Imagine That a Race of Extraterrestrials Came to Earth

question 209

Multiple Choice

Imagine that a race of extraterrestrials came to earth. These extraterrestrials quickly learned to use Earth words to convey meaningful messages, but they never created new combinations of words or learned how to use rules to create meaningful sentences. Which of the following would be true of their communications?

• A)They would have all the requirements for language.
• B)They would not be generative or structured, but would be symbolic and semantic.
• C)They would lack all the essential elements of language.
• D)They would not be symbolic or semantic, but would be generative and structured.

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Definitions:

Shocks

Sudden and often violent disturbances or fluctuations in physical or emotional states, or electrical discharges used in medical therapy or experimental research.

Barriers

Obstacles or structures that impede progress, communication, or physical movement in various contexts.

Variable-ratio Schedule

A schedule of reinforcement where a response is reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses, leading to a high and steady rate of response.

Reinforcement

In behavioral psychology, a procedure or consequence that strengthens a behavior, making it more likely to occur again in the future.