Which of the following lists correctly identifies the four basic perceptual characteristics of sound?

• A. Frequency, amplitude, wavelength, and intensity
• B. Brightness, saturation, hue, and contrast
• C. Shape, size, color, and texture
• D. Pitch, loudness, timbre, and duration

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand that the question asks for the four basic perceptual characteristics of sound, which relate to how we perceive different aspects of auditory stimuli.
2. Step 2: Recognize that 'frequency' and 'wavelength' are physical properties of sound waves, but the question focuses on perceptual characteristics, which are how these physical properties are experienced by the listener.
3. Step 3: Recall the four basic perceptual characteristics of sound: pitch, loudness, timbre, and duration. These correspond to how we perceive frequency (pitch), amplitude (loudness), the quality or color of sound (timbre), and the length of the sound (duration).
4. Step 4: Eliminate options that refer to visual characteristics (such as brightness, saturation, hue, contrast, shape, size, color, and texture) because they are not related to auditory perception.
5. Step 5: Confirm that the correct list is 'pitch, loudness, timbre, and duration' as these are the fundamental ways humans perceive sound.