Question 1

The text discusses research about Southeast Asian immigrant families. The results of this study suggest that which of the following factors is important in determining children's IQs?
A) race and skin color
B) ethnicity and first language learned
C) how long the family has lived in the U. S.
D) family emphasis on education and success

Accepted Answer

The text states that the research suggests that the emphasis on education and success within the family was a significant factor in determining children's IQs, rather than race, ethnicity, or how long the family has lived in the U.S.

Question 2

Suppose you conducted a study of pairs of identical twins, one of whom was diagnosed with ADHD. Now you examine whether or not the other twins in each pair also have ADHD. In comparison to pairs of unrelated children, you would expect that the other twin in your study would be _______ likely to also be diagnosed with ADHD.
A) much less
B) somewhat less
C) equally
D) more

Accepted Answer

Identical twins share 100% of their genes, so if one twin has a genetic predisposition to ADHD, the other twin is more likely to have the same predisposition. Studies have shown that the likelihood of the other twin also having ADHD is much higher than in pairs of unrelated children. Therefore, the best choice is D, more likely.

Question 3

The original purpose for developing the first intelligence tests in the early part of the twentieth century was:
A) to identify children who would not do well in school
B) to provide a reason to discriminate against children from African descent
C) to give the French government a means of selecting especially talented children for placement in state-funded educational programs for the gifted
D) to study how physical health and intelligence were related

Accepted Answer

The first intelligence tests were developed by Alfred Binet and Théodore Simon in France to identify children who needed special educational assistance, particularly those who would not do well in a regular school setting.

Question 4

If you were to look at a boy and a girl of average size in two different age groups, age 8 and age 10, who would you expect to be taller in each age group?
A) The 8-year-old girl would be taller than the 8-year-old boy, but the 10-year-old boy would be taller than the 10-year-old girl.
B) The 8-year-old boy would be taller than the 8-year-old girl, but the 10-year-old girl would be taller than the 10-year-old boy.
C) The boys would be taller than the girls at both 8 and 10 years of age.
D) The girls would be taller than the boys at both 8 and 10 years of age.

Accepted Answer

In general, boys are taller than girls at the same age. Therefore, we would expect the 8-year-old boy to be taller than the 8-year-old girl. However, girls tend to have growth spurts earlier than boys, which means that by age 10, the girl would likely have caught up in height or even surpassed the boy's height. Therefore, we would expect the 10-year-old girl to be taller than the 10-year-old boy.

Question 5

Suppose you learn that two children, a 10-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl, have brains of quite different sizes, with the boy's brain being about 40% larger than the girl's brain. Which of the following conclusions would be the best to draw from this data?
A) The girl most likely has something wrong with her brain, because it should be at least 10% larger than the boy's brain.
B) The girl's brain most likely has something wrong with it, because it should be very close to the same size as the boy's brain at this age.
C) The girl most likely was malnourished in early childhood, giving rise to a smaller-than-average brain.
D) There is no reason for concern, since children's brain sizes can vary by as much as 50% without any appreciable difference in cognitive skills.

Accepted Answer

While there is a measurable difference in brain size between the two children, this is not necessarily cause for concern. There is a wide range of variation in brain size among individuals, and a 40% difference is not outside the normal range. Additionally, brain size alone is not a reliable indicator of cognitive ability or overall brain function. Therefore, there is no reason to draw any negative conclusions about the girl's brain based on this data.

Question 6

Which of the following would be LEAST likely to contribute positively to the development of literacy?
A) enrolling a child in a formal program of reading and writing in which they are drilled on correct techniques and rewarded when they succeed
B) reading to children and talking with them about what was read
C) having children play together and make up stories and plays
D) allowing children a lot of pressure-free time to draw, even if their work is no more than scribbling on paper

Accepted Answer

Enrolling a child in a formal program and drilling them on correct techniques is not likely to contribute positively to the development of literacy because it can be stressful and lead to a negative attitude towards literacy.

Answer: D 
 Allowing children pressure-free time to draw can contribute positively to the development of literacy because it helps develop fine motor skills and creativity, which are important for literacy development.

Therefore, the best choice is D.

Question 7

If a 5-year-old girl watches an adult pour juice from a tall, thin glass into a short, wide glass, and then she is asked, "Which glass has more juice?" she would typically:
A) conclude that either the short, wide glass has more juice or that the tall, thin glass has more juice
B) conclude that since no juice was spilled, the glasses have the same amount of juice
C) become very confused and ask to see the juice poured again and again
D) not be able to answer the question because she would be confused about why the adult was asking such an obvious question

Accepted Answer

The 5-year-old girl would typically conclude that either the short, wide glass has more juice or that the tall, thin glass has more juice because at this stage, she has not developed the concept of conservation. This means that she focuses only on the height or width of the glass, thinking that it affects the amount of juice, rather than understanding that the amount of juice remains the same, regardless of the shape of the glass.

