Concept:Piaget’s pre‑operational stage (ages 2–7) builds on abilities from the earlier sensorimotor stage. One key ability that emerges at the end of the sensorimotor stage and continues into the pre‑operational period is the capacity for goal‑oriented behaviour.
Explanation:The sensorimotor stage ends around age 2. At that point, the child can perform a sequence of actions to achieve a specific goal (goal‑oriented behaviour).
During the pre‑operational stage, this ability is present and further developed. The child can now use symbols and language, but the ability to pursue goals through planned motor actions is already established.
The other options belong to later stages:
– Hypothetico‑deductive thinking and abstract thinking appear in the formal operational stage (ages 11+).
– Taking another’s perspective develops in the concrete operational stage (ages 7–11).
Thus, among the given choices, only the ability of goal‑oriented behaviour is a cognitive ability that comes in the pre‑operational period.
Answer:C. ability of goal‑oriented behaviour