Concept:Piaget’s theory states that abstract thinking and scientific reasoning emerge only in the final stage of cognitive development, when children can think beyond concrete objects and consider hypothetical possibilities.
Explanation:Piaget divided cognitive development into four stages. The first three stages—sensorimotor (0–2 years), pre-operational (2–7 years), and concrete operational (7–11 years)—involve learning through senses, language, and logical thought about tangible objects. However, abstract thinking, such as solving hypothetical problems and using deductive logic, does not appear until the formal operational stage (11–15 years). In this stage, children can think about thinking, consider multiple possibilities, and apply scientific reasoning systematically. For example, they can reason about “what if” scenarios and use general principles to draw specific conclusions. Therefore, the ability for abstract thinking and scientific reasoning develops exclusively in the formal operational period.
Answer:D. Formal operational stage