Question 8

Higher level cognitive functions, such as attention, emotion, language, and memory, are thought to be associated most closely to activity in:
A) the myelin surrounding axons
B) the cell axons themselves, but not the cell bodies
C) the gray matter of the brain
D) the white matter in the left cerebral hemisphere

Accepted Answer

The gray matter of the brain is where the cell bodies and dendrites of neurons are located, which are responsible for processing and integrating information that leads to the higher cognitive functions mentioned. Therefore, higher level cognitive functions are most closely associated with activity in gray matter.

Question 9

Tommy appears to not care at all about the quality of the school work he does. When asked, he says things like: "School is stupid. No one should try hard. Learning is useless." Using the terms identified by David McClelland, you would conclude that Tommy has:
A) very low achievement motivation
B) very high need for excellence
C) very low autonomy
D) a low "pride" quotient

Accepted Answer

Tommy's statements indicate a disregard for the value of learning and a lack of desire to achieve success in school. This suggests that he has a low level of achievement motivation, which is the drive to set and attain challenging goals.

Question 10

Control processes are strategies and techniques that enhance __________.
A) memory
B) self-control
C) empathy
D) overall intelligence

Accepted Answer

Control processes are cognitive mechanisms that regulate and direct mental functions, such as attention, planning, decision-making, and working memory. Therefore, control processes enhance memory by enabling individuals to store and retrieve information efficiently, effectively, and selectively. While control processes may indirectly affect self-control, empathy, and intelligence, their primary function is to facilitate cognitive performance.

Question 11

The text states that there has been a gradual evolution in how mental retardation is regarded. In general, what change is at the center of that evolution in thinking?
A) Today, each person is considered to be more an individual with specific needs for accommodations.
B) Today, mental retardation is considered to be a biological, rather than a psychological, disability.
C) Today, mental retardation is diagnosed according to a person's IQ score, rather than to an assessment of that person's abilities.
D) Today, people understand that individuals with mental retardation cannot be expected to achieve at the same levels as people who do not have intellectual disabilities.

Accepted Answer

The text states that the evolution in thinking about mental retardation has been towards viewing each person as an individual with unique accommodations needed, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer. B, C, and D are all incorrect as they do not accurately reflect the central change in thinking described in the text.

Question 12

Which of the following is the primary goal of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA)?
A) to train teachers to deal with children who have mental retardation and behavioral disorders
B) to fund special schools that provide education to children with disabilities
C) to raise the public's awareness of the unfairness being done to individuals with disabilities
D) to provide all children with a free and appropriate education

Accepted Answer

The primary goal of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) is to provide all children with disabilities with a free and appropriate education. It sets clear guidelines for the education of children with disabilities and ensures that they receive the services and support they need to succeed in school. The IDEIA also focuses on ensuring that parents are involved in their child's education and that every child with a disability has access to the same opportunities and supports as their peers without disabilities.

Question 13

According to Carol Dweck, which of the following statements represents the most effective way to praise a child?
A) "You are a very, very smart little girl."
B) "You are so cute, who could think you wouldn't do well in school?"
C) "You have a natural ability in mathematics; no wonder you do so well."
D) "You did a nice job in writing that story. I especially like the way you described the clown."

Accepted Answer

According to Carol Dweck, praising effort and specific achievements is more effective than praising innate abilities. Option D praises the child's effort and specific accomplishment, rather than just their general intelligence or natural ability.

Question 14

In a study investigating the time public school teachers spend in various classroom activities, teachers were found to spend about ____ % of the time in a 30-minute lesson on academic work.
A) 10-15
B) 30-40
C) 55-70
D) 85-90

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a study investigating the time public...

Question 15

Addition and subtraction math problems rely on a child's ability to understand which of the following Piagetian concepts?
A) formal operations
B) reversibility
C) metacognition
D) scripts

Accepted Answer

Reversibility is the Piagetian concept that allows a child to understand that a process can be reversed, such as adding and subtracting. For example, a child who understands reversibility will know that 5 + 3 = 8 and that 8 - 3 = 5.

