Skip to main content
. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Jun 10.
Published in final edited form as: Lang Acquis. 2009 Nov 16;13(2):125–168. doi: 10.1207/s15327817la1302_5

TABLE 1.

Example of Stimulus Items for Studies 1 and 2

Version A Version B
Cardinal Quantifier Set
This story features a dragon and four giant slices of pizza. When he got home, the dragon was very hungry. He found four giant slices of pizza, which looked very yummy. He ate the first slice of pizza, then he ate the second one but was barely able to finish it. The dragon said that the two remaining slices looked good, but he was too full by then and could not have another bite to eat. This story features a dragon and two giant slices of pizza. When he got home, the dragon was very hungry. He found two giant slices of pizza, which look very yummy. He ate the first slice of pizza but was barely able to finish it. The dragon said that the remaining slice looked good, but he was too full by then and could not have another bite to eat.
graphic file with name nihms-594064-t0003.jpg graphic file with name nihms-594064-t0004.jpg
Please, tell us about the dragon eating Please, tell us about the dragon eating

In this story, a girl was playing hide and seek with four of her friends. The girl counted to 100 and then started looking for her friends. She looked behind a tree, and found one of her friends. She then looked behind a rock, and found another of her friends. She then looked all over the woods to find the other two guys, but she could not find them. In this story, a girl was playing hide and seek with two of her friends. The girl counted to 100 and then started looking for her friends. She looked behind a tree, and found one of her friends. She then looked all over the woods to find the other child, but she could not find him.
graphic file with name nihms-594064-t0005.jpg graphic file with name nihms-594064-t0006.jpg
Please, tell us about the girl finding her friends Please, tell us about the girl finding her friends
Universal Quantifier Set
This story features a group of little ducks. They were all happily feeding in the grass by the river. Suddenly, one of them spotted a beautiful green field on the other side of the river. It looked yummy! Quickly, one of the ducks jumped onto the water and crossed the river. It was difficult. The current was very strong and the ducky was still too young to be skilled at swimming. He made it though. Then, another duck tried and crossed. A bunch of them also tried and succeeded. However, some ducks felt that it was too dangerous to cross. They remembered their mothers' recommendations and decided to be cautious. This story features a group of little ducks. They were all happily feeding in the grass by the river. Suddenly, one of them spotted a beautiful green field on the other side of the river. It looked yummy! Quickly, one of the ducks jumped onto the water and tried to cross the river. It was difficult. The current was very strong and the ducky was still too young to be skilled at swimming. He could not make it. Then, another duck tried and made it to the middle of the current, but he got scared and came back to the shore. A bunch of them also tried and failed.
graphic file with name nihms-594064-t0007.jpg graphic file with name nihms-594064-t0008.jpg
Please, tell us about the crossing of the river Please, tell us about the crossing of the river

This story features a group of children. The children went to the zoo. They were all excited because they wanted to touch the giraffe. The teacher has told them many things about this giraffe. When they got to where the giraffe was, one child slowly approached the giraffe and touched it. He was so happy! Then, another approached and touched it. And then, another, and another and another. Some children however were afraid because the giraffe was so big and threatening. They then decided not to touch it. This story features a group of children. The children went to the zoo. They were all excited because they wanted to touch the giraffe. The teacher had told them many things about this giraffe. When they got to where the giraffe was, one child slowly approached the giraffe but it looked so threatening that he was afraid to touch it. Then, another child approached but was also afraid. One by one the children tried but were afraid to touch it. How disappointing!
graphic file with name nihms-594064-t0009.jpg graphic file with name nihms-594064-t0010.jpg
Please, tell us about the children touching the giraffe Please, tell us about the children touching the giraffe