Question 1

Which of the following is not true about identical twins?
A) They are also called monozygotic twins.
B) They are always the same sex.
C) The twins develop when two eggs are released during ovulation.
D) The twins are genetically identical.

Accepted Answer

Identical twins, also known as monozygotic twins, develop from a single fertilized egg that splits into two embryos. Therefore, they are always the same sex and genetically identical. They do not develop when two eggs are released during ovulation, as is the case with fraternal twins.

Question 2

The debate over whether intelligence and other traits are primarily the result of heredity or environment is the
A) heredity-experience debate.
B) nature-nurture controversy.
C) heredity-environment controversy.
D) nativist-learning controversy.

Accepted Answer

The phrase "heredity or environment" is typically used to describe the nature-nurture controversy. The other answer choices are similar but do not accurately reflect the phrasing used in the question.

Question 3

What is the term for an index of the degree to which a characteristic is estimated to be influenced by genetic factors?
A) heritability
B) gene factor
C) nature index
D) heredity index

Accepted Answer

The term for an index of the degree to which a characteristic is estimated to be influenced by genetic factors is heritability.

Question 4

The twin study method examines the relative effects of heredity and environment on behaviour and ability by comparing
A) brothers with sisters to fraternal twins.
B) fraternal twins with ordinary siblings.
C) monozygotic twins and dizygotic twins.
D) identical twins with ordinary siblings.

Accepted Answer

The twin study method compares the differences between monozygotic (identical) twins who share all of their genes and dizygotic (fraternal) twins who share only 50% of their genes, while also living in similar environments. This allows researchers to determine the relative contribution of heredity versus environment on different behaviours and abilities.

Question 5

The fact that IQ scores for identical twins raised apart are very similar provides evidence for the influence of which of the following upon intelligence?
A) confluence
B) heredity and environment equally
C) heredity
D) environmental

Accepted Answer

The fact that IQ scores for identical twins raised apart are very similar suggests that genetics play a significant role in determining intelligence.

Question 6

Which of the following is one of the conclusions of the study conducted by Scarr and Weinberg regarding the IQ difference between white and black children?
A) Genetics governed IQ differences, but not significantly.
B) An enriched environment can have a positive impact on both IQ and achievement test scores.
C) The effects of environment became irreversible at about eight years old.
D) The IQ differences reported by Arthur Jensen were the result of unfair and poorly administered intelligence tests.

Accepted Answer

Scarr and Weinberg concluded that an enriched environment can have a positive impact on both IQ and achievement test scores, which suggests that environmental factors play a significant role in IQ differences between white and black children.

Question 7

Statements such as "blood will tell," "like father, like son," and "it runs in the family," reflect which of the following views of intelligence?
A) genetic
B) nurture
C) conservative
D) empirical

Accepted Answer

People who believe in these statements believe that intelligence or traits are passed down through genes from one generation to the next, which is a belief in a genetic view of intelligence.

Question 8

The more closely two people are related genetically, the more similar their IQ scores tend to be. This finding provides support for the view that ________ factors play a role in shaping human intelligence.
A) both environmental and genetic
B) confluent
C) genetic
D) environmental

Accepted Answer

The statement suggests that the more closely two people are related genetically, the more similar their IQ scores are. This finding supports the idea that genetic factors play a role in shaping human intelligence, indicating that differences in IQ scores between individuals are at least partially due to genetic variation. It does not exclude the possibility of environmental influences on intelligence, but the focus of the statement is on genetic factors. Therefore, the best choice is C, genetic.

Question 9

A high correlation between the IQs of adopted children and the IQs of their biological mothers would support the ________ view of intelligence. A high correlation between the IQs of adopted children and their adoptive mothers would support the ________ view of intelligence.
A) nature; nurture
B) nature; nature
C) nurture; nurture
D) nurture; nature

Accepted Answer

A high correlation between the IQs of adopted children and their biological mothers supports the nature view, suggesting genetic factors play a significant role in intelligence. A high correlation between the IQs of adopted children and their adoptive mothers supports the nurture view, indicating environmental factors and upbringing significantly influence intelligence.

Question 10

If we study identical twins who have been separated at birth and reared apart, we can
A) only test the importance of genetic endowment.
B) learn a lot more about intelligence than we can by studying the influence of the environment.
C) assess the relative contribution of heredity and environment.
D) say very little about the impact of heredity or environment on intelligence.

Accepted Answer

Studying identical twins who have been separated at birth and reared apart allows us to assess the relative contribution of heredity and environment on intelligence. By comparing their similarities and differences, we can estimate the extent to which each factor plays a role in determining intelligence.

Question 11

Concerning the nature-nurture debate, most psychologists today
A) really do not care about the debate.
B) agree that the key factor is nature, with nurture having no impact.
C) agree that both nature and nurture contribute to intelligence, but they debate the proportions.
D) disagree over whether nature or nurture determines our intelligence to the total exclusion of the other.

Accepted Answer

Most psychologists today agree that both nature and nurture contribute to intelligence, but they debate the proportions. This means that both genetic and environmental factors play a role in determining intelligence, but there is debate over how much weight each factor carries.

Question 12

Studies of black children adopted into white, highly educated, upper-middle class families show that
A) the "Flynn effect" is incorrect.
B) a genetic drift is occurring.
C) an enriched environment can produce significant gains in IQ scores.
D) environment must not be relevant, because the parents and the children share environments.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that an enriched environment can produce significant gains in IQ scores for children who are adopted into highly educated, upper-middle class families, irrespective of their genetic background. This supports the idea that environment plays a role in cognitive development and that interventions to improve the environment can improve cognitive outcomes.

