Which statement best describes CALPS?

• A. The language necessary to understand academic content in areas like science and history.
• B. Everyday conversational language used in social settings.
• C. The ability to memorize vocabulary quickly.
• D. The use of pronunciation features to sound native

Answer: (A)

CALPS focuses on the language you need to access and work with academic content. It’s about understanding and using the kinds of language that appear in subjects like science and history—subject-specific vocabulary, complex sentence structures, logical connections, and the ability to explain ideas, justify reasoning, and analyze information in written and spoken form. This goes beyond everyday social talk, quick memorization of words, or trying to imitate native pronunciation. Because CALPS is about handling academic concepts and tasks, the description that emphasizes the language needed to understand and engage with academic content is the best fit.