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Multiple Choice
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1

_______ refers to the rules that govern how words are combined into sentences.
A)Syntax
B)Pragmatics
C)Semantics
D)Morphology
2

It has been demonstrated that language is easier to acquire before puberty than after. This finding supports the _____ explanation of language development.
A)nativist
B)cognitive
C)learning theory
D)imitative
3

When immigrants speaking various languages need to communicate they form a pidgin language containing characteristics of each original language. When children are raised in an environment where pidgin language is spoken, what language will the children speak?
A)Creole language
B)Pidgin language
C)Their parents’ language
D)Cajun language
4

Which of the following aspects of language development can learning theory adequately explain?
A)Modifying language usage
B)The regular sequence of language development
C)How children learn to speak grammatically correct
D)Creative utterances
5

Most current psycholinguists
A)believe that speaking to infants using simplified speech is crucial to language development.
B)emphasize the genetic components of language development.
C)believe that playing nonverbal games with prelinguistic infants is crucial to language development.
D)acknowledge that both environmental and genetic factors influence language development.
6

Jennifer says to her mommy, “daddy kitchen.” Jennifer’s mother replies, “Daddy is in the kitchen.” This conversation is an example of
A)expansion.
B)scaffolding.
C)elaboration.
D)corrective repetition.
7

A family is driving through the country to visit some relatives. Little Tyler sees a cow grazing in a field and exclaims, “Doggie!” What kind of mistake is Tyler making?
A)Generalization
B)Underextension
C)Overregularization
D)Overextension
8

Ishmael used to say “feet” to refer to the plural of “foot.” Recently, however, Ishmael has begun to say “foots” instead of “feet.” Ishmael’s errors were an example of
A)generalization.
B)overregularization.
C)regressive speech.
D)overextension.
9

By what age can children adjust their communications to fit the situation and the age and status of his/her listener?
A)Early junior high school age
B)Late elementary school age
C)Early elementary school age
D)Preschool age
10

Which of the following listening skills are typical four-year-olds not capable of?
A)Recognizing when they do not understand a message
B)Recognizing that a message is ambiguous
C)Recognizing that a request is impossible
D)Recognizing that a request is problematic
11

The study of the meaning of words and of sentences is known as
A)grammar.
B)phonology.
C)morphology.
D)semantics.
12

In the interactionist view of language development, children are seen as
A)playing an active role in language development.
B)playing a passive role in language development.
C)playing no roles in language development.
D)being dependent upon their parents for language development.
13

Eileen loves her new baby Washington very much, and frequently talks to him throughout the day saying things like, “drink your baba” and “get your banky for night night.” This form of communication using simplified speech with a baby is a part of a language
A)encoding decoy.
B)work minuet.
C)environmental reward.
D)support system.
14

When parents talk to young children, they frequently talk slower, in higher-pitched voices, enunciate more clearly, and end their sentences with rising intonation. These are all examples of
A)non-verbal games.
B)child-directed speech
C)simplified speech.
D)voice decoding.
15

Children’s first words typically represent
A)actions.
B)objects that are just “there.”
C)relationships.
D)objects that can be acted upon.
16

Entwisle and Frasure’s study using the “noisy telephone” technique supports the finding that
A)children rely on semantic cues but not syntactic cues as they become older.
B)as children develop they become more skillful using syntactic and semantic cues to interpret sentences.
C)children rely on syntactic cues when they are preschoolers but switch to semantic cues in later childhood.
D)as children develop, their reliance on semantic and syntactic cues decreases.
17

The appropriate use of language for accomplishing various ends in differing social situations is
A)syntax.
B)pragmatics.
C)manipulation.
D)double speak.
18

Marion’s ability to see the similarity of the clouds in the sky and her fluffy cotton-filled blanket is fundamental to her comprehension of
A)metaphors.
B)literalism.
C)fantasy.
D)illusory adjectives.
19

In order of development, which would appear last?
A)The ability to produce language.
B)The ability to understand language.
C)The ability to know about language.
D)The ability to speak language.
20

Every time little Abraham babbles words that sound like “Mama” or “Dada,” his parents clap their hands wildly and encourage him with their approval by smiling and hugging him. This reinforcement acts to shape Abraham’s verbal behavior. This idea reflects the language acquisition theory of
A)Noam Chomsky.
B)B.F. Skinner.
C)Brown.
D)Slobin.







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