FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What does the Natural Order Hypothesis propose about second-language acquisition?

1. It occurs randomly based on exposure

2. It follows a predictable pattern of grammatical structure acquisition

3. It can be entirely achieved through immersion

4. It relies solely on vocabulary memorization

The correct answer is: It follows a predictable pattern of grammatical structure acquisition

The Natural Order Hypothesis asserts that second-language acquisition unfolds according to a specific and predictable sequence of grammatical structures. According to this hypothesis, learners tend to acquire language features in a consistent order, regardless of their first language or the specific circumstances of learning. This idea, introduced by linguist Stephen Krashen, emphasizes that certain grammatical aspects are learned before others, suggesting that there is an inherent order to the learning process. In contrast to random acquisition, which would imply there is no systematic process behind learning a language, this hypothesis presents a structured approach to understanding how learners progress through different stages of language mastery. The other options do not align with this concept, as they either suggest a lack of structure, an overreliance on immersion or memorization, or do not acknowledge the systematic nature of language acquisition as proposed by the Natural Order Hypothesis.