You are shown the character "1." When presented in the figure 2,134, you call it a "one"; when it is presented in the word "lift" you call it the letter "L." Why do you perceive it differently across the two situations when the actual character has not changed?
A) You have learned two names for the character.
B) You perceive that the context "2,134" is different from the context "lift."
C) Because you are a skilled reader, you can perceive the subtle differences in the shape of the character.
D) Both a and b.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Option A is correct because the individual has learned two names for the character "1" - as a numeral and as a letter. Option B is also correct because the character's meaning is determined by the context in which it appears. In the context of a number like 2,134, "1" is perceived as a numeral, whereas in the context of the word "lift," it is perceived as the letter "L." Therefore, the combination of both options A and B is correct, which makes option D the correct answer. Option C is incorrect because the character's shape is the same in both contexts, and it cannot be perceived differently based on the reader's familiarity with it.

You Are Shown the Character "1