Question 1

Successful retrieval of information from long-term memory depends on three of the following factors. On which one does retrieval not depend?
A)The part of long-term memory being searched
B)How the information was stored in the first place
C)The duration of a learner's working memory
D)The presence of relevant retrieval cues

Accepted Answer

The duration of a learner's working memory does not directly affect the retrieval of information from long-term memory. Retrieval depends more on how information was stored, the part of long-term memory being accessed, and the presence of retrieval cues.

Question 2

Ms. Iwata has a long-term goal for her science students: to consider what they have learned about science as they deal with issues and problems in their daily lives. What teaching strategy will best help her students retrieve relevant scientific principles when they need them the most?
A)Make sure that students study those principles in a no-anxiety situation.
B)Associate those principles with as many real-life situations as possible.
C)Maximize the use of concrete materials,and minimize the use of abstract ideas.
D)Maximize the use of abstract ideas,and minimize the use of concrete materials.

Accepted Answer

Associating scientific principles with real-life situations helps students make connections and see the relevance of what they are learning to their daily lives. This makes it more likely that they will be able to retrieve the relevant principles when they encounter issues or problems.

Question 3

To remind her first-grade son Kevin to bring his umbrella home from school,his mother pins a drawing of an umbrella to Kevin's jacket collar. Kevin's mother is helping him remember the umbrella through the use of:
A)A superimposed meaningful structure.
B)A retrieval cue.
C)The keyword method.
D)Verbal mediation.

Accepted Answer

A retrieval cue is a stimulus that helps us remember something. In this case, the drawing of the umbrella is a retrieval cue that helps Kevin remember to bring his umbrella home from school.

Question 4

Jenny is taking a quiz that asks for the chemical symbols of 20 elements. She remembers 19 of them but cannot remember the symbol for mercury. As she walks home from school,she suddenly remembers that the symbol for mercury is Hg. Jenny's memory problem during the quiz can best be explained in terms of:
A)The effects of misconceptions.
B)Reconstruction error.
C)Decay.
D)Failure to retrieve.

Accepted Answer

Jenny's inability to recall the symbol for mercury during the quiz is an example of a failure to retrieve information from her memory, which she was able to recall later.

Question 5

The textbook recommends a number of strategies for increasing students' attention in the classroom. Which one of the following alternatives,while possibly beneficial for other reasons,is not necessarily recommended as a strategy for increasing attention?
A)Follow a predictable routine every day.
B)Vary classroom presentation methods.
C)Encourage note taking.
D)Provide concrete manipulatives with which students can discover some ideas for themselves.

Accepted Answer

Following a predictable routine every day may help with organization and structure but does not necessarily increase attention, as it can become monotonous and lead to disengagement.

Question 6

Morris is trying to remember how to spell the word broccoli. He retrieves the first three letters (B R O)and the last three (O L I),then assumes that the "kuh" sound in the middle of the word must be a K. He writes "brokoli" on his paper. Morris' process of remembering how to spell the word (in this case,incorrectly)illustrates the use of:
A)A script.
B)A retrieval cue.
C)Construction in retrieval.
D)Verbal mediation.

Accepted Answer

Morris is using construction in retrieval by piecing together parts of the word he remembers and filling in the gaps with assumptions, leading to an incorrect spelling.

Question 7

An advantage of knowing some skills to automaticity is that such skills:
A)Require less working memory capacity.
B)Promote the development of retrieval cues.
C)Make meaningful learning of those skills unnecessary.
D)Enhance the reconstructive nature of retrieval.

Accepted Answer

Automaticity reduces the cognitive load on working memory, allowing individuals to perform tasks with less conscious effort and freeing up cognitive resources for other tasks.

Question 8

Three of the following teachers are using strategies that should help students learn information effectively. Which one is not necessarily promoting effective cognitive processing?
A)Mr. Ayotte helps students identify important ideas in their textbooks.
B)Ms. Bertinelli has students repeat definitions of new vocabulary words out loud.
C)Mr. Canton makes sure that students are paying attention before he begins class.
D)Ms. Darwin talks about how famous battles in history are in some ways similar to the conflicts students sometimes have on the playground.

Accepted Answer

Repeating definitions out loud is a rote memorization technique and does not necessarily promote deeper cognitive processing or understanding of the material.

Question 9

Three of the following are common misconceptions that elementary or secondary students are likely to have. Which one is not necessarily a common misconception?
A)Any moving object has a force acting on it.
B)Most animals can survive for months without food.
C)Rivers always flow from north to south.
D)The earth is shaped like a disk.

