

Answer: (C)

A closed syllable ends in a consonant, which “closes” the syllable and typically makes the vowel sound short. Think of nap, cat, or sit—the vowel is short because the final consonant stops it from being long. That’s why describing a closed syllable as ending in a consonant and having a short vowel sound fits best.

The other descriptions point to different syllable patterns: ending in a vowel with a long sound describes an open syllable, ending in a vowel with a short sound isn’t a standard defining pattern for a common type, and ending in a silent e describes the magic-e pattern where the final e is silent and often makes the preceding vowel long.