Second Language Acquisition MCQs | ENG504 MCQs | Set 2
Second Language Acquisition MCQs | ENG504 MCQs | Set 2
MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions)
1) The 'noticing/triggering function' of Learner Output proposed by Swain (1995) is also known as ______ .
a) reflective role
b) hypothesis-testing function
c) metalinguistic function
d) conscious-raising role
Correct Answer:
The correct answer is 'b'.
Explanation:
The 'noticing/triggering function' of Learner Output proposed by Swain (1995) is indeed known as the hypothesis-testing function because it involves learners actively testing their hypotheses about language rules and structures based on their language production and interactions. This function helps learners recognize and correct language errors and promotes their language learning process.
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2) Learning strategies must not be confused with communication strategies; they do overlap but there is a difference in ______.
a) rules
b) instructions
c) focus
d) None of the given options
Correct Answer:
The correct answer is 'c'.
Explanation:
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3) Interactions are not a simple __________ source of target language input, feeding into the learner's presumed internal acquisition device.
b) two-directional
c) three-directional
b) four-directional
Correct Answer:
The correct answer is 'a'.
Explanation:
The term "one-directional" is used here to emphasize that interactions are not a simple, straightforward source of target language input. It means that interactions don't solely involve the transfer of language input from one source (e.g., a speaker) to the learner's presumed internal acquisition device (their language learning mechanism). Instead, interactions often involve more complexity, such as feedback, clarification, negotiation of meaning, and two-way communication.
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4) ________ theorists do not say much about language itself.
a) Connectionist
b) Minimalist
c) Interactionist
d) Processing
Correct Answer:
The correct answer is 'b'
Explanation:
Minimalist theorists, as the name suggests, primarily focus on the minimal and fundamental aspects of language acquisition and do not delve extensively into detailed descriptions of language itself. Their theory, proposed by Noam Chomsky, emphasizes universal grammar principles and the innate cognitive structures that underlie language learning. It is more concerned with how humans acquire language and the abstract principles governing language rather than the specifics of particular languages or their features. Therefore, they do not say much about language itself in terms of its detailed structure or linguistic properties.
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5) Connectionists believe that our mind is ______ to look for associations between and create neural links between them.
a) pre-exposed
b) pre-disposed
c) pre-supposed
d) pre-opposed
Correct Answer:
The correct answer is 'b'.
Explanation:
Connectionists believe that our mind is pre-disposed to look for associations between different pieces of information and create neural links between them. In other words, connectionist theories suggest that our brains are inherently wired to seek and establish connections or associations between various concepts, experiences, or pieces of knowledge, which is a fundamental aspect of their approach to understanding how learning and cognition occur.
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6) When learners engage with their internal interlocutor in negotiaions around meaning, input' nature might be ________ changed.
a) quantitatively
b) qualitatively
c) comparatively
d) all of the given options
Correct Answer:
The correct answer is 'b'.
Explanation:
When learners engage with their internal interlocutor in negotiations around meaning, the nature of the input might be qualitatively changed. This means that the way learners process and understand the input can be altered in terms of quality or depth as they seek to negotiate and clarify the meaning of the language they encounter.
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7) The _______ approach argues that it is the perceptual saliency of linguistic information that drives the learning process forward, rather than an innate language-specific module.
a) perceptual saliency
b) teachability
c) processability
d) all of the given options
Correct Answer:
The correct answer is 'c'.
Explanation:
The correct answer is processability because the sentence states that this approach argues that it is the perceptual saliency of linguistic information that drives the learning process forward. In this context, "processability" refers to the ability of the learner to process or understand linguistic information based on its perceptual saliency, rather than relying on an innate language-specific module.
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8) Some functional studies adopted a 'patch' approach, studying _______ of forms or development of SL within 'time' or 'space' domain.
a) evolution
b) revolution
c) evocation
d) solution
Correct Answer:
The correct answer is 'a'.
Explanation:
The word "evolution" is used here to describe the process of change and development, which aligns with the idea of studying how language forms or SL acquisition progress or transform over time or in different spatial settings. So, "evolution" is the most appropriate term to complete the sentence and convey the intended meaning of studying the changes and development of language within these domains.
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9) Connectionists rely on controlled laboratory research involving experiments with __________ language or small fragments of real languages.
a) superficial
b) beneficial
c) official
d) artificial
Correct Answer:
The correct answer is 'd'.
Explanation:
The term "connectionists" in this context refers to researchers or scholars who study connectionist models of language learning. Connectionist models often rely on controlled laboratory research that involves experiments with artificial language or small fragments of real languages. These artificial languages or language fragments are used to test and develop theories related to language processing and learning within the context of connectionist models. So, "artificial" is the correct term to describe the type of language used in these experiments.
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10) __________ claims that learners are sensitive to regularities in the language input and extract probabilistic patterns on the basis of these regularities.
a) Computationalism
b) Cognitivism
c) Connectionism
d) Behaviourism
Correct Answer:
The correct answer is 'c'.
Explanation:
The term "Connectionism" refers to a theoretical framework in which learners are believed to be sensitive to regularities in language input and extract probabilistic patterns based on these regularities. Connectionist models of language learning posit that language acquisition is a result of neural networks forming connections between linguistic elements based on the statistical patterns they observe in the input data. Therefore, "Connectionism" is the appropriate term to describe the claims mentioned in the statement.
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