Question 1

Specific organs and systems of the body often develop

Accepted Answer

Different organs and systems of the body can develop at different rates than the whole body, depending on various factors such as genetics, hormones, and environmental factors. For example, the reproductive system develops earlier in girls than boys. The brain also develops at a different rate than the rest of the body, with some parts of the brain developing earlier than others.

Question 2

One of the strongest arguments in support of a genetic or maturational basis for the development of motor skills is

Accepted Answer

The predictable timing and manner in which motor skills develop in normal children strongly suggest a genetic or maturational basis for their development. This consistency across individuals supports the idea of a biological foundation for motor skill acquisition.

Question 3

Boys and girls grow at similar rates during infancy and childhood,but ________ tend to have their adolescent growth spurt sooner.

Accepted Answer

Girls tend to have their adolescent growth spurt sooner than boys, which is a well-documented aspect of human development. This earlier growth spurt in girls is part of why they often appear taller than boys during early adolescence, until boys catch up and often surpass them in height as their growth spurt kicks in later.

Question 4

When Miranda was four months old,she could bat at the toys in her crib with her arm.Now that she is seven months old,she can grasp them with her hand.This sequence of motor development conforms to which pattern of development?

Accepted Answer

The proximodistal pattern of development refers to the tendency for motor skills to develop from the center of the body outward. In this case, Miranda's ability to move from batting with her arm to grasping with her hand shows development from the central part of her body (shoulder/arm) to the more distal part (hand).

Question 5

Tyrone was ill for several months when he was four years old.His illness caused him to fail to grow to the same height as his friends.Now that he is no longer ill,Tyrone will most likely

Accepted Answer

Catch-up growth is a phenomenon where individuals who have experienced growth retardation due to illness or malnutrition experience accelerated growth to catch up to their peers once the underlying cause of the retardation is addressed. Therefore, Tyrone is likely to show catch-up growth now that he is no longer ill.

Question 6

Many researchers believe that catch-up growth and lagging-down growth are evidence for

Accepted Answer

Catch-up and lagging-down growth are believed to be evidence of a growth center in the brain, which regulates growth in response to environmental factors. This center may adjust growth rates to compensate for periods of slow or rapid growth, resulting in catch-up or lagging-down growth. Genetic and environmental factors also play a role in growth, but the evidence suggests that the growth center in the brain is a crucial factor in regulating growth rates. HGH deficiency may also affect growth rates, but this is not the best choice as it does not explain catch-up or lagging-down growth specifically.

Question 7

The pattern of development in which organs and systems of the body near the middle tend to develop earlier than those near the periphery is called

Accepted Answer

Proximodistal development refers to the pattern of growth and development in which the center or core of the body develops before the extremities or periphery. This is seen in the development of the spinal cord, followed by the arms and legs.

Question 8

The increase in growth after some factor,such as illness or poor nutrition,has disrupted the expected,normal growth rate is called

Accepted Answer

Catch-up growth refers to the rapid increase in growth that occurs after a period of slowed growth, such as during illness or poor nutrition. The body tries to "catch up" to its expected growth rate, resulting in a sudden burst of growth.

Question 9

Not only do members of the same family share similar patterns of body growth and development,but members of the same ethnic groups also show similar rates of growth and final body proportions.This suggests that

Accepted Answer

The fact that members of the same ethnic groups show similar rates of growth and final body proportions strongly suggests that genetic factors play an important role in physical development. This does not negate the influence of cultural factors, but rather indicates that both genetic and cultural factors contribute to physical growth and development.

Question 10

The decrease in growth rate that occurs after some period of accelerated growth caused by a hormonal or congenital factor is called

Accepted Answer

The term "lagging-down growth" refers to the decrease in growth rate that occurs after some period of accelerated growth caused by a hormonal or congenital factor. None of the other choices refer to this phenomenon.

