Arkansas Foundations of Reading Test (FORT)

Which stage of second language acquisition involves production of single-word responses and simple phrases?

1. Advanced Fluency

2. Early Production

3. Intermediate Fluency

4. Speech Emergence

The correct answer is: Advanced Fluency

The appropriate stage of second language acquisition characterized by the production of single-word responses and simple phrases is Early Production. During this stage, learners begin to use basic vocabulary and construct simple sentences, which reflects their growing ability to communicate in the new language. This stage typically follows the pre-production stage, where the learner may not speak much at all but is often absorbing the language around them. In Early Production, learners can usually respond to questions and prompts using one or two-word responses, and they start to combine words into simple phrases. This indicates a developing understanding of the language's structure and vocabulary, making it easier for them to express basic ideas and needs. The other stages mentioned—Advanced Fluency, Intermediate Fluency, and Speech Emergence—represent more advanced levels of language proficiency. Advanced Fluency involves more complex sentence structures and nuanced language use, while Intermediate Fluency allows for longer, more detailed responses and some errors in language use. Speech Emergence typically includes the ability to create sentences with more complexity than simple phrases but is still earlier than Advanced Fluency.