Gordon Biddle, Early Childhood Education Instructor Resource
Chapter 12: Language and Literacy Development
Test Bank
1. The study of sounds concerned with the rules governing the structure, distribution, and
sequencing of speech sounds is called
2. The study of the structure and content of words in called
3. The study governing the meanings of words and word combinations is called
4. Word order or grammar that prescribes how words are combined to create sentences is called
5. A set of rules concerned with the way language is used within different social contexts is
called
6. The belief that behaviors are shaped by responses to other behaviors so that behaviors that are
reinforced become strengthened and behaviors that are punished become suppressed is the
____________ model of language development.
7. The belief that certain functions of language are maturational and genetically determined is the
___________ model of language development.
8. The belief that children are prewired for language and that language is a process of normal
maturation is the _________ model of language development.
9. Who believed that language is a uniquely human ability that exists independent of general
cognition, starting at about age 2?
10. The term that depicts the process whereby children acquire two languages is called
11. The term used for shifting from one language to another is
12. The child who acquires two or more languages from birth and acquires these languages
simultaneously is demonstrating
13. The child who learns two languages in succession before developing proficiency in one of
the languages is demonstrating
14. Activities that happen on a normal basis and serve the institution’s needs or take care of
children’s physical needs are called
15. What approach to teaching reading emphasizes the interrelatedness of the language arts skills
and the interrelatedness of learning to read in all curriculum areas?
16. What approach to teaching reading focuses on sight reading words?
17. What approach to teaching reading stresses the sounds of letters and words?
18. Listening, speaking, reading, and writing are all components of a _________ curriculum.
19. The belief that learning to read and write has much in common with spoken language
development is called
20. Children develop their understanding of the rules and function of language from the _______
who use that language in a regular and constant manner.
21. Verbal language development is the foundation for later literacy development.
22. Code-switching reflects language deficiencies in young children.
23. Speaking, reading, listening, and writing are all skills that need to be taught.
24. Young children’s oral or expressive language develops in stages, beginning with cooing at
around 6 to 8 weeks of age.
25. It is not developmentally appropriate to have computers in a preschool classroom.
26. All activities in an early childhood classroom should be teacher-directed.
27. Storybook reading has been shown to be crucial for emergent literacy and language
acquisition.
28. The home setting plays a critical role in providing literacy-related experiences for young
children.
29. Teachers are encouraged to try more than one approach to teaching reading.
30. Trips to the grocery store, post office, and bank are interesting opportunities for literacy
development.
31. Compare and contrast the two forms of bilingualism.
32. Define and explore the concept of code-switching.
33. Discuss the strong relationship between bilingualism and cognitive development.
34. List how children learn that books convey meaning through print.
35. Examine the four components of the language arts curriculum.
36. Outline the key elements of creating a print-rich environment.
37. State the five characteristics that will be found in a literacy-rich environment.
38. Clarify how computer-based media have the potential for fostering language development.
39. Convey the benefits to children from storybook sharing.
40. State the three factors that affect literacy development at home and school.