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What skill does phonemic awareness refer to?

  1. The ability to read and comprehend text

  2. Identifying and manipulating individual sounds in language

  3. Studying the relationship of letters to sounds

  4. Recognizing long and short vowel sounds

The correct answer is: Identifying and manipulating individual sounds in language

Phonemic awareness refers specifically to the skill of identifying and manipulating the individual sounds, or phonemes, that make up words. This foundational skill in literacy involves being able to hear, isolate, blend, segment, and manipulate these sounds in spoken language. It is crucial for developing reading and spelling skills, as it helps learners understand how sounds connect to form words. While other options mention important aspects of language and literacy, they do not capture the essence of phonemic awareness. The ability to read and comprehend text, for instance, relies on a variety of skills beyond just understanding individual sounds. Similarly, studying the relationship of letters to sounds relates more to phonics, where the focus is on the written aspects of language, rather than the auditory skills that phonemic awareness emphasizes. Recognizing long and short vowel sounds also pertains to phonics and vowel instruction, which is more specific than the broader concept of manipulating individual sounds. Thus, the correct understanding of phonemic awareness is rooted in the ability to focus on and work with the distinct sounds that comprise spoken words.