Accepted Answer

Most animals cannot survive for months without food, making it less likely to be a misconception compared to the others, which are more commonly held incorrect beliefs.

Question 10

When beginning a unit on the digestive system with his fourth graders,Mr. Macum asks his students,"What happens when you chew your food? Your teeth are working hard,to be sure. But what else does your mouth do when it has food in it?" Mr. Macum is using a strategy known as:
A)Prior knowledge activation.
B)The keyword method.
C)Verbal mediation.
D)A script.

Accepted Answer

Mr. Macum is using prior knowledge activation by asking students to recall and think about what they already know about the process of chewing and digestion.

Question 11

Which of the following statements does not have a solid foundation in brain-based research?
A)Physical exercise can enhance the functioning of the central executive.
B)Mental "relaxation" is usually not needed because it wastes time that could otherwise be spent learning something new.
C)Learning activities that provide intellectual stimulation can foster the growth of new neurons.
D)A good night's sleep can lead to improved memories.

Accepted Answer

Mental relaxation is important for brain health and can aid in processing and consolidating information, contrary to the statement that it wastes time.

Question 12

Which one of the following illustrates confirmation bias?
A)Barack feels much better when his teacher gives him a high grade rather than low grade on a writing assignment. He gets depressed when he thinks his work might be anything less than perfect.
B)When Lavina reads about the migratory behavior of Canada geese,she is very curious about why the geese travel along certain routes (flyways). She spends an entire evening searching the Internet for a scientific explanation of their behavior.
C)In his geography class,Carlos likes the unit on South America more than the unit on Africa because his grandfather was born and raised in Colombia.
D)Jayne thinks that metal objects always sink. When she places an aluminum pie plate in a tub of water and sees that it floats,she says,"It only looks like aluminum; it must be plastic with silver paint on it."

Accepted Answer

Jayne's reaction to the floating aluminum pie plate demonstrates confirmation bias, as she dismisses evidence that contradicts her belief that metal objects always sink.

Question 13

Three of the following mathematics teachers are using techniques that should help their students remember information. Which one is using a relatively ineffective technique?
A)Mr. Allen uses wooden blocks and diagrams to help students understand how the volume of a cube is calculated.
B)Ms. Batchelder asks students to think of real-life problems requiring the use of multiplication.
C)Mr. Constanza shows his students how division is simply the reverse of multiplication.
D)Ms. Davenport asks her students to memorize textbook definitions of eight geometric figures.

Accepted Answer

Memorizing textbook definitions is a relatively ineffective technique for long-term retention and understanding compared to using visual aids, real-life applications, or conceptual understanding.

Question 14

Which of the following is not consistent with brain research?
A)Teachers should challenge students to think nonstop throughout the day so that they don't have any time for "mental relaxation."
B)Physical exercise has been shown to enhance the functioning of the central executive.
C)Sleep is important to learning because students consolidate new memories while they are sleeping.
D)Physical exercise is beneficial to the health of the brain.

Accepted Answer

Challenging students to think nonstop without mental relaxation is not consistent with brain research, as the brain needs downtime to process information and avoid cognitive overload.

Question 15

A language arts teacher teaches her students the parts of speech (nouns,verbs,adjectives,etc.)and wants her students to continue to remember them as they study English and foreign languages in the years to come. Considering the factors affecting retrieval of information from long-term memory,choose the strategy below that should maximize the likelihood that students will remember the different parts of speech over the long run.
A)Have students study them early in the school year and periodically review them in various contexts throughout the year.
B)Have students study them intensely for a month,and then stay away from any discussion of them for the rest of the school year.
C)Have students study each part of speech separately,perhaps a different one each month.
D)Have students memorize definitions of each part of speech until they can recite the definitions word for word.

Accepted Answer

Periodic review and practice in various contexts help reinforce memory and retrieval, making it more likely that students will remember the information over the long term.

Question 16

Considering developmental trends in long-term memory storage processes,choose the statement that best characterizes how high school students are apt to approach school learning tasks.
A)Even at the high school level,most students do little or nothing to help them learn and remember school subject matter.
B)Students rely largely on visual imagery for visual information; they are more apt to use rehearsal for auditory information.
C)Some students intentionally elaborate on and organize class material; others rely largely on rehearsal.
D)Elaboration and organization decrease over the high school years,in large part because such storage processes are less necessary as the brain matures to an adultlike form.

Accepted Answer

High school students often use a variety of strategies for learning, including elaboration and organization, although some may still rely on simpler strategies like rehearsal.

