Each child in a group of toddlers was taught a bunch of words gathered

Question

Each child in a group of toddlers was taught a bunch of words gathered from various languages. It was observed that to learn the native words, toddlers over three years took less time than those below three years of age. However, while memorizing the foreign words, toddlers below the age of three years performed better.

Which of the following, if true, best explains the differences in performance of toddlers above three years and toddlers below three years?

A. The foreign words were shorter than the native words.

B. Toddlers above three years have more developed memories than toddlers below the age of three.

C. By the age of three, most toddlers develop a sense of native sound and can identify foreign sounds.

D. Toddlers below the age of three generally have sharper grasping abilities than the toddlers above the age of three.

E. The meanings of native words were easier to comprehend than the meanings of foreign words.

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joe123x · Answer

I don't understand why C is correct? It only provide one fact for one part of the premiese... it doesn't provide an answer to why toddlers less than 3 years did better at foreign languages.

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Edit: just noticed the question requires only an explanation for the "differences". Dang it

lindahd · Answer

I don't understand why C is correct.

Divijakanneganty · Answer

A. The foreign words were shorter than the native words.
In that case toddlers(>3Y) should also learn quickly.
B. Toddlers above three years have more developed memories than toddlers below the age of three.
Developed memory should help them retain more info but kids(<3Y) learned foreign words quicker than kids(>3Y) did
C. By the age of three, most toddlers develop a sense of native sound and can identify foreign sounds.
Difference in grasping native words and foreign words could be attributed to this sense of native sound. As toddlers(<3 Y old) haven't developed this sense, they couldn't differentiate native and foreign words.
D. Toddlers below the age of three generally have sharper grasping abilities than the toddlers above the age of three.
But still toddlers under 3 could grasp foreign words quicker.
E. The meanings of native words were easier to comprehend than the meanings of foreign words.
Meaning is irrelevant

sanjitscorps18 · Answer

I disagree with the answer.

Option C - Simply being able to distinguish the sounds would not make the toddlers above 3 years of age memorize them better and this provides no information as to why toddlers below 3 years of age can do better with foreign words

IMHO Option E makes much better sense as one could argue that you are much more likely to remember words that you have attached a meaning to. But, even this option does not take about foreign words.

Bunuel · Answer

Experts' Global Video Explanation:

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Zitkin8 · Answer

I got it, the answer is C because toddlers above 3 years can now distinguish between native and foreign sounds, they have the sense of native sounds. Toddlers below 3 years (here assumed) just memorise only foreign sounds. In that sense, the toddlers above 3 years learn native sounds and below 3 just foreign sounds.

PS: it is all foreign for toddlers below 3 years age
karishma from e-gmat, am I right?

PS: it is all foreign for toddlers below 3 years age
 karishma  from e-gmat, am I right?

Gemmie · Answer

(C) By the age of three, most toddlers develop a sense of native sound and can identify foreign sounds.

This explanation suggests that toddlers over three years of age have developed a better understanding of their native language sounds, which helps them learn native words more quickly. On the other hand, toddlers below three years have not yet fully developed this sense, which could make them more adept at learning foreign sounds that are less familiar.

kirallight · Answer

I think C is the correct answer.
A - doesn't explain why toddlers above 3 are not able to grasp if they are shorter.
B- If they have more developed memories, then why >3 years are they not able to retain foreign words compared to ones <3 years
C- Its a human tendency to go to something which you already know, SO, when they know what is foreign and native, and when they hear what is native, they will tend to learn something familiar.
D- If > 3 years have better grasping ability why are they not able to grasp foreign language.
E- This is a tempting answer, if the meanings are easier to comprehend, then why are toddlers < 3 years not able to grasp. But, one might argue that they don't care about meaning, they learn whatever its easier to them. Then, it doesn't explain why the toddlers > 3 years are not able to do so.

Looking at all the options B feels like a correct explanation.

Each child in a group of toddlers was taught a bunch of words gathered

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Each child in a group of toddlers was taught a bunch of words gathered

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