Which pairing of words best illustrates a closed syllable?

A closed syllable is characterized by a single vowel followed by one or more consonants, resulting in the vowel sound being short. In this context, the pairing of the words "button" and "pancake" effectively illustrates closed syllables.

In "button," the first syllable "but" contains a short vowel 'u' followed by the consonant 't', making it a closed syllable. Similarly, in "pancake," the first syllable "pan" features the short vowel 'a' followed by the consonant 'n', which also designates it as a closed syllable.

This understanding of closed syllables is crucial for the development of reading and spelling skills, as they frequently appear in many words. The other pairings do not consistently reflect the closed syllable structure as clearly demonstrated in "button" and "pancake," indicating why this pairing is the most fitting.