Which conclusion is the best supported? (Passage: Language and thought)
Linguists have long debated whether the language we speak shapes how we think. One experiment compared speakers of a language with distinct words for light blue and dark blue with English speakers, who use one word for both. The first group were faster at telling apart two shades of blue when one fell on each side of the boundary between their two colour words. The effect vanished when participants were asked to repeat a string of digits while performing the task, suggesting that language was playing a role in the judgement itself.
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Language may influence perception at least in some tasks
- Step 1: Choose the most cautious supported claim. Step 2. The result shows a language-dependent effect on one colour task. Answer: Language may influence perception at least in some tasks. Why not the others: Other options overreach; the passage calls the question debated.
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