Question

Identify the onomatopoeic word(s):
He could barely hear the mumbling through the pitter-patter of the rain outside.

• A. mumbling, pitter-patter
• B. mumbling, rain
• C. barely, pitter-patter
• D. pitter-patter

Answer 1

The correct option is A mumbling, pitter-patter

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

Option A: 'Mumbling' is a sound-word that imitates the sound when someone's mumbling. Similarly, 'pitter-patter' also expresses the sound of the rain.

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

Option B: 'Rain' is a noun that refers to the precipitation experienced by the atmosphere. It does not express a sound.

Option C: 'Barely' is an adverb that means 'only just, almost not'.

Option D: 'Pitter-patter' is an onomatopoeic word, but this option does not identify the other word 'mumbling'.

Hence, options B, C and D are wrong.