New Hampshire Foundations of Reading Practice Test

What skill do children first utilize in their vocabulary development?

1. Reading

2. Speaking

3. Listening

4. Writing

The correct answer is: Listening

Listening is the foundational skill children first utilize in their vocabulary development. From an early age, children are immersed in a language-rich environment where they hear words being spoken, which significantly influences their understanding and acquisition of vocabulary. This auditory exposure helps them recognize sounds, tones, and word meanings, forming the basis for their later development of speaking abilities. Listening allows children to absorb new vocabulary through contextual clues, interactions with caregivers, and experiences in their environment. As they listen, they begin to associate words with their meanings and roles within sentences, which is crucial for effective communication and literacy skills later on. Consequently, listening not only contributes to vocabulary growth but also lays the groundwork for subsequent skills such as speaking, reading, and writing. The other skills—reading, speaking, and writing—are developed after listening. For instance, speaking builds on the vocabulary and comprehension gained through listening, while reading expands vocabulary further by exposing children to different contexts and uses of words. Writing incorporates vocabulary in a structured way but relies heavily on prior listening and speaking experiences to be effective.