NES English Language Arts (ELA) (301) Practice Test

Which metrical foot is described as short-long, da-dum?

Trochee Antapest Spondee IAMB / IAMIC

Correct Answer:

IAMB / IAMIC

Explanation:

In poetry, feet are small units of rhythm that pair syllables in a set pattern. The one described as short-long, or da-dum, is the iamb. It pattern-reads as an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable, like da-DUM when you say it aloud. This rising rhythm feels natural in English and is the backbone of iambic meter, especially in lines that use five iambs per line, known as iambic pentameter. For contrast, other feet mix up the stress order: a trochee is stressed-unstressed (DUM-da), a spondee has two stressed syllables (DUM-DUM), and there are longer feet like anapest (unstressed-unstressed-stressed) and dactyl (stressed-unstressed-unstressed).

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