A Girl Named Genie Was Exposed to Virtually No Language

question 49

Multiple Choice

A girl named Genie was exposed to virtually no language from the age of 20 months till the age of 13.In what way does Genie's case offer support for the notion of a critical period in language acquisition?

• A)With intensive instruction,Genie acquired a sizeable vocabulary after the age of 13; moreover,she eventually mastered the rules of syntax.
• B)Even with intensive instruction,Genie acquired only a very small vocabulary after the age of 13; furthermore,she never mastered the complexities of a language.
• C)Once she was no longer isolated,Genie acquired a sizeable vocabulary and eventually mastered the rules of syntax,even without intensive formal instruction.
• D)Genie's case is irrelevant to the notion of a critical period.

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Definitions:

Genetic Variation

Variability in the genetic makeup among individuals within a population, which is essential for natural selection and evolution.

Subpopulations

Distinct groups within a larger population that may differ genetically and/or behaviorally, often due to geographical, ecological, or social barriers.

Molecular Clock

A technique in molecular evolution that uses mutation rates of biomolecules to deduce the time in prehistory when two or more life forms diverged.

Base Pair Substitutions

Mutations that occur when one nucleotide base pair is replaced by another pair, which can lead to changes in the protein produced.