Language and literacy

First language acquisition

Quiz Type

Practice

Subject

Education

Level

Level 100

Questions

10 questions

Created By

Festus Cobbina Ansah

Quick Rules

Time limit: 50 minutes
Multiple attempts are not allowed
All questions must be answered to submit

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Question 1 of 10

Question 1

Basic multiple choice Remembering

What is first language acquisition?

Learning a language after infancy

The process of learning a first language in childhood

Correct

Mastering multiple languages simultaneously

Understanding a language without speaking it

Explanation

First language acquisition refers specifically to how infants and young children acquire their first language naturally as they grow, typically during early childhood.

Question 2

Basic multiple choice Remembering

At what stage does first language acquisition primarily take place?

During adulthood

In early childhood

Correct

In middle school

From birth to adolescence

Explanation

First language acquisition occurs primarily during early childhood when children are exposed to language and begin to develop their linguistic skills.

Question 3

Basic multiple choice Understanding

Which of the following best describes the approach to first language acquisition?

It is a conscious and formal learning process

It happens naturally and unconsciously

Correct

It requires formal education from a young age

It relies on memorization of vocabulary only

Explanation

First language acquisition typically occurs naturally and unconsciously as children interact with their environment and caregivers, without formal teaching methods.

Question 4

Basic multiple choice Understanding

What role do caregivers play in first language acquisition?

They are not involved in the process

They provide language input and interaction

Correct

They teach grammar explicitly from birth

They only speak in simple words

Explanation

Caregivers play a crucial role in first language acquisition by providing language input, engaging in conversations, and modeling language usage for children.

Question 5

Basic multiple choice Understanding

What is a characteristic of children during first language acquisition?

They learn vocabulary through detailed lectures

They naturally imitate sounds and structures

Correct

They rely solely on written language

They wait until adolescence to start speaking

Explanation

Children during first language acquisition often imitate the sounds and structures they hear in their environment, showcasing a natural ability to absorb language.

Question 6

Complex multiple choice Understanding

A researcher is observing infants aged 6 to 12 months to understand how they begin to acquire their first language. The researcher notices that these infants are starting to babble, producing sounds that are not meaningful words but are phonetically similar to their parent's speech. Which of the following statements best describes this stage of first language acquisition?

The infants are in the one-word stage, beginning to use single words to express their thoughts.

The infants are engaging in the babbling stage, practicing phonetic elements of their language.

Correct

The infants are in the telegraphic stage, combining two words to form simple sentences.

The infants are applying full grammatical structures learned from their surroundings.

Explanation

The correct analysis is that infants are in the babbling stage, where they practice sounds without using words. The other answers incorrectly place the infants in later stages of language acquisition, which involve meaningful word use and grammatical structures that have not yet developed.

Question 7

Complex multiple choice Understanding

In a bilingual household where English and Spanish are spoken, a 3-year-old child starts using English words in a Spanish sentence. For instance, the child says, 'Yo want juice.' How can this linguistic behavior be explained in terms of first language acquisition?

This indicates the child is confused about language, unable to distinguish between English and Spanish.

This shows the child is in the process of code-switching, a normal behavior in bilingual language acquisition.

Correct

This means the child has achieved fluency in both languages and is experimenting with language mixing.

This suggests that the child's primary language is English, leading to full sentences in Spanish with English words.

Explanation

The correct analysis is that code-switching is common among bilingual children as they navigate two languages and their rules. The other options suggest misunderstandings regarding language acquisition stages or the child's proficiency.

Question 8

Case based multiple choice Understanding

[Case Scenario] A two-year-old child named Emma is living in a bilingual household where English is spoken by her mother and Spanish by her father. Emma often mixes both languages during conversations, using phrases from each language interchangeably. One day, she confidently told her mother, 'I want to jugo,' using the Spanish word for juice instead of the English equivalent. Question: What does Emma's language use indicate about her first language acquisition process?

Emma is exhibiting language interference, which is typical in bilingual language acquisition.

Correct

Emma is fully capable of using both languages separately, indicating advanced language proficiency.

Emma's mixing of languages shows that she is confused about which language to use.

Emma's language use demonstrates a preference for Spanish over English due to her father's influence.

Explanation

Emma's case illustrates the phenomenon of language interference in bilingual children, where they mix languages as they acquire both simultaneously. This is a normal and expected part of first language acquisition in bilingual settings.

Question 9

Case based multiple choice Understanding

[Case Scenario] Liam, a five-year-old boy, has been in daycare where English is the primary language of instruction. However, at home, he primarily speaks Chinese with his grandparents. One day at daycare, Liam was asked to retell a story in English. While he understood the storyline, he struggled to find the correct English words to express his thoughts, resulting in a lot of pauses and some hesitations. Question: What aspect of Liam's first language acquisition is primarily being highlighted in this scenario?

Liam is experiencing a language delay due to limited exposure to English.

Liam's experience highlights the process of code-switching, as he navigates between Chinese and English.

Liam is demonstrating typical patterns of language acquisition where comprehension outweighs expressive ability.

Correct

Liam's hesitations suggest he lacks interest in learning English altogether.

Explanation

Liam's difficulty in expressing himself in English highlights a common phenomenon in language acquisition where understanding precedes the ability to express thoughts fluently, especially in a bilingual context.

Question 10

Case based multiple choice Understanding

[Case Scenario] Sophia is an eight-month-old baby. Her parents read to her every night and interact with her through songs and playful dialogue. Recently, Sophia has started babbling with a variety of sounds and sometimes attempts to mimic the sounds she hears. Her parents notice that she pays special attention when they emphasize particular words or sounds in their conversations. Question: What does this scenario reveal about the stages of first language acquisition for Sophia?

Sophia is in the pre-linguistic stage of language development, where she is just beginning to babble.

Sophia is demonstrating early signs of phonological awareness by mimicking sounds she frequently hears.

Correct

Sophia's babbling indicates that she will soon speak her first words.

Sophia's experiences reflect that language acquisition only develops through direct verbal communication with adults.

Explanation

Sophia's engagement with sounds and her mimicking behaviors indicate that she is developing phonological awareness, which is crucial in the early stages of language acquisition. This indicates a proactive interaction with her linguistic environment.