Question 11

Though many factors could contribute to the cultural differences in motor development,a very likely cause lies among cultural differences in

Accepted Answer

Child-rearing practices vary greatly across different cultures, and these practices can have a significant impact on motor development. For example, some cultures may prioritize early physical activity and encourage infants to crawl or walk more quickly, while others may emphasize more passive activities such as sitting or being carried. Thus, cultural differences in child-rearing practices can lead to significant differences in motor development. Communication (B) and cognitive processing (D) may also play a role in shaping motor development, but they are less likely to be the primary cause of cultural differences in this domain. Paternal involvement (C) may also vary across cultures, but research suggests that maternal involvement typically has a stronger impact on child development outcomes.

Question 12

Quantitative measures that provide information about the typical values of growth or development at various ages are called

Accepted Answer

Quantitative measures that provide information about the typical values of growth or development at various ages are called norms. Secular trends refer to changes in a population over time, growth spurts refer to periods of rapid growth, and patterns can refer to a variety of things and are not specific to growth or development norms.

Question 13

Adolescent growth spurts appear to proceed counter to cephalocaudal and proximodistal growth patterns.In fact,the ________ are among the first body parts to show a dramatic change during this period.

Accepted Answer

During adolescent growth spurts, hand and foot growth is among the first body parts to show a dramatic change. This growth is followed by the arms, legs, and then torso, proceeding in a distal-to-proximal pattern.

Question 14

________ refers to the increase in body size and body organs,whereas ________ refers not only to changes in size but also to orderly patterns.

Accepted Answer

Growth refers to the increase in physical size and body organs, while development encompasses not only changes in size but also includes orderly progressions in physical, cognitive, and emotional maturity.

Question 15

Genes do not control growth directly.Instead,genes regulate physical development by means of

Accepted Answer

Genes regulate physical development indirectly through the activity of neural and hormonal systems. These systems are responsible for directing growth and differentiation of tissues and organs throughout the body. Chromosomal blueprints provide the overall genetic code for the development of an organism, but it is the activity of the nervous and endocrine systems that ultimately determine how this code is expressed in terms of physical development. Cephalocaudal and proximodistal directives refer to general patterns of growth and differentiation in terms of body regions, but they do not represent direct regulatory mechanisms controlled by genes.

Question 16

________ are chemicals produced by various glands that are secreted directly into the bloodstream where they can circulate to influence cells in other locations of the body.

Accepted Answer

Hormones are chemicals produced by glands such as the thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal glands, among others. These chemicals are secreted directly into the bloodstream, where they can circulate to influence various cells and organs throughout the body. Hormones help regulate many different bodily functions, including growth and development, metabolism, and reproduction. Examples of hormones include insulin, estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol.

Question 17

Jimmy,a preschooler,is most likely to be interested in activities that

Accepted Answer

Preschoolers are still developing their gross motor skills and enjoy activities that involve moving their larger muscles, such as running, jumping, and climbing. They may not be as interested in activities that require complex thinking or social interactions.

Question 18

Which of the following statements should not be taken as evidence for the importance of experience in determining motor development?

Accepted Answer

This statement does not provide evidence for the importance of experience in determining motor development as it suggests that a cultural practice has little effect on when infants begin walking, implying that experience may not play a significant role in this particular aspect of motor development. The other statements all provide evidence for the importance of experience in motor development, including the integration of reflexes into voluntary skills, the impact of cultural values on skill acquisition, and the effect of practice on the development of walking skills.

Question 19

By the time children enter elementary school,boys tend to outperform girls on just about every gross motor skill except

Accepted Answer

Research shows that girls tend to have better balance than boys, which is an exception in the general trend of boys outperforming girls in gross motor skills by the time they enter elementary school.

Question 20

When Erin brings her son,Matthew,to the pediatrician,the doctor is likely to compare Matthew's height and weight with the ________ for his age to make sure that his physical development is proceeding normally.

Accepted Answer

Pediatricians use norms, which are average measurements for children of specific ages, to compare an individual child's growth and development against what is typically expected.

Quiz 5: Brain, Motor Skill, and Physical Development