Deck 15: Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood

Question 1

At which age do virtually all adults experience presbyopia and require reading glasses or other corrective options?

A) 60
B) 35
C) 40
D) 50

Answer 1

50

Question 2

Why are men more susceptible to presbycusis?

A) Because they tend to be exposed to intense noise, loud work environments, and illnesses later in adulthood.
B) Because genetically men have a slightly different physiological auditory system than women.
C) Because women's hearing is genetically superior to men's hearing since through evolutionary influence they need to decipher sounds.
D) Because men do not engage in selective attention as easily as women.

Answer 2

Because they tend to be exposed to intense noise, loud work environments, and illnesses later in adulthood.

Question 3

Michelle is trying to clasp her necklace. She cannot seem to focus and cannot see to hook the clasp. She has to ask her daughter to fasten the necklace. What is Michelle experiencing?

A) Presbycusis
B) Presbyopia
C) Nearsightedness
D) Localized occipital inhibition

Answer 3

Presbyopia

Question 4

Which of the following is not known to reduce testosterone levels in men?

A) Marital stress
B) Children leaving home
C) Diets low in protein and essential vitamins
D) Sexual inactivity

Question 5

Which of the following women is most likely to have a positive view of menopause and fewer reports of menopausal symptoms?

A) Laura, a white high school graduate who smokes, doesn't have children, and lives in poverty.
B) Anne, a white college graduate who smokes, has three children, and is currently unemployed.
C) Sheri, an African American woman with a PhD who doesn't smoke, has two children, and is the CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
D) Karen, an Asian high school graduate who doesn't smoke, doesn't have children, and lives in a lower socioeconomic status neighborhood.

Question 6

Which of the following women is most susceptible to early menopause?

A) Jean, who smokes, doesn't have children, and lives in poverty.
B) Ashley, who smokes, has three children, and is considered to be middle class.
C) Ericka, who doesn't smoke, has two children, and is the CEO of a Fortune 500 company.
D) Lauren, who doesn't smoke, doesn't have children, and is considered to be middle class.

Question 7

Which of the following physical changes in middle adulthood shows a gender difference?

A) Weight gain
B) Location of fat accumulation
C) Vision
D) Metabolic rate

Question 8

In the United States, what age group is most likely to have cosmetic procedures?

A) 18 and under
B) 19-34
C) 51-64
D) 65+

Question 9

What is the reason for age-related hearing loss?

A) A misfiring due to a breakdown in myelin between neurons in the brain from the ear to the temporal lobe.
B) Natural cell death that results in the deterioration of the ear structures that convert sound into neural impulses.
C) A decline in intermodal perception that is required to connect what one sees and what one hears.
D) Greater sensitivity to speech sounds results in less activation of the auditory cortex as one ages.

Question 10

Hormone replacement therapy is associated with all of the following health risks except:

A) Osteoporosis
B) Heart disease
C) Stroke
D) Breast cancer

Question 11

Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease that is related to all of the following except:

A) anxiety.
B) sleep.
C) poor diet.
D) psychological stress.

Question 12

David is listening to his grandson tell him a story. He is finding that he is having difficulty following what his grandson is saying. When his grandson says, "I had fun," David thinks he said "I had sun," and he asks him to repeat what he said (because "I have sun" didn't make sense). What is David experiencing?

A) Presbycusis
B) Presbyopia
C) Sound muffling
D) Localized auditory inhibition

Question 13

The most common nonsurgical cosmetic procedure in 2014 was:

A) skin grafts.
B) laser hair removal.
C) liposuction.
D) Botox injections.

Question 14

Michelle is very concerned about looking older. She is constantly looking at her face and watching for wrinkles. Where will she see them appear first?

A) Her forehead
B) Around her eyes
C) On her neck
D) Around her mouth

Question 15

Loss of fat in the hypodermis results in:

A) higher rates of osteoporosis.
B) greater metabolic function.
C) wrinkling and loosening of the skin.
D) decrease in cardiovascular disease.

Question 16

What is related to losses in bone density?

