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Quizzes > English & Grammar

Alliteration Quiz: Spot Repeated Sounds in Lines and Phrases

Quick, free alliteration test to check your skills. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Raja SekharUpdated Aug 25, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration with layered letters and shapes hinting at alliteration quiz on coral background.

This alliteration quiz helps you spot repeated consonant sounds in headlines, poems, and short lines of prose. Practice separating true examples from look-alikes and get instant results as you go. To build wider skills, try the language techniques quiz, explore the alliteration and assonance quiz, or test yourself with a literary devices quiz.

In the tongue twister "Sally sells seashells by the seashore," which two words form the primary alliteration?
Seashells seashore
Sally sells
By the
Sells seashells
Alliteration requires the repetition of initial sounds. In this example, "Sally" and "sells" both begin with the /s/ sound, forming the primary alliteration in the phrase. While "seashells" and "seashore" also share /s/, the most prominent pairing is at the very start. This repetition creates the tongue-twisting effect.
Which literary device involves the repetition of initial consonant sounds in words?
Consonance
Onomatopoeia
Alliteration
Assonance
Alliteration is specifically the repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words. Assonance refers to repeated vowel sounds, consonance is repeated consonant sounds anywhere in a word, and onomatopoeia mimics sounds. Alliteration is often used for emphasis or to create rhythm.
Identify the repeated initial sound in the phrase "Cool cats can catch crickets."
/p/ sound
/s/ sound
/t/ sound
/k/ sound
The letter "C" in "Cool," "cats," "can," and "catch" is pronounced as the /k/ sound. This is a classic example of consonant alliteration. It creates a rhythmic and memorable phrase by repeating that initial sound.
Which words in "Fuzzy wuzzy was a bear" demonstrate alliteration?
Wuzzy was
Was a
Fuzzy bear
Fuzzy wuzzy
Alliteration is about initial repeated sounds. "Fuzzy" and "wuzzy" share the /z/ sound, making them the alliterative pair. The other word pairs do not start with the same sound. This helps the phrase stick in the reader's memory.
Which of the following is an example of vowel alliteration (repetition of the initial vowel sound)?
Eager eagles eat early
Fast friends find
Crazy cats climb
Big brown bears
Vowel alliteration involves repeating the initial vowel sound. "Eager," "eagles," "eat," and "early" all start with the long /?/ sound. The other options begin with different consonant sounds. This technique can soften the rhythm of a sentence.
In the sentence "The silent snake slithered skillfully," what type of alliteration is illustrated?
Consonant alliteration
Assonance
Internal rhyme
Paradelle
Consonant alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds, as seen with multiple words beginning with the /s/ sound. Assonance repeats vowel sounds, internal rhyme matches sounds within words, and paradelle is a poetic form. Here, the repeated /s/ gives a whispering feel.
Which of the following phrases does NOT contain alliteration?
Betty Botter bought some butter
She sells sea shells by the seashore
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers
A rolling stone gathers no moss
Alliteration relies on the repetition of initial sounds, typically consonants. "A rolling stone gathers no moss" does not repeat any starting consonant or vowel in adjacent words. The other examples all begin with the same letter sound. This makes the exception stand out.
Alliteration typically enhances writing by:
Creating rhythm and mood
Providing numerical data
Indicating time shifts
Clarifying plot details
Alliteration adds musicality to language, making text more engaging with a rhythmic pattern. It sets tone and mood by emphasizing repeated sounds. It's not used to convey factual details or chronology. Instead, it appeals to a reader's auditory senses.
Which term is used for alliteration that occurs within a line rather than at the beginning of adjacent words?
Eye rhyme
End rhyme
Internal alliteration
Head rhyme
Internal alliteration repeats sounds within words or in non-adjacent positions. Head rhyme is another name for standard alliteration at the word beginnings. Eye rhyme focuses on spelling, and end rhyme appears at line ends. Internal alliteration is more subtle.
In the following line from Shakespeare, "From forth the fatal loins of these two foes," identify the alliterated sound.
f
t
l
s
Shakespeare uses repeated /f/ sounds in "From," "forth," "fatal," and "foes." This creates a harsh, foreboding tone that fits the context. Alliteration here helps to underscore the sense of fate and conflict.
Which statement about alliteration is FALSE?
It can occur in prose
It can use vowel sounds
It enhances memorability
It is always based on spelling
Alliteration depends on sound rather than spelling, so different letters can create the same sound (e.g., 'c' and 'k'). It can involve vowels or consonants and appears in poetry and prose to make language more memorable. The false statement misrepresents how the device works.
The phrase "mad as a hatter" uses which type of alliteration?
Consonant alliteration
Metaphor
Alliteration does not apply
Assonance
In "mad as a hatter," the initial sounds /m/ and /h/ are different, so there's no alliteration. Assonance repeats vowel sounds, which isn't the case here, and metaphor is a comparative device. The phrase plays on rhyme but not repeated initials.
Which choice correctly distinguishes alliteration from consonance?
Alliteration is repetition of initial consonant sounds; consonance can repeat consonant sounds anywhere in words.
Alliteration and consonance are identical terms.
Alliteration always uses vowel sounds; consonance uses only consonants.
Alliteration is repetition at the end of words; consonance is at the beginning.
Alliteration specifically targets the initial sounds of words, whereas consonance refers to repeated consonant sounds that can occur at any position. The other definitions confuse the terms or assign them the same meaning. Understanding this distinction refines literary analysis.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Alliteration Basics -

    Learn the definition and key characteristics of alliteration to pinpoint repeated initial sounds in words.

  2. Identify Alliteration -

    Develop your ability to spot alliteration in various phrases and sentences with targeted alliteration questions.

  3. Distinguish Similar Sound Devices -

    Compare alliteration with other poetic devices to avoid confusion and enhance your literary analysis.

  4. Analyze Quiz Examples -

    Use our free alliteration quiz and alliteration test examples to reinforce your understanding through practical exercises.

  5. Apply Alliteration Techniques -

    Craft your own alliterative phrases and practice alliteration questions to boost your writing flair.

  6. Refine Auditory Sensitivity -

    Hone your ear for repeated sounds with playful exercises designed to sharpen your language savvy.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understanding Initial Consonant Repetition -

    Alliteration questions often hinge on hearing the repeated consonant sound at the start of words, such as "wild winds whip wildly." According to Purdue OWL, identifying the phonetic match rather than just the letter ensures accurate results on your alliteration quiz.

  2. Distinguishing from Assonance and Consonance -

    While alliteration focuses on initial sounds, assonance repeats vowel sounds (e.g., "lake and fate") and consonance repeats consonants in any position (e.g., "blank and think"). Oxford English Dictionary guidelines recommend spotting where sounds occur to identify alliteration versus these related devices.

  3. Emphasizing Stressed Syllables -

    Strong alliteration relies on stressed syllables, so "She sells sea shells" works better than unaccented pairs. Grammarly's writing lab notes that paying attention to word stress elevates your accuracy on an alliteration test and makes your prose more impactful.

  4. Practicing with Tongue Twisters -

    Using classic tongue twisters - "Peter Piper picked…" or "Betty Botter bought…" - provides a fun way to practice alliteration questions. The British Council suggests turning these into a quick alliteration quiz to sharpen your ear and identify alliteration under time pressure.

  5. Applying Alliteration in Writing -

    Alliteration isn't just for quizzes; use it to add rhythm and mood to essays or marketing copy. According to the University of North Carolina Writing Center, weaving well-placed alliterative phrases like "bold beginnings beckon" can captivate readers and strengthen your message.

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