Which term describes a consonant sound produced by blocking the air and then releasing it?

• A. Fricative
• B. Nasal
• C. Plosive
• D. Affricate

Answer: (C)

Blocking the air and then releasing it creates a plosive consonant. In these sounds, the flow of air is completely stopped at some point in the vocal tract, then released suddenly, producing a burst of sound. Examples include p, t, k (and their voiced counterparts b, d, g). Plosives can be voiceless or voiced, depending on whether the vocal cords vibrate during the release.

This differs from fricatives, which involve a narrow constriction that fans air through to create continuous friction (like s or f). Nasals route air through the nasal cavity, which requires lowering the velum. Affricates begin with a stop closure but release into a short friction noise, combining the two stages.