A) Exposure to vitamin D
B) Smoking
C) Presbycusis
D) Presbyopia

Question 17

Which statement is true regarding hearing loss in middle adulthood?

A) Hearing loss in adulthood is primarily related to biological decline and cannot be prevented.
B) The loss in hearing is first limited to low-pitched sounds.
C) Hearing deficits tend to be more apparent in settings with background noise, like at a dinner party.
D) By late adulthood, hearing loss is limited to high-pitched frequencies.

Question 18

Donna is concerned about aging muscle. What will her doctor recommend to help prevent loss of muscle?

A) He will recommend that she drink more milk.
B) He will recommend that Donna take supplements.
C) He will suggest that she see a nutritionist and develop an exercise routine.
D) He will suggest that she stop smoking and drink alcohol less.

Question 19

Which of the following is not a way to slow the decline in the musculature of those in middle adulthood?

A) Reduce caloric intake to match the reduced need for calories
B) Increase activity level
C) Take dietary supplements to slow fat gain and muscle loss
D) Eat a low-fat diet with lots of vegetables, fruits, and grains

Question 20

What is the most common symptom of perimenopause that women experience?

A) Bloating
B) Reduced vaginal lubrication
C) Hot flashes
D) Increased appetite

Question 21

What is the leading cause of death in middle adulthood?

A) Suicide
B) Accidents
C) Heart disease
D) Cancer

Question 22

Good health is associated with all of the following except:

A) conscientiousness.
B) optimism.
C) introversion.
D) positive emotions.

Question 23

What are the findings from cross-sectional studies on IQ that are no longer thought to be true?

A) Intelligence peaks in early adulthood, declines through middle adulthood, and drops steeply in late adulthood.
B) Intelligence varies by gender with males' IQ showing greater declines over time than females' IQ.
C) IQ scores increase into middle adulthood.
D) Intelligence varies by gender with females' IQ showing greater declines over time than males' IQ.

Question 24

Who is least likely to be diagnosed with osteoporosis?

A) Debbie, a 60-year-old woman who runs one marathon every other year, doesn't smoke, and is small-framed.
B) Raymond, an 85-year-old man who has never exercised and doesn't like milk or cheese.
C) Andrew, a 70-year-old man who is fairly active but drinks alcohol to excess about every other week.
D) Rhonda, a 65-year-old woman who exercises frequently, smokes cigarettes, and has an identical twin with osteoporosis.

Question 25

When are men and women typically diagnosed with osteoporosis?

A) Through regular medical checkups
B) After they have experienced a bone fracture
C) When they experience pain in their joints
D) After they meet with their doctors regarding testosterone or estrogen declines

Question 26

How do experts approach problems that support gains in practical problem solving?

A) They use intuition.
B) They read background information.
C) They know how to ask appropriate questions.
D) They keep their mind busy and read stories to the young child.

Question 27

Which of the following is not a risk factor associated with low SES and cancer?

A) Occupations that may place them in contact with toxins
B) Inadequate access to medical care
C) High levels of stress
D) Decrease in breast-feeding

Question 28

Dennis has been diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. The doctors have decided that Dennis needs coronary bypass surgery followed by medication and diet changes. What should be concluded based on his doctors' recommendations?

A) Dennis's doctors are acting in a precautionary manner because bypass surgery is typically not followed up by medication.
B) Dennis's cardiovascular disease is not life-threatening.
C) Dennis has a serious case of cardiovascular disease.
D) Dennis's doctors would suggest the same treatment plan to anyone with cardiovascular disease.

Question 29

Exercise reduces the physiological effects of stress in all of the following ways except:

A) Improves vascular function
B) Protects against health problems
C) Reduces risk of cardiovascular disease
D) Restructures messages between neurons in the brain

Question 30

Richard gets angry very easily. He thinks about confrontations he has with coworkers all the time and will vent to anyone who will listen. He puts a lot of pressure on himself and his children. If they don't do what he asks, he yells at them and becomes very upset to the degree that he gets short of breath. What would Richard most likely be diagnosed with?

A) High blood pressure
B) Anxiety
C) Cancer
D) Depression

Question 31

Which of the following is a way that stress harms health indirectly?

