Question 1

If you were to describe the nature of syntactic development, you would be most likely to say that it involves:

Accepted Answer

A)  Developing a large vocabulary 
B)  Learning how to put words together into comprehensible sentences 
C)  Understanding the social customs that surround language use in one's culture 
D)  Acquiring an ability to make discriminations among very similar-sounding words 
A)  Developing a large vocabulary 
B)  Learning how to put words together into comprehensible sentences 
C)  Understanding the social customs that surround language use in one's culture 
D)  Acquiring an ability to make discriminations among very similar-sounding words

Question 2

As 2-year-old David and his father go into the family garden one day, Dad exclaims, "Look at all the wonderful daisies!" David infers that the only plants blooming in the garden must be called daisies. David's inference is an example of:

Accepted Answer

A)  expansion 
B)  fast mapping 
C)  functionalism 
D)  semantic bootstrapping 
A)  expansion 
B)  fast mapping 
C)  functionalism 
D)  semantic bootstrapping

Question 3

Which one of the following statements is consistent with a nativist view of language development?

Accepted Answer

A)  "Children initially use language primarily in their interactions with other people, but increasingly they also use it to help them think more effectively." 
B)  "From a very early age, children are motivated to learn how to speak, because speech enables them to interact with other people and, ultimately, to get what they want." 
C)  "Although children can learn the specific vocabulary and syntax of their native language only by hearing the people around them speak it, they seem to have some built-in knowledge of the form that any language should take." 
D)  "To foster children's language development, parents and other adults praise them first for making speechlike sounds ('Da-da'), later for saying recognizable words ('More!'), and still later for forming understandable sentences ('Can I have candy?')." 
A)  "Children initially use language primarily in their interactions with other people, but increasingly they also use it to help them think more effectively." 
B)  "From a very early age, children are motivated to learn how to speak, because speech enables them to interact with other people and, ultimately, to get what they want." 
C)  "Although children can learn the specific vocabulary and syntax of their native language only by hearing the people around them speak it, they seem to have some built-in knowledge of the form that any language should take." 
D)  "To foster children's language development, parents and other adults praise them first for making speechlike sounds ('Da-da'), later for saying recognizable words ('More!'), and still later for forming understandable sentences ('Can I have candy?')."

Question 4

Which one of the following statements best illustrates telegraphic speech?

Accepted Answer

A)  "No!" 
B)  "Want cookie." 
C)  "You're being silly." 
D)  "I love you, Mommy." 
A)  "No!" 
B)  "Want cookie." 
C)  "You're being silly." 
D)  "I love you, Mommy."

Question 5

At what age do children begin to realize that what people say may not be the truth?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ages 15-18 
B)  Ages 11-14 
C)  Ages 7-10 
D)  Ages 3-6 
A)  Ages 15-18 
B)  Ages 11-14 
C)  Ages 7-10 
D)  Ages 3-6

Question 6

Which one of the following is the best example of playing the dozens?

Accepted Answer

A)  "I've told you that a million times already!" 
B)  "How can you think I hate you? I love you, man!" 
C)  "That's so stupid. You must have rocks in your head!" 
D)  "Your sister's so fat that the circus uses her for a trampoline." 
A)  "I've told you that a million times already!" 
B)  "How can you think I hate you? I love you, man!" 
C)  "That's so stupid. You must have rocks in your head!" 
D)  "Your sister's so fat that the circus uses her for a trampoline."

Question 7

Four-year-old Brandon's father is an aeronautical engineer who often talks about his work at home. At preschool, Brandon uses the word trajectory as he plays with a toy racecar track. Although he uses the word correctly, you are fairly certain that he does not fully understand what it means. Brandon's behavior is evidence that:

Accepted Answer

A)  Language comprehension always precedes language production. 
B)  Language comprehension sometimes precedes language production. 
C)  Language production always precedes language comprehension. 
D)  Language production sometimes precedes language comprehension. 
A)  Language comprehension always precedes language production. 
B)  Language comprehension sometimes precedes language production. 
C)  Language production always precedes language comprehension. 
D)  Language production sometimes precedes language comprehension.

