Answer: a. The term iambic pentameter refers to a line of poetry with ten syllables with stress put on every other syllable.
Explanation: The term iambic pentameter refers to a line of poetry with ten syllables with stress put on every other syllable. Iambic is a metrical foot composed of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable. The iambic pentameter is composed of ten syllables or five iambs in each line.
"If <u>mu</u>sic <u>be</u> the <u>food </u>of<u> love</u>, play <u>on</u>;
Give <u>me</u> ex<u>cess</u> of<u> it</u>, that, <u>sur</u>fei<u>ting</u>,
The <u>ap</u>pe<u>tite</u> may <u>sic</u>ken, <u>and</u> so <u>die</u>."
The stressed syllables are the underlined ones.