A) Increase in blood pressure
B) Depression
C) Getting less exercise
D) Anxiety

Question 32

What is the first form of memory decline that individuals experience as they age?

A) The ability to apply memory strategies when learning new information.
B) The capacity of working memory.
C) The ability to engage in selective attention.
D) The ability to tune out irrelevant information.

Question 33

Brian is very good at problem solving and being able to see both sides of an issue. Which type of intelligence does Brian exhibit?

A) Multiple intelligence
B) Crystallized intelligence
C) Fluid intelligence
D) Analytical intelligence

Question 34

Terry feels out of control, reacts to stressful situations with anger and frustration, and becomes silent when he is stressed and won't talk about what is bothering him. Based on what we know about wellness, what would Terry score low in?

A) Intrapersonal reactivity
B) Social competence
C) A cardiovascular stress test
D) Hardiness

Question 35

Ruth is worried about losing her cognitive abilities as she ages, so she interacts with others a lot, engages in mentally stimulating activities such as crossword puzzles, and engages in new experiences as much as she can. What type of intelligence will show gains because of everything she is doing?

A) Multiple intelligence
B) Crystallized intelligence
C) Fluid intelligence
D) Analytical intelligence

Question 36

What permits adults to use their memory and crystallized intelligence more effectively?

A) Social interaction
B) Metacognition
C) Advanced degrees
D) Reciprocal learning

Question 37

Middle-aged adults who must meet the multiple demands of career and family as well as the demands of caring for two generations, their children and their elderly parents, are considered to be in the:

A) stage of integrity.
B) state of work-family imbalance.
C) sandwich generation.
D) stage of discontinuity.

Question 38

The ability to resist interference from irrelevant information to stay focused on the task at hand is called:

A) Extraversion
B) Inhibition
C) Generativity
D) Selective attention

Question 39

Why do some critics feel that crystallized intelligence is not actually a form of intelligence?

A) Because intelligence measures that examine crystallized intelligence are actually just measuring an individual's accumulated knowledge and not intelligence itself.
B) Because measures of crystallized intelligence change over time, and true intelligence remains stable over time.
C) Because there is no accurate measure of crystallized intelligence yet to date.
D) Because tests of crystallized intelligence measure memory of spelling, vocabulary, formulas, and dates in history, and measure a person's ability to memorize, not intelligence.

Question 40

Which of the following is a way that stress harms health directly?

A) Smoking
B) Increase in blood pressure
C) Sleep less
D) Eat more poorly

Question 41

How many adult learners are female?

A) 10%
B) 27%
C) 39%
D) Over 66%

Question 42

When does expertise reach its peak in development?

A) Early adulthood because in the 20s individuals are learning about a large variety of topics.
B) Middle adulthood because they are able to solve problems efficiently by using abstract reasoning and making intuitive judgments.
C) Late adulthood because they have many more years of life experience to draw conclusions from in problem solving.
D) Expertise does not reach a peak at any particular age as it is dependent on so many contextual factors.

Question 43

Why do women have more difficulty than men in finishing a degree?

A) Traditional gender roles in marriages do not support women going to college and working.
B) Women are less motivated to finish a degree than men are.
C) Divorce and responsibility for young children are more common for women and associated with failure to complete a degree.
D) They do not see the practical application of information that is taught in college.

Question 44

Cerebrovascular disease can lead to a stroke that damages the auditory cortex, resulting in hearing loss.

Question 45

What percentage of students enrolled in American colleges and universities are adults aged 25 and up?

A) 25%
B) 33%
C) 42%
D) 55%

Question 46

Which of the following accurately describes age-related change in working memory?

A) The capacity of working memory declines from the 20s through the 60s.
B) Declines in working memory are consistent across all people and all tasks.
C) It is difficult for adults to compensate for declines in working memory, so declines tend to be noticeable.
D) Memory strategies do not help middle-aged adults in working memory, only in long-term memory.

Question 47

Relaxation techniques, meditation, and biofeedback are ways to reduce the negative mental and physical health effects of stress.

