NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

Which stage of second language acquisition is characterized by a 1,000-word receptive and active vocabulary?

1. Early production stage

2. Advanced fluency

3. Silent period

4. Intermediate proficiency

The correct answer is: Early production stage

The stage of second language acquisition characterized by a 1,000-word receptive and active vocabulary is the early production stage. This stage typically occurs after the silent period, during which learners are absorbing the language without verbal output. In the early production stage, learners begin to articulate simple sentences and use a limited but functional vocabulary of about 1,000 words. Their communication might still include a lot of hesitance, reliance on gestures, and simpler sentence structures, but they are starting to actively participate in conversations. The other stages mentioned do not fit this description as they represent different levels of proficiency. Advanced fluency is characterized by a much broader vocabulary and more complex sentence structures, whereas the silent period involves little to no speaking. Intermediate proficiency does indicate a developing vocabulary but does not specifically align with the 1,000-word benchmark defined in the question. This is why the early production stage is the correct choice.