Final answer:
The pre-production/silent period of Second Language Acquisition (SLA) involves minimal verbal production while focusing on listening and understanding.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to the question is option D) Involves minimal verbal production while focusing on listening and understanding.
In second language acquisition (SLA), the pre-production/silent period is a stage where learners primarily focus on listening and understanding the target language. During this stage, learners have minimal verbal production and generally refrain from speaking extensively. Instead, they actively engage in listening activities to develop their comprehension skills.
For example, during this stage, learners may listen to audio recordings, watch videos, or engage in interactive language learning exercises that help them develop their listening skills and build their vocabulary. It is an important stage in SLA as it helps learners gain a solid foundation in the language before actively engaging in speaking practice.