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CTET 8 Feb 2026 Paper 1, Question 3

Topic: Principles of development

Q3

__________ refers to the time of development when an individual is most ready to acquire a new skill or ability and it is difficult to compensate for the loss of this later on in life.

  1. (1) Developmental Task
  2. (2) Sensitive PeriodCorrect answer
  3. (3) Zone of Proximal Development
  4. (4) Developmental Milestone

Solution.

CBSE answer: (2)

Answer: (2) Sensitive Period

  1. A sensitive (critical) period is a window when the child is most ready to pick up a skill, such as language.
  2. If the right experiences are missed in this window, it is hard to make up for them later.
  3. A developmental task or milestone is a skill expected at an age; ZPD is the gap a child can cross with help.

Trap: (4) names the skill itself, not the time of greatest readiness.