How To Build A Baby's Brain

According to the passage, what does Patricia Kuhl’s research suggest about the way infants' brains process phonemes?

• Infants are born with a fixed set of phonemes they can recognize.

• The neurons in the auditory cortex respond randomly to different phonemes.

• Repeated exposure to specific phonemes assigns neurons to recognize those sounds.

• Infants can learn any phoneme equally well throughout their lives.

Based on the passage, why might a 10-year-old struggle to learn a second language compared to a 2-year-old?

• The 10-year-old has less exposure to language in general.

• The 10-year-old has fewer unassigned neurons available for processing new phonemes.

• Older children's auditory maps are more flexible than those of younger children.

• Second-language learning requires a specific genetic predisposition.

Which of the following best expresses the main idea of the passage?

• Infants are born with an innate ability to understand all languages.

• Early language exposure significantly shapes a child’s brain development.

• Television is the most effective tool for language acquisition.

• Emotional context is more important than repetition in language learning.

As used in the passage, the word "commandeered" in the sentence “'Ma' has now commandeered a cluster of cells in the infant's brain” most nearly means:

• replaced

• assigned

• taken over

• destroyed

Why does the author include the analogy comparing adults learning information with emotion to learning about the space shuttle explosion?

• To emphasize that adults are better at processing language than children.

• To illustrate how emotional context strengthens memory formation.

• To prove that abstract concepts are harder to understand.

• To suggest that scientific research on memory is flawed.

What was Janellen Huttenlocher’s key finding regarding vocabulary development in toddlers?

• The size of a toddler’s vocabulary is unrelated to parental speech.

• The frequency and complexity of parental speech impact a child’s vocabulary and syntax.

• Watching television significantly enhances language learning.

• Children of less talkative mothers had a greater vocabulary than those of chatty mothers.

What can be inferred about the role of television in language acquisition?

• Television is just as effective as live conversation in language development.

• Television has a neutral effect on children’s language skills.

• Television alone does not contribute significantly to a child’s language development.

• Children can acquire complex syntax by watching television frequently.

What does the author most likely mean by “auditory map” in the context of the passage?

• A written record of a baby’s speech patterns

• A set of neurons assigned to recognize specific sounds

• A tool researchers use to analyze hearing disorders

• A method for teaching language to infants

The author discusses “neurons acting like laborers without jobs assigned” to illustrate:

• The importance of genetic predisposition in language learning.

• The randomness of brain development in infants.

• The way experience assigns neurons specific roles in language processing.

• The ability of the auditory cortex to function without environmental input.