passage 10

According to paragraph 1, children over the age of three

• learn little language from those around them
• are no longer influenced by the language of their parents
• are influenced more and more by those closer to their own age
• first begin to respond to caretaker speech

The word “modeling” in paragraph 1 could best be replaced by

• demonstrating
• B. mimicking
• building
• designing

Which of the sentences below expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in paragraph 2? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential

• Most people are quite aware of the use of caretaker speech because of thorough study and research about it.
• The unconscious use of caretaker speech involves a reduction in the complexity of language, while the conscious use of caretaker speech involves an increase in complexity.
• Young children tend to use caretaker speech quite unconsciously in order to reduce the complexity of their thoughts to language that they can express.
• People generally seem to be able to adapt their language to the level of a child's language without thinking consciously about it.

The word “It” in paragraph 2 refers to

• . caretaker speech
• a higher-pitched voice
• essential information
• baby talk

The word “reaches” in paragraph 4 could be best replaced by

• holds on to
• takes charge of
• arrives at
• extends out to

All of the following are mentioned in paragraph 3 as characteristics of caretaker speech EXCEPT

• overemphasized inflections
• the use of rhyming sounds
• . the tendency to repeat oneself
• the use of easier words and structures

It is indicated in paragraph 3 that parents tend to

• speak in basically the same way to a one-year-old and a three year-old
• use language that is far above the language level of a child
• speak in a progressively less complex way as a child matures
• modify their speech according to the language development of a child.

The word “that” in paragraph 4 refers to

• an important point
• the function
• caretaker speech
• a child

According to paragraph 4, it is NOT expected that someone who believes in nurture over nature

• would believe that caretaker speech is more of a learned style of language than a natural one
• would use different styles of caretaker speech with children in response to what is working best
• would learn to use different styles of caretaker speech with different children
• would use less caretaker speech than do those who believe in nature over nurture

The word “trying out” in paragraph 4 is closest in meaning to

• A. experimenting with
• bringing about
• throwing away
• taking over