The following text discusses language acquisition.
Children acquire language with remarkable speed and minimal instruction. By age two, most children understand hundreds of words. By five, they produce complex sentences and follow grammatical rules they've never been explicitly taught. This natural ability suggests that humans possess an innate capacity for language learning.
What is the primary purpose of the text?
To provide tips for teaching children to read
To compare children's language abilities across cultures
To describe children's language development and suggest its basis
To argue that formal language instruction is unnecessary
Correct Answer: C
Choice C is the best answer. The text describes the stages of children's language development and suggests the basis is an "innate capacity."
- Evidence: The text tracks progress: "By age two," "By five." It concludes: "This natural ability suggests... innate capacity."
- Reasoning: The text combines a developmental timeline with a theoretical conclusion.
- Conclusion: The purpose is to describe development and suggest its basis.
💡 Strategy: Track the timeline (age 2, age 5) and the final concluding thought.
Choice A is incorrect because no reading tips are provided. Choice B is incorrect because cultures aren't compared. Choice D is incorrect because instruction necessity isn't the focus.