Register

Honors English Semester Practice Exam

Access More Questions
Which term denotes harsh sounds used to create dissonance?
Correct Answer:
Cacophony
Explanation:
Cacophony captures the idea of harsh, jarring sounds that clash to create dissonance. It signals an overall noisy, disordered effect—the kind of soundscape a reader would associate with chaos or discomfort. The term comes from Greek for “bad sound,” which grows exactly from using hard, abrupt sounds and irregular rhythm to produce a sense of unease. In contrast, euphony refers to pleasant, harmonious sounds; discord is a general lack of harmony or agreement, and dissonance is the tense, unstable sound quality often produced by clashing notes. So the best fit for harsh sounds used to create dissonance is cacophony.

Access more questions from this quiz

Continue to Honors English Semester Practice Exam for more practice questions and the full quiz experience.

Access More Questions