Which syllable type includes a silent 'e' that influences the preceding vowel?

The correct answer is D, which refers to the Vowel Consonant E, also known as Magic E. This syllable type is characterized by the presence of a silent 'e' at the end of the word that affects the pronunciation of the vowel in the preceding syllable, typically making it a long vowel sound. For instance, in the word "make," the 'a' is influenced by the silent 'e' to be pronounced as /eɪ/ rather than /æ/.

This rule is important in reading instruction as it helps learners understand how to decode words and recognize patterns in spelling that signal how vowels are pronounced. Recognizing this syllable type aids in building decoding skills, which are essential for fluent reading.

The other syllable types mentioned do not incorporate this silent 'e' function. R-controlled syllables have a vowel followed by an 'r' that alters the vowel sound, vowel team syllables contain pairs of vowels that together make a specific sound, and consonant-l-e syllables involve a specific structure where 'l' is followed by 'e,' but they do not influence the vowel in the same manner as the Vowel Consonant E syllable type.