Correct Response: D. Social language is usually highly contextualized, features relatively short utterances and repetitious vocabulary, and is produced during interactions with others during which people can effectively convey meaning despite imperfect/imprecise language. In contrast, academic language is often context-reduced and relatively complex and varied. Successfully comprehending and producing academic language requires English learners to become acquainted with words, phrases, and grammar that they typically do not encounter in everyday life and to convey abstract ideas with precision and accuracy. As a result, it often takes longer to develop academic language.
A is incorrect because the student in the scenario is able to communicate effectively with others in complete sentences and thus does not display gaps in knowledge of usage or syntax. Additionally, according to research, acquisition of social language skills in a second language, however rapidly it occurs, does not impede the acquisition of academic language skills. B is incorrect because the student displays strong expressive skills in social situations. Research has shown that, in regard to C, exactly the opposite is true: conceptual understanding gained in the first language transfers quite readily to content-area learning in a second language, thereby enhancing the acquisition of academic English.