Question 8

As you work with 3-year-old Effie, you keep track of all the new words she uses. You find that, on average, Effie uses two or three new words every week over a period of several months. Based on this information, Effie's language development:

Accepted Answer

A)  Is slower than what you would expect for a 3-year-old 
B)  Is about average for what you would expect for a 3-year-old 
C)  Is slighter faster than what you would expect for a 3-year-old 
D)  Indicates exceptionally high intelligence 
A)  Is slower than what you would expect for a 3-year-old 
B)  Is about average for what you would expect for a 3-year-old 
C)  Is slighter faster than what you would expect for a 3-year-old 
D)  Indicates exceptionally high intelligence

Question 9

Three of the following aspects of language development appear during the elementary school years or even earlier. Which one are we not likely to see until youngsters are in junior high or high school?

Accepted Answer

A)  Following accepted social conventions for beginning and ending conversations 
B)  Adapting a spoken message to the age of the listener 
C)  Using context clues to interpret a speaker's message 
D)  Understanding proverbs 
A)  Following accepted social conventions for beginning and ending conversations 
B)  Adapting a spoken message to the age of the listener 
C)  Using context clues to interpret a speaker's message 
D)  Understanding proverbs

Question 10

Which one of the following most accurately describes the development of narratives in children's speech?

Accepted Answer

A)  Early narratives appear around age 21/2 or 3. 
B)  Most children are incapable of producing narratives until around puberty. 
C)  Narratives become increasing complex during the elementary school years. 
D)  Children's early narratives are largely fictional, but they become increasingly reality-based as youngsters move through the middle school and high school grades. 
A)  Early narratives appear around age 21/2 or 3. 
B)  Most children are incapable of producing narratives until around puberty. 
C)  Narratives become increasing complex during the elementary school years. 
D)  Children's early narratives are largely fictional, but they become increasingly reality-based as youngsters move through the middle school and high school grades.

Question 11

When children are born with severe hearing impairments, they are often taught American sign language or some other manual language. Some parents regularly use a manual language to communicate with these children. When a manual language is used regularly in the home, children with hearing impairments show language development that:

Accepted Answer

A)  Is significantly delayed compared to that of hearing children 
B)  Is similar to that of children who are raised with little or no exposure to any language 
C)  Follows a distinctly different sequence of development than is true for the development of spoken language in hearing children 
D)  Closely resembles the typical sequence and timing of spoken language development in hearing children 
A)  Is significantly delayed compared to that of hearing children 
B)  Is similar to that of children who are raised with little or no exposure to any language 
C)  Follows a distinctly different sequence of development than is true for the development of spoken language in hearing children 
D)  Closely resembles the typical sequence and timing of spoken language development in hearing children

Question 12

Two 15-year-olds, John and Martha, are deeply engaged in conversation. If typical gender differences in language hold true for John and Martha, we would expect that:

Accepted Answer

A)  John would focus on providing information in a fairly blunt manner, whereas Martha would focus on maintaining the relationship through tact and courtesy. 
B)  John would be focused on demonstrating his superior verbal ability, whereas Martha would be focused on commending John for his strength and agility. 
C)  Martha would be subtly trying to teach John new things, whereas John would be trying to demonstrate how much he already knows. 
D)  Martha would do most of the talking and John would be tuning out a lot of what she says. 
A)  John would focus on providing information in a fairly blunt manner, whereas Martha would focus on maintaining the relationship through tact and courtesy. 
B)  John would be focused on demonstrating his superior verbal ability, whereas Martha would be focused on commending John for his strength and agility. 
C)  Martha would be subtly trying to teach John new things, whereas John would be trying to demonstrate how much he already knows. 
D)  Martha would do most of the talking and John would be tuning out a lot of what she says.

Question 13

Which one of the following aspects of language development is evident even in 6-month-olds' behavior?

Accepted Answer

A)  Expansion 
B)  IRE cycles 
C)  Turn taking 
D)  Holophrases 
A)  Expansion 
B)  IRE cycles 
C)  Turn taking 
D)  Holophrases

Question 14

Which one of the following situations illustrates the phenomenon of overextension in semantic development? In each case, the word in question is in quotes.

