Question 1

If a woman's probability of having a bone fracture after age 50 is 50%, what is the probability that a man will have a bone fracture after age 50?
A) considerably smaller than 50%
B) about 50%
C) slightly higher than 50%
D) considerably higher than 50%

Accepted Answer

The likelihood of men having a bone fracture after age 50 is considerably smaller than 50%. This is because women generally have higher rates of osteoporosis and bone density loss, which contributes to their higher risk of fractures.

Question 2

In Levinson's later work, he studied the way in which women move through middle adulthood. According to this research, Levinson concluded that women:
A) very seldom experience a midlife crisis
B) do experience midlife crises, but at much earlier ages than men
C) do experience midlife crises, but at much later ages than men
D) experience midlife crises in ways very similar to men

Accepted Answer

Levinson's later work suggested that both men and women experience midlife crises and that the process and challenges faced during middle adulthood are more similar between genders than previously thought. This challenges earlier views that emphasized significant differences in how men and women experience midlife transitions.

Question 3

The text cites examples of cross-cultural research about how women experience menopause. In general, these studies suggest that reports of negative symptoms vary ________ from culture to culture, suggesting the importance of __________ factors in explanations.
A) very little; biological
B) quite a lot; biological
C) very little; psychological
D) quite a lot; psychological

Accepted Answer

Cross-cultural research suggests that reports of negative symptoms vary quite a lot from culture to culture, suggesting the importance of psychological factors in explanations.

Question 4

Alice is 45 years old. Compared to her sensory abilities in her mid-20s, today she likely is better able to:
A) see close-up objects
B) hear high-frequency sounds
C) taste spicy foods
D) see objects that are far away

Accepted Answer

As people age, their ability to see objects that are far away tends to worsen due to changes in the lens of the eye. Therefore, Alice is likely to have worse visual acuity for distant objects than she did in her mid-20s.

Question 5

Bob tells his 45-year-old father to look forward to middle age, since this is a period in which most people experience only a slight decline in overall health but an increase in their sense of well-being and satisfaction with life. Bob's comment is:
A) essentially true for most people
B) false, because in middle age most people experience a slight increase in health but a decline in their sense of well-being and health
C) false, because in middle age most people experience a slight increase in both their health and their sense of well-being and satisfaction
D) false, because in middle age most people experience a slight decline in both their health and their sense of well-being and satisfaction

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that most people experience only a slight decline in overall health in middle age, but an increase in their sense of well-being and satisfaction with life. Therefore, Bob's comment is essentially true for most people.

Question 6

Between the ages of 45 and 54, the cause of the largest percentage of deaths is __________; between the ages of 55 and 64, the cause of the largest percentage of deaths is _________.
A) cancer; heart disease
B) accidents; cancer
C) cancer; cancer
D) heart disease; cancer

Accepted Answer

Cancer is the leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 45 and 54, and it remains the leading cause of death for the next age group, 55 to 64.

Question 7

According to the text, midlife crises are more likely to occur among:
A) very poor men, since they must continue to work for the longest period of the lifespan
B) very poor women, since they have always worked to support their families
C) middle-income men and women, since they have a realistic view of their lives
D) affluent men and women, since they can delude themselves about the burdens of life

Accepted Answer

The text states that "affluent individuals or those who have achieved major career success, are more likely to experience a midlife crisis." This is because they have the means to "delude themselves about the burdens of life."

Question 8

Recently, Jim has begun to focus on his feeling that he has accomplished the career goals he set for himself and he now does not know what to do with his life. He feels frustrated and confused, and he wonders if the excitement in his life is mostly behind him. According to Levinson, Jim is experiencing:
A) a command moment
B) transitional moment
C) a fluid moment
D) a midlife crisis

Accepted Answer

According to Levinson, the feelings of frustration, confusion, and questioning whether the excitement of life is mostly in the past, as experienced by Jim, are indicative of a midlife crisis. This is a period where individuals often reassess their life's accomplishments, goals, and direction.

Question 9

Statistically speaking, which of the following people would be MOST likely to be obese:
A) Alan, who is 20 years old
B) Luke, who is 34 years old
C) Jeremy, who is 50 years old
D) Mike, who is 60 years old

Accepted Answer

According to the text, weight problems become more prevalent as adults move through the period of middle adulthood.

Question 10

In 1998 in the U. S., about what percentage of women between the ages of 45 and 64 were taking some form of hormone replacement therapy?
A) 10%
B) 33%
C) 54%
D) 78%

Accepted Answer

In 1998, about 33% of women between the ages of 45 and 64 were taking some form of hormone replacement therapy. This was due to the belief that hormone therapy could prevent chronic diseases such as osteoporosis and heart disease. However, later studies found that hormone therapy increased the risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke. As a result, the use of hormone therapy declined in the following years.

Question 11

If you were to conduct a survey of 100 women who were in the midst of menopause, you should expect that about ____ would report they felt relief about the cessation of their menstrual cycle.
A) 99%
B) 75%
C) 50%
D) 15%

Accepted Answer

The answer of If you were to conduct a survey...

Question 12

According to the text, adults age 55-64 are LESS likely to die from which of the following conditions than are adults age 45-54?
A) cancer
B) heart disease
C) respiratory diseases
D) accidents, suicides, and homicides

Accepted Answer

The text states that adults age 55-64 are less likely to die from accidents, suicides, and homicides than are adults age 45-54. The text does not provide information to support that they are less likely to die from cancer, heart disease, or respiratory diseases.