Question 17

Generally speaking,meaningful learning is an effective way of learning and remembering new information. An exception to this rule is when students:
A)Relate it to prior knowledge acquired before age 10.
B)Elaborate on the information using previously acquired misconceptions.
C)Organize it as a hierarchy rather than as a two-dimensional matrix.
D)Learn it very quickly.

Accepted Answer

When students elaborate on new information using previously acquired misconceptions, they may reinforce incorrect understandings, leading to ineffective learning and memory retention.

Question 18

Three of these teachers will probably promote meaningful learning in their students. Which teacher,although possibly using a beneficial instructional strategy,is unlikely to promote meaningful learning?
A)Mr. Pulos demonstrates how the area of a triangle (area = 1/2 base × height)is half of something his students already know-the area of a rectangle.
B)Ms. Rubenstein asks her students to define peninsula in their own words.
C)Mr. Warner encourages his third graders to practice their cursive letters at least once every day.
D)Ms. Elms points out that the German word krank (meaning "sick")might be related to the English word cranky.

Accepted Answer

Mr. Warner encourages his third graders to practice their cursive letters at least once every day. This is a rote memorization task that is unlikely to promote meaningful learning.

Question 19

Only one of the following teaching practices is consistent with what we know about working memory. Which one?
A)Mr. Adamson tells his students that,with practice,they will be able to do complicated long division problems in their heads.
B)Ms. Borelli tells her students that they should try to focus on main ideas rather than try to remember every detail.
C)Ms. Constas suggests that students in her Russian class listen to Russian audiotapes while they sleep.
D)Mr. Dominowski urges his students to put information for tomorrow's test in their "short-term memories."

Accepted Answer

Focusing on main ideas rather than every detail helps manage the limited capacity of working memory, making it more effective for learning.

Question 20

Lucy sees a boy who looks very familiar to her,but she can't remember who he is. Then the boy says something with a thick French accent,and Lucy suddenly realizes that he is the foreign exchange student from France. In this situation,the boy's French accent helps Lucy remember by:
A)Providing a retrieval cue.
B)Evoking a visual image.
C)Helping her elaborate on stored information.
D)Facilitating a reorganization of her long-term memory.

Accepted Answer

The boy's French accent acts as a retrieval cue, triggering Lucy's memory of the foreign exchange student from France.

Quiz 2: Learning, cognition, and Memory

Successful retrieval of information from long-term memory depends on three of the following factors. On which one does retrieval not depend?

Ms. Iwata has a long-term goal for her science students: to consider what they have learned about science as they deal with issues and problems in their daily lives. What teaching strategy will best help her students retrieve relevant scientific principles when they need them the most?

To remind her first-grade son Kevin to bring his umbrella home from school,his mother pins a drawing of an umbrella to Kevin's jacket collar. Kevin's mother is helping him remember the umbrella through the use of:

The textbook recommends a number of strategies for increasing students' attention in the classroom. Which one of the following alternatives,while possibly beneficial for other reasons,is not necessarily recommended as a strategy for increasing attention?

An advantage of knowing some skills to automaticity is that such skills:

Three of the following teachers are using strategies that should help students learn information effectively. Which one is not necessarily promoting effective cognitive processing?

Three of the following are common misconceptions that elementary or secondary students are likely to have. Which one is not necessarily a common misconception?

When beginning a unit on the digestive system with his fourth graders,Mr. Macum asks his students,"What happens when you chew your food? Your teeth are working hard,to be sure. But what else does your mouth do when it has food in it?" Mr. Macum is using a strategy known as:

Which of the following statements does not have a solid foundation in brain-based research?

Which one of the following illustrates confirmation bias?

Three of the following mathematics teachers are using techniques that should help their students remember information. Which one is using a relatively ineffective technique?

Which of the following is not consistent with brain research?

Considering developmental trends in long-term memory storage processes,choose the statement that best characterizes how high school students are apt to approach school learning tasks.

Generally speaking,meaningful learning is an effective way of learning and remembering new information. An exception to this rule is when students:

Three of these teachers will probably promote meaningful learning in their students. Which teacher,although possibly using a beneficial instructional strategy,is unlikely to promote meaningful learning?

Only one of the following teaching practices is consistent with what we know about working memory. Which one?

Lucy sees a boy who looks very familiar to her,but she can't remember who he is. Then the boy says something with a thick French accent,and Lucy suddenly realizes that he is the foreign exchange student from France. In this situation,the boy's French accent helps Lucy remember by: