Which scenario best demonstrates near transfer?

• A. A student applies grammar rules learned in a language class to analyzing sentence structure in a science text.
• B. A student uses algebra skills learned in class to solve a physics problem with similar mathematics.
• C. A student who studied French vocabulary uses it to read a German novel.
• D. A student uses a cooking measurement technique to measure ingredients for a science experiment.

Answer: (B)

Near transfer happens when you apply a learned skill to a new task that still uses the same kind of thinking and problem-solving steps. In this case, the algebra skills you learned in math class are used to solve a physics problem that employs the same mathematical processes—setting up equations, solving for a variable, and applying the same rules. The underlying method is preserved, even though the context has shifted from pure math to a physics scenario.

The other scenarios involve shifting the type of task or domain more noticeably: grammar rules used to analyze a science text moves away from the math-focused reasoning; reading a German novel from French vocabulary relies on language differences rather than the same mathematical procedure; and measuring ingredients with a cooking technique changes both the domain and the specific procedural reasoning, making the transfer less direct.