Correct Response: B. Entering-level English language learners typically arrive from other countries and are new students to a school and to U.S. culture in general. People typically go through different phases in the process of experiencing a new culture. Following the first stage, euphoria, in which the newcomer is excited and fascinated with all the new customs, foods, and sights in the new culture, many newcomers experience a stage called culture shock or culture fatigue, during which they may become increasingly frustrated or bewildered by all the unfamiliar cultural cues. Withdrawn and inattentive behavior is typical for students at this point in the acculturation process. A is incorrect because, although the student's behaviors described in the scenario may resemble some of the behaviors exhibited by a person experiencing a personal identity crisis, both the student's situation as a newcomer and the student's behaviors match the typical characteristics of a person who is experiencing culture shock. C is incorrect because the student in this scenario was initially interactive and friendly. D is incorrect because it is not possible to draw any conclusions about the student's academic skills from the evidence provided in the scenario.
