Utah Foundation of Reading Test (FORT) Practice Test 2025 - Free Reading Practice Questions and Study Guide.

Digraphs in the English language refer to combinations of two letters that come together to represent a single sound. For instance, the letters "sh" in the word "ship" create a unique sound distinct from the individual sounds of the letters "s" and "h" when pronounced separately. This characteristic is what sets digraphs apart from other letter combinations, as they do not simply signify the individual phonemes of their constituent letters but rather create a new phoneme altogether.

Understanding the role of digraphs is essential for both reading and spelling, as they help represent sounds that may not be easily captured by a single letter. This forms a fundamental aspect of phonics and literacy instruction, aiding learners in decoding and encoding words accurately. The correct answer emphasizes the idea that digraphs merge to form sounds, which is crucial for phonetic awareness in language development.