Which of the following describes phoneme manipulation?

Phoneme manipulation specifically refers to the ability to work with the individual sounds, or phonemes, within words. This includes actions such as removing, adding, or substituting sounds in words to create new words or change existing ones. For instance, if you take the word "cat" and replace the initial "c" sound with "h," you create the new word "hat."

This skill is crucial in phonemic awareness, which is a foundational aspect of developing reading and spelling abilities. Engaging in phoneme manipulation helps learners understand how sounds form the basis of words and can significantly enhance their literacy skills.

The other options address different aspects of language and literacy. Finding synonyms relates to vocabulary development, improving spelling techniques focuses on orthographic skills, and constructing complex sentences involves syntax and composition rather than phonemic awareness. Thus, the description of phoneme manipulation aligns perfectly with removing, adding, or substituting sounds.