Connecticut Foundations of Reading Test (FORT) Practice 2026 – The All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

The answer is valid because "Boil" contains a vowel diphthong, which occurs when two vowel sounds are combined within the same syllable to create a single glide. In "Boil," the vowels 'o' and 'i' blend together to produce a unique sound that starts with the 'o' and glides into the 'i'.

Recognizing vowel diphthongs is essential in phonetics and literacy education, as they affect pronunciation and can influence a reader's ability to decode words accurately. In contrast, the other options consist of short vowel sounds: "Pin" has a short 'i,' "Step" includes a short 'e,' and "Cat" features a short 'a.' None of these options include the merging of two vowel sounds that characterizes a diphthong.