Question 1

Place the following conditions in order from the least difficulty to the most difficulty in terms of the ability to learn language.

Accepted Answer

In terms of difficulty to learn language, the conditions can be ordered as follows:
1. Williams syndrome - individuals with Williams syndrome often have difficulty with visual-spatial tasks but show strengths in linguistic abilities, such as vocabulary and sentence structure.
2. Down syndrome - individuals with Down syndrome often have some degree of intellectual disability and delayed language development but can still learn to communicate effectively with support and intervention.
3. Mutation in FOXP-2 gene - this gene is involved in language development and mutations in it may result in difficulty with speech and language processing. However, these individuals may still be able to learn language with intervention and support.
Therefore, the correct order from least difficulty to most difficulty in terms of learning language is: Williams syndrome, Down syndrome, mutation in FOXP-2 gene. Choice C matches this order.

Question 2

Of the following, who has a speech pattern comparable to that of Paul Broca's research subject Leborgne?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Of the following, who has a speech...

Question 3

Human beings produce over 500 different phonemes, of which the English language uses ____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Human beings produce over 500 different phonemes,...

Question 4

Chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas have a part of the brain that is ____.

Accepted Answer

The question is referring to the language-related areas of the brain, Broca's and Wernicke's areas. Option B states that the part of the brain in question is analogous to the human Broca's area, which is correct. Chimpanzees, bonobos, and gorillas have been shown to have a similar area in their brains that is used for processing and producing communication signals, although it is not used for language in the same way that it is in humans. None of the other options accurately describe the part of the brain in question.

Question 5

In which of the following ways does a typical child first learn language?

Accepted Answer

Children typically acquire language naturally and effortlessly through exposure and interaction, without formal instruction or practice.

Question 6

Upon autopsy, Paul Broca found that his research subject Leborgne had significant damage ____.

Accepted Answer

Paul Broca found that Leborgne had significant damage to the left frontal lobe, specifically in an area now known as Broca's area, which is associated with language production.

Question 7

Morphemes are combined into phrases and sentences according to ____.

Accepted Answer

Morphemes are combined into phrases and sentences according to the rules of grammar. These rules govern how the individual morphemes can be combined into larger units with specific meanings, and determine the organization and structure of sentences in a language. While personal preferences can influence the way we speak or write, ultimately the rules of grammar guide us in constructing meaningful and coherent expressions in a particular language. Linguistic relativity principles and the nature of speech sounds may also play a role in language use, but they are not specifically related to the combination of morphemes into phrases and sentences.

Question 8

Many scholars, including linguists Noam Chomsky and Steven Pinker, believe that human beings ____.

Accepted Answer

Linguists Noam Chomsky and Steven Pinker are proponents of the theory of Universal Grammar, which suggests that humans have an innate capacity for language acquisition. This means that language learning is not solely based on environmental factors (such as classical or operant conditioning), but on an inborn ability to understand and create language.

Question 9

Which of the following is the most effective method to produce the fastest language learning and to support the social nature of language use?

Accepted Answer

Engaging in two-way interaction in the form of conversation is the most effective method because it involves active participation, immediate feedback, and social interaction, which are crucial for language acquisition and development.

Question 10

Behaviorists, including B. F. Skinner, argued that children learn language through ____.

Accepted Answer

Behaviorists like B. F. Skinner believed that language learning occurs through operant conditioning, where children learn language through reinforcement and imitation.

Question 11

The loss of the ability to speak or understand language is called ____.

Accepted Answer

The loss of the ability to speak or understand language is called aphasia. Amnesia refers to memory loss, dyslexia refers to difficulty in reading, and muteness refers specifically to the inability to speak, but not necessarily to understand language.

Question 12

According to current research, the brain has ____.

Accepted Answer

Current research supports the idea that the brain has complex pathways for processing language, which connect Broca's and Wernicke's areas to other cortical areas involved in cognition. While Broca's and Wernicke's areas are important language centers, there are many other areas of the brain that contribute to language processing. Therefore, option A is the best choice. Options B and C are incorrect, as the brain has more than two or four language centers. While option D mentions the amygdala and hippocampus, it doesn't mention the other cortical areas that are also involved in language processing.

Question 13

Critics point out that ape language must be taught laboriously, whereas children build vocabularies spontaneously. This may support an argument that apes have ____.

Accepted Answer

Apes acquiring language through laborious teaching suggests operant conditioning, where behaviors are learned through reinforcement, rather than spontaneous language acquisition like in humans.

Question 14

Which of the following can be either a phoneme or a morpheme?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following can be either...

Question 15

One approach to language suggests that it results from some innate capacity shaped by natural selection, which implies that we might be able to find precursors of human language in the behavior of other animals. This is called the ____ approach.

Accepted Answer

The approach that suggests language results from innate capacity shaped by natural selection and looks for precursors of human language in the behavior of other animals is the evolutionary approach.

Question 16

Which of the following pairs expresses an arguably correct relationship with regard to language learning?

Accepted Answer

The term "nature" refers to innate or inborn characteristics, and the inborn capacity for language aligns with the nature aspect of the nature vs. nurture debate.

Question 17

Researchers have attempted to teach human languages to apes and African gray parrots, among others. What was one result of these interactions, based on the cases described in your text?

Accepted Answer

The text mentions that researchers attempted to teach human languages to apes and African gray parrots, among others. It further states that a gorilla was trained to communicate in sign language, which suggests that option D is the correct answer. The text does not provide evidence for options A, B or C.

Question 18

A morpheme is ____.

Accepted Answer

A morpheme is the smallest unit of language that carries meaning. It is not a phrase (A), individual speech sound (B), or arbitrary signal (C).

Question 19

The affected area of the brain in Wernicke's aphasia is ____.

Accepted Answer

Wernicke's aphasia is caused by damage to the posterior part of the left temporal lobe, specifically near the primary auditory cortex. This area is responsible for comprehension of spoken language.

Question 20

Of the following, who has a speech pattern comparable to that of a person with Wernicke's aphasia?

Accepted Answer

Wernicke's aphasia is characterized by fluent, grammatical speech that lacks meaning or comprehension. Dan, who speaks rapidly and fluently but rarely makes sense, has a speech pattern comparable to that of a person with Wernicke's aphasia. Option A describes someone who has fluent speech and a large vocabulary, which is not consistent with Wernicke's aphasia. Option B describes someone who speaks slowly and with effort, which is inconsistent with Wernicke's aphasia. Option D describes someone with severe difficulties with the production of language, which is not specific to Wernicke's aphasia.

Quiz 10: The Thinking Mind: Cognition, Language, and Intelligence