Question 13

What field of research investigates the relative effects of heredity and environment on behaviour and ability?
A) behavioural genetics
B) physiology
C) genetics
D) biology

Accepted Answer

Behavioural genetics is the scientific study of how genes and environment interact to influence behaviour and mental processes. It investigates the relative effects of heredity and environment on behaviour and ability. Physiology, genetics, and biology are related fields but are not specifically focused on studying the interaction between genes and environment on behaviour.

Question 14

The IQs of identical twins who were separated early in life and raised in different homes correlate almost as much as
A) half-siblings.
B) non-identical siblings.
C) identical twins raised together.
D) cousins.

Accepted Answer

The correlation between the IQs of identical twins raised together is very high due to their genetic similarity, and the correlation between the IQs of identical twins raised apart is only slightly lower due to shared genes and similar prenatal environments. The correlations between half-siblings, non-identical siblings, and cousins will be even lower due to less genetic similarity and different environments.

Question 15

Since 1979, I have headed research involving the study of over 100 sets of twins and triplets who were reared apart. Who am I?
A) Lewis Terman
B) Sandra Scarr
C) Thomas Bouchard
D) Francis Galton

Accepted Answer

The study of over 100 sets of twins and triplets who were reared apart is famously associated with Thomas Bouchard, who has been investigating the relative impact of genes and environment on personality and intelligence.

Question 16

The Flynn effect refers to
A) a deviation score which signals to the researcher that there is a problem with the test.
B) the huge IQ gains in industrialized countries over the past 50 years.
C) the standard error in all IQ tests, which allow tests to be compared across cultures.
D) the influence of genes on intelligence.

Accepted Answer

The Flynn effect refers to the observed phenomenon of IQ scores increasing significantly in industrialized countries over the past 50 years. This increase is attributed to various environmental factors such as improved nutrition, better education, and increased exposure to technology.

Question 17

Which field of research is most interested in the relative effects of heredity and environment on behaviour and ability?
A) personality psychology
B) behavioural genetics
C) biology
D) genetics

Accepted Answer

The field of behavioural genetics explores the relative effects of genetic and environmental factors on human behaviour and abilities.

Question 18

Which of the following is not true about fraternal twins?
A) They are also called dizygotic twins.
B) They are always the same sex.
C) The twins develop when two sperm fertilize two eggs that are released at the same time during ovulation.
D) They are no more alike genetically than ordinary brothers and sisters.

Accepted Answer

Fraternal twins can be either the same or different sex, so it is not true that they are always the same sex. The other options are true: they are also called dizygotic twins, they develop when two sperm fertilize two eggs that are released at the same time during ovulation, and they are no more alike genetically than ordinary brothers and sisters.

Question 19

Of the following categories of relationship, the lowest degree of similarity of IQ has been found among
A) brothers and sisters reared together.
B) identical twins reared apart.
C) brothers and sisters reared apart.
D) identical twins reared together.

Accepted Answer

The lowest degree of similarity of IQ has been found among brothers and sisters reared apart (C), as environmental factors and different upbringing conditions can significantly influence IQ, leading to greater variability compared to genetic relatives reared together or identical twins.

Question 20

Studies of adopted children generally find a closer relationship between the IQs of children and their
A) adoptive siblings.
B) adoptive parents.
C) classmates in school.
D) biological parents.

Accepted Answer

Studies of adopted children find a closer relationship between the IQs of children and their biological parents rather than their adoptive siblings or parents. This suggests that genetics play a significant role in determining a child's IQ.

Quiz 7: Cognition, Language, and Intelligence

Which of the following is not true about identical twins?

The debate over whether intelligence and other traits are primarily the result of heredity or environment is the

What is the term for an index of the degree to which a characteristic is estimated to be influenced by genetic factors?

The twin study method examines the relative effects of heredity and environment on behaviour and ability by comparing

The fact that IQ scores for identical twins raised apart are very similar provides evidence for the influence of which of the following upon intelligence?

Which of the following is one of the conclusions of the study conducted by Scarr and Weinberg regarding the IQ difference between white and black children?

Statements such as "blood will tell," "like father, like son," and "it runs in the family," reflect which of the following views of intelligence?

The more closely two people are related genetically, the more similar their IQ scores tend to be. This finding provides support for the view that ________ factors play a role in shaping human intelligence.

A high correlation between the IQs of adopted children and the IQs of their biological mothers would support the view of intelligence. A high correlation between the IQs of adopted children and their adoptive mothers would support the view of intelligence.

If we study identical twins who have been separated at birth and reared apart, we can

Concerning the nature-nurture debate, most psychologists today

Studies of black children adopted into white, highly educated, upper-middle class families show that

What field of research investigates the relative effects of heredity and environment on behaviour and ability?

The IQs of identical twins who were separated early in life and raised in different homes correlate almost as much as

Since 1979, I have headed research involving the study of over 100 sets of twins and triplets who were reared apart. Who am I?

The Flynn effect refers to

Which field of research is most interested in the relative effects of heredity and environment on behaviour and ability?

Which of the following is not true about fraternal twins?

Of the following categories of relationship, the lowest degree of similarity of IQ has been found among

Studies of adopted children generally find a closer relationship between the IQs of children and their