11-Plus Alliteration | Studying Words with Same Sound

English Quiz - Alliteration (Questions)

An alliteration is a string of two or more words where each word has the same first consonant sound, for example: 'Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers' and 'She sells sea-shells down by the sea-shore'. As can be seen, alliterations possess rhythmic qualities.

Alliteration is often used in poetry and, as you now know, in tongue twisters. Alliterations are also used for brand names, for example: Coca-Cola, PayPal and Dunkin' Donuts. Alliterative words are easier to remember ~ they are often used to help young children learn the English language.

Play this 11-plus quiz and see if you can make up a few alliterations of your own. You could try a little poem using your first name - give it a go!

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"Betty Botter bought some ..., but, she said, the ...'s bitter; if I put it in my batter it will make my batter bitter, but a bit of better ... will make my batter better." (Betty Botter by Mother Goose)

[ ]	butter
[ ]	milk
[ ]	sugar
[ ]	lard

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"Three grey ... in a green field grazing, Grey were the ... and green was the grazing." (Three Grey Geese by Mother Goose)

[ ]	dove
[ ]	bird
[ ]	duck
[ ]	geese

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
Why do you always make a ... out of a molehill?

[ ]	volcano
[ ]	sandcastle
[ ]	mountain
[ ]	cake

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"You'll never put a ... ... of ... on your knife." (Advertising slogan for Country Life)

[ ]	better, piece, butter
[ ]	better, bit, butter
[ ]	better, lump, cheese
[ ]	better, bit, jam

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
Careless cars ... ... cause chaos.

[ ]	driven fast
[ ]	reversing fast
[ ]	cutting corners
[ ]	swerving dangerously

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"The ... ... bear attacked all the little bunnies in the forest."

[ ]	large lazy
[ ]	evil fat
[ ]	big bad
[ ]	slow silly

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"While I nodded, nearly ..., suddenly there came a tapping." (The Raven by Edgar Alan Poe)

[ ]	napping
[ ]	sleeping
[ ]	dozing
[ ]	dropping off

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"I'll kill him though," he said. "In all his ... and his glory." (Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway)

[ ]	excellence
[ ]	renown
[ ]	fame
[ ]	greatness

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"Four friends ... for the candy."

[ ]	squabbled
[ ]	argued
[ ]	quarrelled
[ ]	fought

10.

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"The ... smell of success."

[ ]	fragrant
[ ]	sweet
[ ]	pleasant
[ ]	wholesome

English Quiz - Alliteration (Answers)

[x]	butter
[ ]	milk
[ ]	sugar
[ ]	lard

'butter' preserves (keeps) the alliteration's b-sounding rhythm

[ ]	dove
[ ]	bird
[ ]	duck
[x]	geese

'geese' preserves (keeps) the alliteration's g-sounding rhythm

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
Why do you always make a ... out of a molehill?

[ ]	volcano
[ ]	sandcastle
[x]	mountain
[ ]	cake

'mountain' preserves (keeps) the alliteration's m-sounding rhythm

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"You'll never put a ... ... of ... on your knife." (Advertising slogan for Country Life)

[ ]	better, piece, butter
[x]	better, bit, butter
[ ]	better, lump, cheese
[ ]	better, bit, jam

'better, bit, butter' preserve (keep) the alliteration's b-sounding rhythm

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
Careless cars ... ... cause chaos.

[ ]	driven fast
[ ]	reversing fast
[x]	cutting corners
[ ]	swerving dangerously

'cutting corners' preserves (keeps) the alliteration's k-sounding rhythm

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"The ... ... bear attacked all the little bunnies in the forest."

[ ]	large lazy
[ ]	evil fat
[x]	big bad
[ ]	slow silly

'big bad' preserves (keeps) the alliteration's b-sounding rhythm

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"While I nodded, nearly ..., suddenly there came a tapping." (The Raven by Edgar Alan Poe)

[x]	napping
[ ]	sleeping
[ ]	dozing
[ ]	dropping off

'napping' preserves (keeps) the alliteration's n-sounding rhythm

[ ]	excellence
[ ]	renown
[ ]	fame
[x]	greatness

'greatness' preserves (keeps) the alliteration's g-sounding rhythm. By the way, here is a useful definition: 'renown' means fame, well-known reputation

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"Four friends ... for the candy."

[ ]	squabbled
[ ]	argued
[ ]	quarrelled
[x]	fought

'fought' preserves (keeps) the alliteration's f-sounding rhythm

10.

In the following question, select the words that are necessary to complete the alliterations.
"The ... smell of success."

[ ]	fragrant
[x]	sweet
[ ]	pleasant
[ ]	wholesome

'sweet' preserves (keeps) the alliteration's s-sounding rhythm. By the way, here is a useful definition: 'wholesome' means nutritious, good, hearty, or health-giving