Accepted Answer

A)  Alvin doesn't understand why he can't build an "igloo" in the summer. 
B)  Brady thinks that all "igloos" are made out of Styrofoam. 
C)  Calvin denies that a palm tree is a "tree." 
D)  Daniel calls a tall sunflower a "tree." 
A)  Alvin doesn't understand why he can't build an "igloo" in the summer. 
B)  Brady thinks that all "igloos" are made out of Styrofoam. 
C)  Calvin denies that a palm tree is a "tree." 
D)  Daniel calls a tall sunflower a "tree."

Question 15

Research regarding learning a second language yields which one of the following conclusions?

Accepted Answer

A)  The ability to learn a second language is greatest before age 4. 
B)  Learning a second language is not recommended after age 8. 
C)  The ability to learn a second language increases with age until adulthood, when it starts to decline. 
D)  Learning a second language can lead to higher achievement in reading. 
A)  The ability to learn a second language is greatest before age 4. 
B)  Learning a second language is not recommended after age 8. 
C)  The ability to learn a second language increases with age until adulthood, when it starts to decline. 
D)  Learning a second language can lead to higher achievement in reading.

Question 16

Which one of the following is typically not used with English language learners?

Accepted Answer

A)  Submersion 
B)  Structured English immersion programs 
C)  Foreign language instruction 
D)  Bilingual education 
A)  Submersion 
B)  Structured English immersion programs 
C)  Foreign language instruction 
D)  Bilingual education

Question 17

Three of the following are suggested strategies for promoting children's expressive language skills. Which one is not recommended?

Accepted Answer

A)  Insist that children never "stretch" the truth in any way. 
B)  Encourage children to describe recent events in their lives. 
C)  Tell children if you don't understand what they're trying to tell you. 
D)  Teach infants gestures they can use to make their needs and desires known. 
A)  Insist that children never "stretch" the truth in any way. 
B)  Encourage children to describe recent events in their lives. 
C)  Tell children if you don't understand what they're trying to tell you. 
D)  Teach infants gestures they can use to make their needs and desires known.

Question 18

Considering what we have learned from research regarding cognitive and linguistic development, we should expect elementary school children to have the greatest difficulty understanding the meaning of which one of the following words?

Accepted Answer

A)  however 
B)  somersault 
C)  swim 
D)  vehicle 
A)  however 
B)  somersault 
C)  swim 
D)  vehicle

Question 19

LaWanda understands that a single sentence can sometimes be interpreted in two or more ways. For example, she realizes that the sentence "I know more beautiful women than Miss America" has two possible interpretations: "I know women who are more beautiful than Miss America is" or "I know more beautiful women than Miss America knows." LaWanda's appreciation for the double meanings of some sentences reflects:

Accepted Answer

A)  Pragmatics 
B)  Overextension 
C)  Figurative language 
D)  Metalinguistic awareness 
A)  Pragmatics 
B)  Overextension 
C)  Figurative language 
D)  Metalinguistic awareness

Question 20

Which one of the following statements is consistent with a sociocultural view of language development?

Accepted Answer

A)  "Children initially use language primarily in their interactions with other people, but increasingly they also use it to help them think more effectively." 
B)  "From a very early age, children are motivated to learn how to speak, because speech enables them to interact with other people and, ultimately, to get what they want." 
C)  "Although children can learn the specific vocabulary and syntax of their native language only by hearing the people around them speak it, they seem to have some built-in knowledge of the form that any language should take." 
D)  "To foster children's language development, parents and other adults praise them first for making speechlike sounds ('Da-da'), later for saying recognizable words ('More!'), and still later for forming understandable sentences ('Can I have candy?')." 
A)  "Children initially use language primarily in their interactions with other people, but increasingly they also use it to help them think more effectively." 
B)  "From a very early age, children are motivated to learn how to speak, because speech enables them to interact with other people and, ultimately, to get what they want." 
C)  "Although children can learn the specific vocabulary and syntax of their native language only by hearing the people around them speak it, they seem to have some built-in knowledge of the form that any language should take." 
D)  "To foster children's language development, parents and other adults praise them first for making speechlike sounds ('Da-da'), later for saying recognizable words ('More!'), and still later for forming understandable sentences ('Can I have candy?')."

