Question

Identify the onomatopoeic word(s):
As he entered the kitchen, he could hear the sizzle of steak on the pan, the plonk of a bowl of vegetables drowning into a cauldron of soup, and the shuffle of a dozen busy feet on the floor.

• A. sizzle, steak, bowl
• B. sizzle, plonk, cauldron
• C. sizzle, plonk, shuffle
• D. plonk, shuffle, dozen

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

sizzle, plonk, shuffle

An onomatopoeia is 'the formation of a word from the sound associated with what it's named'.

Option C: 'Sizzle' is a sound-word that imitates the sound when food is fried or cooked. Similarly, 'plonk' and 'shuffle' also express sounds.

'Plonk' is a sound made when something is set down heavily or carelessly.

'Shuffle' is the sound made when one drags their feet on the ground, or when one mixes a pack of cards.

So, these words are onomatopoeic and option C is correct.

Option A: 'Steak' means 'a thick slice of high quality meat (beef)'.

'Bowl' is a round container that holds food items like fruit, cereal, soup, etc.

They do not express sound.

Option B: 'Cauldron' is a noun that means 'a large metal pot with a lid'. It does not express a sound.

Option D: 'Dozen' is a group or set of twelve. This word, again, does not make a sound.

Hence, options A, B and D are wrong.