NBPTS English As A New Language (ENL) Assessment Practice Test

Which statement best distinguishes LAD from universal grammar?

The LAD claims language rules are learned through explicit instruction; universal grammar posits no general patterns across languages. LAD and universal grammar are the same concept. The LAD describes language learning as biological, while universal grammar describes common features across languages. LAD emphasizes that language is learned only through practice, while universal grammar emphasizes formal schooling.

Correct Answer:

The LAD describes language learning as biological, while universal grammar describes common features across languages.

Explanation:

The main idea is that LAD refers to an innate, biological mechanism in the brain that makes language learning possible, while Universal Grammar is about the shared structural features that all languages have. The statement that best distinguishes them captures this difference: LAD describes language learning as biological, whereas Universal Grammar describes common features across languages. In other words, LAD is about how the mind enables learning, whereas UG is about what kinds of grammatical structures are possible in human languages. The other options mix up these roles—explicit instruction versus biology, claiming they’re the same, or emphasizing schooling instead of innate structure—so they don’t fit the distinction as cleanly.

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