If you were to describe the nature of syntactic development, you would be most likely to say that it involves:

As 2-year-old David and his father go into the family garden one day, Dad exclaims, "Look at all the wonderful daisies!" David infers that the only plants blooming in the garden must be called daisies. David's inference is an example of:

Which one of the following statements is consistent with a nativist view of language development?

Which one of the following statements best illustrates telegraphic speech?

At what age do children begin to realize that what people say may not be the truth?

Which one of the following is the best example of playing the dozens?

As you work with 3-year-old Effie, you keep track of all the new words she uses. You find that, on average, Effie uses two or three new words every week over a period of several months. Based on this information, Effie's language development:

Three of the following aspects of language development appear during the elementary school years or even earlier. Which one are we not likely to see until youngsters are in junior high or high school?

Which one of the following most accurately describes the development of narratives in children's speech?

Two 15-year-olds, John and Martha, are deeply engaged in conversation. If typical gender differences in language hold true for John and Martha, we would expect that:

Which one of the following aspects of language development is evident even in 6-month-olds' behavior?

Which one of the following situations illustrates the phenomenon of overextension in semantic development? In each case, the word in question is in quotes.

Research regarding learning a second language yields which one of the following conclusions?

Which one of the following is typically not used with English language learners?

Three of the following are suggested strategies for promoting children's expressive language skills. Which one is not recommended?

Considering what we have learned from research regarding cognitive and linguistic development, we should expect elementary school children to have the greatest difficulty understanding the meaning of which one of the following words?

Which one of the following statements is consistent with a sociocultural view of language development?

Making a Difference in the Lives of Children and Adolescents

Using Research to Understand Children and Adolescents

Family, Culture, and Community

Biological Beginnings

Physical Development

Cognitive Development: Piaget and Vygotsky

Cognitive Development: Cognitive Processes

Intelligence

Development in the Academic Domains

Emotional Development

Development of Self and Social Understandings

Development of Motivation and Self-Regulation

Moral Development

Peers, Schools, and Society

Filters

Exam 9: Language Development

If you were to describe the nature of syntactic development, you would be most likely to say that it involves:

As 2-year-old David and his father go into the family garden one day, Dad exclaims, "Look at all the wonderful daisies!" David infers that the only plants blooming in the garden must be called daisies. David's inference is an example of:

Which one of the following statements is consistent with a nativist view of language development?

Which one of the following statements best illustrates telegraphic speech?

At what age do children begin to realize that what people say may not be the truth?

Which one of the following is the best example of playing the dozens?

As you work with 3-year-old Effie, you keep track of all the new words she uses. You find that, on average, Effie uses two or three new words every week over a period of several months. Based on this information, Effie's language development:

Three of the following aspects of language development appear during the elementary school years or even earlier. Which one are we not likely to see until youngsters are in junior high or high school?

Which one of the following most accurately describes the development of narratives in children's speech?

Two 15-year-olds, John and Martha, are deeply engaged in conversation. If typical gender differences in language hold true for John and Martha, we would expect that:

Which one of the following aspects of language development is evident even in 6-month-olds' behavior?

Which one of the following situations illustrates the phenomenon of overextension in semantic development? In each case, the word in question is in quotes.

Research regarding learning a second language yields which one of the following conclusions?

Which one of the following is typically not used with English language learners?

Three of the following are suggested strategies for promoting children's expressive language skills. Which one is not recommended?

Considering what we have learned from research regarding cognitive and linguistic development, we should expect elementary school children to have the greatest difficulty understanding the meaning of which one of the following words?

Which one of the following statements is consistent with a sociocultural view of language development?

Making a Difference in the Lives of Children and Adolescents

Using Research to Understand Children and Adolescents

Family, Culture, and Community

Biological Beginnings

Physical Development

Cognitive Development: Piaget and Vygotsky

Cognitive Development: Cognitive Processes

Intelligence

Development in the Academic Domains

Emotional Development

Development of Self and Social Understandings

Development of Motivation and Self-Regulation

Moral Development

Peers, Schools, and Society

Filters