Question 13

Generalizing from the text, which of the following age periods is most likely to be defined by the events that are taking place in the person's life, rather than by events linked directly to biological maturation?
A) infancy and toddlerhood
B) early childhood
C) early adulthood
D) middle adulthood

Accepted Answer

The answer of Generalizing from the text, which of the...

Question 14

According to the text, in the U.S. today, the period of middle adulthood spans the ages from:
A) 35 to 55
B) 40 to 60 or 65
C) 45 to 65 or 70
D) 50 to 65 or 70

Accepted Answer

Middle adulthood in the U.S. is generally considered to span from ages 40 to 60 or 65.

Question 15

According to the text, studies show that about ______ of men over the age of 40 will experience some erectile dysfunction.
A) 5%
B) 15%
C) 25%
D) 50%

Accepted Answer

Studies indicate that about 50% of men over the age of 40 will experience some form of erectile dysfunction.

Question 16

Intelligence that comes with experience and education and is based on the body of knowledge and information accumulated over the years is called:
A) fluid intelligence
B) crystallized intelligence
C) declarative intelligence
D) pragmatic intelligence

Accepted Answer

Crystallized intelligence refers to the accumulation of knowledge, skills, and abilities that are acquired throughout life, while fluid intelligence refers to the ability to think abstractly and solve problems in new situations. Declarative intelligence and pragmatic intelligence are not recognized terms in the field of psychology.

Question 17

Since Ed has been a tax attorney for over 25 years, he is now able to analyze clients' problems and draw conclusions from experience-based information and knowledge. Although he does not solve problems as quickly as he did when he was younger, his solutions are more complex and therefore better. The fact that his solutions are more complex best illustrates which of the following concepts?
A) crystallized intelligence
B) fluid intelligence
C) cognitive mechanics
D) inductive reasoning

Accepted Answer

Crystallized intelligence is the ability to use knowledge and experience that has been acquired over time. This ability to draw on accumulated knowledge and apply it to new situations is exemplified by Ed's experience-based problem solving, indicating that his solutions are more complex due to his crystallized intelligence.

Question 18

The life expectancy today for individuals who have reached the age of 45 in the United States is:
A) 66 years
B) 70 years
C) 80 years
D) 86 years

Accepted Answer

According to the World Health Organization, the life expectancy at age 45 in the United States is 80 years.

Question 19

According to the text, which of the following is the most accurate statement about how men and women experience the climacteric?
A) Both men and women experience the climacteric, but women's experience is more dramatic.
B) Both men and women experience the climacteric, but men's experience is more dramatic.
C) Women experience the climacteric, but men do not.
D) Men experience the climacteric, but women do no.

Accepted Answer

The text states that both men and women experience the climacteric, but women's experience is more dramatic. This is supported by the following statement from the text: "The climacteric is a transitional period during which both men and women may experience physical and emotional changes, but the changes experienced by women are generally more dramatic."

Question 20

Tyrone has gone through many stress-producing events lately. According to the Stress Scale printed in the text, which of the following events in Tyrone's life probably produced the most stress?
A) death of his wife
B) marriage to his long-time girlfriend
C) retirement from his job
D) having his youngest child leave home

Accepted Answer

The death of a spouse is listed as the number one most stressful event on the Stress Scale, while marriage and retirement are both considered significant life changes but typically don't have as high of a stress level. Having a child leave home can also be stressful, but it is ranked lower on the scale than the death of a spouse.

Quiz 14: Middle Adulthood: Physical and Cognitive Development

If a woman's probability of having a bone fracture after age 50 is 50%, what is the probability that a man will have a bone fracture after age 50?

In Levinson's later work, he studied the way in which women move through middle adulthood. According to this research, Levinson concluded that women:

The text cites examples of cross-cultural research about how women experience menopause. In general, these studies suggest that reports of negative symptoms vary from culture to culture, suggesting the importance of __ factors in explanations.

Alice is 45 years old. Compared to her sensory abilities in her mid-20s, today she likely is better able to:

Bob tells his 45-year-old father to look forward to middle age, since this is a period in which most people experience only a slight decline in overall health but an increase in their sense of well-being and satisfaction with life. Bob's comment is:

Between the ages of 45 and 54, the cause of the largest percentage of deaths is __; between the ages of 55 and 64, the cause of the largest percentage of deaths is _.

According to the text, midlife crises are more likely to occur among:

Statistically speaking, which of the following people would be MOST likely to be obese:

In 1998 in the U. S., about what percentage of women between the ages of 45 and 64 were taking some form of hormone replacement therapy?

If you were to conduct a survey of 100 women who were in the midst of menopause, you should expect that about ____ would report they felt relief about the cessation of their menstrual cycle.

According to the text, adults age 55-64 are LESS likely to die from which of the following conditions than are adults age 45-54?

Generalizing from the text, which of the following age periods is most likely to be defined by the events that are taking place in the person's life, rather than by events linked directly to biological maturation?

According to the text, in the U.S. today, the period of middle adulthood spans the ages from:

According to the text, studies show that about ______ of men over the age of 40 will experience some erectile dysfunction.

Intelligence that comes with experience and education and is based on the body of knowledge and information accumulated over the years is called:

The life expectancy today for individuals who have reached the age of 45 in the United States is:

According to the text, which of the following is the most accurate statement about how men and women experience the climacteric?

Tyrone has gone through many stress-producing events lately. According to the Stress Scale printed in the text, which of the following events in Tyrone's life probably produced the most stress?