Question 16

Which of the following people would be most likely to get an erroneous estimate of obesity when using the BMI method of calculation?
A) Susie, an overweight 12-year-old girl who is African American
B) Barbara, an underweight 12-year-old girl who has not yet hit the adolescent growth spurt
C) Mike, an overweight 16-year-old boy who gets very little exercise
D) Jeremy, a competitive athlete with very large muscles

Accepted Answer

BMI does not differentiate between muscle and fat mass, so individuals with high muscle mass, like competitive athletes, may be inaccurately classified as overweight or obese.

Question 17

Generalizing from data presented in the text, which of the following children would have the greatest chance of suffering from asthma?
A) Linnea, a middle-class white girl who lives in northern Minnesota
B) Rollin, a poor African American boy who lives in St. Louis, Missouri
C) Jose, a Hispanic middle-class Hispanic boy who lives in rural California
D) Jeff, a poor white boy who lives on a farm in New York state

Accepted Answer

The text suggests that asthma rates among African American children are higher than among white children, and that poverty also increases the risk of asthma. Therefore, Rollin, a poor African American boy, would have the greatest chance of suffering from asthma.

Question 18

Lynn tells the teacher, "I don't care if I learn anything; I just want to get an A." According to research conducted by Carol Dweck, you should conclude that Lynn has what type of motivation?
A) learning motivation
B) performance motivation
C) social motivation
D) anti-learning motivation

Accepted Answer

Lynn has performance motivation, which means her goal is to perform well and achieve a good grade, regardless of her actual learning. She is not motivated by a desire to learn, but rather by the desire for external rewards and recognition for her performance.

Question 19

At what age does the human brain reach 95% of its adult size?
A) age 4
B) age 6
C) age 9
D) age 14

Accepted Answer

The answer of At what age does the human brain...

Question 20

Heidi has a series of events that she follows every morning: she takes a shower, dresses, eats breakfast, and rides the bus to school. Her memory of this sequence of events would most likely be organized in the form of:
A) a series of retrieval cues
B) a script for "morning events"
C) a series of mental images
D) semantic elaboration of common events

Accepted Answer

Heidi's memory of the sequence of events would most likely be organized in the form of a script for "morning events". A script is a mental framework or plan that outlines a sequence of events that are expected to occur in a particular situation, such as a morning routine. This helps to organize information and make it easier to remember by providing a structure for the information to be stored in. A script can be thought of as a mental template that guides behavior and provides a framework for processing and remembering information.

Quiz 8: Middle Childhood: Physical and Cognitive Development

The text discusses research about Southeast Asian immigrant families. The results of this study suggest that which of the following factors is important in determining children's IQs?

The original purpose for developing the first intelligence tests in the early part of the twentieth century was:

If you were to look at a boy and a girl of average size in two different age groups, age 8 and age 10, who would you expect to be taller in each age group?

Suppose you learn that two children, a 10-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl, have brains of quite different sizes, with the boy's brain being about 40% larger than the girl's brain. Which of the following conclusions would be the best to draw from this data?

Which of the following would be LEAST likely to contribute positively to the development of literacy?

If a 5-year-old girl watches an adult pour juice from a tall, thin glass into a short, wide glass, and then she is asked, "Which glass has more juice?" she would typically:

Higher level cognitive functions, such as attention, emotion, language, and memory, are thought to be associated most closely to activity in:

Tommy appears to not care at all about the quality of the school work he does. When asked, he says things like: "School is stupid. No one should try hard. Learning is useless." Using the terms identified by David McClelland, you would conclude that Tommy has:

Control processes are strategies and techniques that enhance __________.

The text states that there has been a gradual evolution in how mental retardation is regarded. In general, what change is at the center of that evolution in thinking?

Which of the following is the primary goal of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) ?

According to Carol Dweck, which of the following statements represents the most effective way to praise a child?

In a study investigating the time public school teachers spend in various classroom activities, teachers were found to spend about ____ % of the time in a 30-minute lesson on academic work.

Addition and subtraction math problems rely on a child's ability to understand which of the following Piagetian concepts?

Which of the following people would be most likely to get an erroneous estimate of obesity when using the BMI method of calculation?

Generalizing from data presented in the text, which of the following children would have the greatest chance of suffering from asthma?

Lynn tells the teacher, "I don't care if I learn anything; I just want to get an A." According to research conducted by Carol Dweck, you should conclude that Lynn has what type of motivation?

At what age does the human brain reach 95% of its adult size?

Heidi has a series of events that she follows every morning: she takes a shower, dresses, eats breakfast, and rides the bus to school. Her memory of this sequence of events would most likely be organized in the form of: