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GATE 2025 XH5 (Psychology) – Question 55

Development Across the Life Span · Physical, Cognitive and Psychosocial Development: Infancy, childhood, adolescence and adulthood · 2 marks · Multiple select

In language development which of the following statement(s) is/are true:

  1. The ability to distinguish speech from non-speech sound is likely to develop before the age of three months.
  2. The ability to distinguish between words, without understanding their meaning, is likely to develop before the age of seven months.
  3. Babbling is not likely to develop before the age of six months.
  4. The ability to use single words is not likely to begin before the age of ten months.

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Show answer and explanation

Correct answer: (A) The ability to distinguish speech from non-speech sound is likely to develop before the age of three months.; (C) Babbling is not likely to develop before the age of six months.; (D) The ability to use single words is not likely to begin before the age of ten months.

Explanation

Babies tell speech from other sounds within the first three months. Babbling usually begins around six months, and the first single words appear at about ten to twelve months. Telling words apart as units, without understanding them, comes only around seven to eight months, so it is not likely to develop before seven months.