Educating All Students (EAS) Practice Exam

Why might learning to read in a language take longer than learning to speak it?

1. Reading requires more time for practice

2. The complexity of reading comprehension can lag behind spoken language

3. Reading involves visual skills that develop later

4. Speaking relies heavily on social interaction

The correct answer is: The complexity of reading comprehension can lag behind spoken language

The process of learning to read in a language can indeed take longer than learning to speak it due to the complexity of reading comprehension, which often lags behind spoken language development. While speaking can begin at a very young age as children learn to communicate through immediate social interactions and verbal cues, reading introduces additional challenges. Reading comprehension not only requires the ability to decode written symbols into sounds but also involves understanding the meaning behind those words—context, vocabulary, and sentence structure. This level of comprehension typically requires more cognitive development and practice than the more instinctual and social element of speaking. Children may speak fluently without fully grasping the nuances of language in written form, which adds to the timeline of mastering reading and comprehension skills. The other options touch on important aspects of reading and speaking but do not encompass the central reason for the disparity in learning times. For example, while social interaction plays a significant role in speaking, it is not the primary reason for the longer duration it takes to develop reading skills compared to speaking.