Question 65

The student processes the word 'ran' faster than the other words because it is related to 'scared'.

Lexical priming occurs when the recognition of a word is influenced by the context of preceding words. In this case, the word 'ran' is processed more quickly due to its association with the preceding word 'scared', demonstrating how prior exposure can facilitate cognitive processing.

A) The student processes the word 'ran' faster than the other words because it is related to 'scared'.

This option is correct as it accurately describes lexical priming. The emotional context established by the word 'scared' primes the reader to recognize the word 'ran' more swiftly, illustrating the cognitive link between the two terms.

B) The student determines that the cat ran up the tree because it was scared.

While this option reflects a logical inference made by the student, it does not exemplify lexical priming. Instead, it describes a conclusion drawn from the narrative context rather than the cognitive processing of words based on prior exposure.

C) The student can picture the tree being very tall and hard to get back down.

This choice involves visual imagery and personal interpretation of the scene rather than lexical priming. It does not illustrate how the recognition of specific words is influenced by previously encountered language.

D) The student concludes that the word 'it' in the second sentence refers to the cat.

This option demonstrates comprehension and reference resolution rather than lexical priming. Identifying what 'it' refers to does not involve the cognitive facilitation of word recognition based on prior context.

Conclusion

The correct answer, A, clearly illustrates the concept of lexical priming, where the processing of 'ran' is expedited due to its connection with 'scared'. In contrast, the other options focus on inference, interpretation, or reference resolution, failing to capture the essence of how prior linguistic context affects the recognition of subsequent words.