Question 48

More men than women are diagnosed with osteoporosis.

Question 49

Many middle-aged adults display hearing loss that is preventable.

Question 50

Rates of cancer have increased since the 1990s.

Question 51

Adult learners show advancements in all of the following areas except:

A) academic knowledge.
B) the ability to distinguish practical from impractical challenges in life.
C) social reasoning.
D) self-evaluation skills.

Question 52

In Japan, where women gain power and responsibility with age, women rarely report hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms.

Question 53

In societies that value youth, women are not as accepting of the bodily changes of menopause.

Question 54

Why is reentering formal education challenging for women?

A) Because they typically have experienced failure in college previously.
B) Because education for a middle-aged woman is not seen as valuable in Western culture.
C) Because they have to juggle multiple and often conflicting demands of family, household, school, and work.
D) Because they do not see the benefits of college.

Question 55

Aaron is an adult who is described as being highly distractible. If we help him to reduce his distractions, what can we expect about his ability to process information?

A) Aaron will show a decline in processing speed because of the effort he will need to focus on relevant information.
B) Aaron will show an increase in the ability to process information.
C) Aaron will reach a peak of processing speed at about age 40 and then it will decline dramatically.
D) Aaron will only be able to reduce the distractions in certain areas of his life, so the effect of teaching distraction reduction will be temporary.

Question 56

Which of the following accurately describes age-related change in cognitive capacity?

A) Fluid intelligence continues to improve throughout adulthood.
B) Crystallized intelligence increases steadily over the adult years and declines modestly in late adulthood.
C) Adults show more difficulties with selective attention but not with divided attention and inhibition.
D) The capacity of working memory continues to improve throughout middle adulthood.

Question 57

What type of motivation do returning students show in college?

A) Intrinsic motivation
B) Extrinsic motivation
C) Monetary motivation
D) Pressure from spouses or partners

Question 58

The majority of men in the United States experience testosterone deficiency in middle adulthood.

Question 59

How are adult learners different from the traditional college student?

A) Adult learners enjoy learning for the sake of learning.
B) Adult learners tend to be problem-oriented in that they typically want to know why they should learn something.
C) Adult learners enjoy engaging in collaboration with others, which a college experience typically involves.
D) Adult learners are more likely to challenge their professors and not show the same respect that traditional students show.

Question 60

Smoking has not been found to impact skin aging.

Question 61

Why is night vision difficult for individuals as they age?

Question 62

Why does fluid intelligence decline over the adult years?

Question 63

Experts operate on hunches, intuitive judgments of how to approach a problem based on experience.

Question 64

As people age, it becomes more difficult to tune out irrelevant information, which then leaves less space in working memory for completing a task.

Question 65

How is the "male menopause" similar to the female menopause?

Question 66

What is the term for the personal characteristic adults have who are better able than others to adapt to the physical changes of midlife and the stress wrought by the changes in lifestyle that accompany midlife transitions?

Question 67

Which type of strength is retained as individuals age?

Question 68

The more complex the task, the greater the age-related decline in reaction time.

Question 69

Cross-sectional research designs are more likely to find that there is no decrease in intelligence over the lifespan.

Question 70

The sandwich generation refers to individuals who are stuck between the healthy period of early adulthood and late adulthood's physical ailments.

Question 71

The conclusions that researchers draw regarding intellectual change in adulthood vary with each research design.

Question 72

What cognitive capacity permits middle-aged and older adults to compensate for declines in processing speed?

Question 73

What is the most common symptom of a heart attack?

Question 74

A person's underlying capacity to make connections among ideas and draw inferences is known as _____ intelligence.

Question 75

The transition to menopause is called:

Question 76

Which type of research design shows that intelligence scores increase into middle adulthood, especially on tests that reflect accumulated knowledge or expertise?

Question 77

The greatest change in information processing capacity with age is a reduction in:

Question 78

The clinical term for age-related farsightedness (the inability to focus the lens on close objects, such as in reading small print) is:

Question 79

What is the difference between early-onset breast cancers and late-onset breast cancers?

Question 80

What type of intelligence involves the accumulation of facts and information?