Mary and eric are outside playing one day when eric looks up and asks, "what's that big bright ball in the sky? " mary replies that it is the sun. that night, eric looks out his bedroom window and sees a big, bright ball in the sky. "look, mary, it is the sun! " he exclaims. this example shows that eric has used for his new knowledge.\

I believe the answer is: assimilation

in this context, assimilation refers to the process when new information is obtained and being mixed with existing knowledge. The process of assimilation does not necessarily make people underctain the core concept of the new concept, which make it almost impossible for them to utilize it into practical things in their current state of development.