Which domains are proposed by core knowledge theories as early-acquired knowledge?

• A. Language, Objects, People, Living Things
• B. Language, Numbers, Gravity, Motion
• C. Numbers, Shapes, Space, Time
• D. Only language

Answer: (A)

Core knowledge theories propose that certain knowledge domains are available very early and guide how children learn about the world. Among these, language, objects, people (agents), and living things are highlighted as foundational areas that infants show specialized processing for long before formal schooling. For language, babies show early sensitivity to speech sounds and patterns that set the stage for word learning. For objects, infants track object continuity, solidity, and persistence even when objects are briefly hidden, revealing an early object-representation system. For people or agents, infants distinguish goal-directed actions and social cues, indicating an innate sensitivity to other living beings as intentional beings. For living things, babies distinguish animate from inanimate entities and begin to form basic biological understandings.

That’s why the option listing language, objects, people, and living things is the best fit. Other options mix domains less consistently associated with early, domain-specific knowledge: gravity and motion reflect physical reasoning that isn’t treated as an early, innate core domain; the set including numbers, shapes, space, and time blends some known domains (like numbers and space) but time isn’t typically regarded as a core infant domain, and shapes/space emphasize geometric knowledge rather than the broader, widely cited core domains; and the option claiming only language misses all the other foundational areas.