Can you help me to fill in the blank to

this sentence?

Molly is an older 4-year-old and
her teacher is concerned about her _________ speech development because she is difficult to understand and this has not changed in the last year.

1. receptive
2. expressive
3. rate of speech
4. nasal

Would "expressive" be the most appropriate word to use?

Yes. Expressive is the best word.

To determine the most appropriate word, let's break down the options and see which one fits the context of the sentence best.

1. Receptive: This refers to the ability to understand and comprehend language or information. However, the sentence indicates that Molly's teacher is concerned about her "speech development," which suggests it's more about Molly's ability to express herself rather than understand others.

2. Expressive: This refers to the ability to express thoughts, ideas, and emotions through speech. Since the sentence mentions that Molly is difficult to understand, it aligns well with the concern about her expressive speech development.

3. Rate of speech: This refers to the speed at which someone speaks. While it may be a factor in Molly's difficulty to be understood, the sentence suggests that the main concern is her overall speech development, not just the pace at which she speaks.

4. Nasal: This refers to the quality of sound produced through the nose. The sentence does not provide any indication of Molly's speech being affected by a nasal quality, so it is less likely to be the appropriate word to fill in the blank.

Based on the analysis, "expressive" seems to be the most appropriate word to use in the given sentence.