Three-year-old Sharon can solve 4-piece jigsaw puzzles on her own but needs her parents' help to solve 6-piece jigsaw puzzles. Which of the following represents the upper limit of Sharon's zone of proximal development (ZPD) for solving such puzzles?
A) Sharon moving on to 10-piece puzzles
B) Sharon solving 6-piece puzzles with her parents' help
C) Sharon helping her two-year-old brother solve 4-piece puzzles
D) Sharon mastering 4-piece puzzles

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sharon's ZPD is the range of skills/tasks that are too difficult for her to accomplish alone but can be accomplished with the guidance and support of someone more knowledgeable (in this case, her parents). The upper limit of the ZPD is the most challenging task that Sharon can successfully complete with assistance. 
Since Sharon can solve 4-piece puzzles independently and needs help with 6-piece puzzles, the upper limit of her ZPD would be solving 6-piece puzzles with her parents' help. Option A is not a part of Sharon's ZPD as it is beyond her current level of skill. Option C does not address the upper limit of Sharon's ZPD. Option D relates to a skill that Sharon has already mastered and therefore lies outside her ZPD.

Three-Year-Old Sharon Can Solve 4-Piece Jigsaw Puzzles on Her Own