Three-year-old Sadie understands very well what people are saying to her but she is not always effective in conveying her thoughts to others. In other words, Sadie's _______ language ability exceeds her _______ language ability.
A)receptive; expressive
B)expressive; receptive
C)responsive; comprehensive
D)comprehensive; responsive

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Receptive language ability refers to the ability to understand language or incoming messages, while expressive language ability refers to the ability to produce language or outgoing messages. The description provided indicates that Sadie understands what people are saying to her, which implies that her receptive language ability is intact. However, her difficulty in conveying her own thoughts indicates a deficit in her ability to express herself, making A the best answer choice.

Three-Year-Old Sadie Understands Very Well What People Are Saying to Her