Which word has a consonant cluster in the initial position: "blue" or "lamp"?

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Multiple Choice

Which word has a consonant cluster in the initial position: "blue" or "lamp"?

Explanation:
A consonant cluster at the start means more than one consonant sound comes together before the first vowel. In blue, the beginning has two consonant sounds in a row: /b/ followed by /l/ before the vowel sound /uː/, giving the initial cluster /bl/. In lamp, the start is only one consonant sound /l/ before the vowel /æ/, so there isn’t a cluster. Hence, blue has an initial consonant cluster, while lamp does not.

A consonant cluster at the start means more than one consonant sound comes together before the first vowel. In blue, the beginning has two consonant sounds in a row: /b/ followed by /l/ before the vowel sound /uː/, giving the initial cluster /bl/. In lamp, the start is only one consonant sound /l/ before the vowel /æ/, so there isn’t a cluster. Hence, blue has an initial consonant cluster, while lamp does not.

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