Analyze the two scenarios below. Based on established principles of early language exposure, predict which child is likely to have a substantially larger vocabulary by age three and explain the primary reason for this difference.

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A key finding from Hart and Risley's research is the '30 million word gap.' By age three, children from high-income families have been exposed to an estimated 30 million more words than their peers from low-income families. This significant disparity in language exposure also results in high-income toddlers possessing a vocabulary nearly twice the size of their low-income counterparts.

The 30 Million Word Gap

The differences in early childhood experiences, particularly language exposure, manifest as significant achievement gaps even before formal schooling begins. Research shows that prior to entering kindergarten, children from higher-income backgrounds score, on average, 60% higher on achievement tests than children from lower-income backgrounds.

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