Which word in the sample shows initial consonant substitution?

Which word in the sample shows initial consonant substitution?

• A. duck
• B. can
• C. tree
• D. stop

Answer: (B)

Initial consonant substitution happens when the first sound of a word is replaced by a different consonant, while the rest of the word stays the same. In the sample, the word shown has the onset changed to a different consonant, creating a recognizable, but altered, beginning while the remainder of the word remains a familiar rhyme. That makes it the clearest case of an onset (initial consonant) substitution among the options. The other words either preserve the original starting sound or involve more than a simple onset change, so they don’t illustrate this pattern as clearly.

Initial consonant substitution happens when the first sound of a word is replaced by a different consonant, while the rest of the word stays the same. In the sample, the word shown has the onset changed to a different consonant, creating a recognizable, but altered, beginning while the remainder of the word remains a familiar rhyme. That makes it the clearest case of an onset (initial consonant) substitution among the options. The other words either preserve the original starting sound or involve more than a simple onset change, so they don’t illustrate this pattern as clearly.