A glottal stop is a consonant sound produced when the flow of air is stopped by the glottis closing, and then released. Which option matches this definition?

• A. Glottal stop
• B. Fricative
• C. Nasal
• D. Plosive

Answer: (A)

This description is testing how a stop consonant can be formed at the glottis. A glottal stop happens when the vocal folds (the glottis) come together to completely block the airstream, then momentarily hold that closure and release. That exact sequence—complete closure at the glottis followed by a release—defines a glottal stop.

In contrast, a fricative creates a continuous flow with a narrow constriction that generates noise rather than a brief burst. A nasal involves lowering the velum so air escapes through the nose while the oral path is closed, producing nasal resonance rather than a pop-like release. A plosive (an oral stop) involves closure somewhere in the oral cavity (lips, up to the velum) and a release there, not at the glottis, so it isn’t the specific glottal mechanism described.