Question 1

Human language appears to have evolved from
A) a perceptual set.
B) gestured communication.
C) a process simulation.
D) a critical period.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that human language evolved from gestured communication, as evidenced by the fact that many of the brain structures involved in modern language processing are also involved in processing and understanding complex hand gestures.

Question 2

To a child,"You follow me" and "Me follow you" communicate different ideas.A chimpanzee well trained in sign language might use the same sequence of signs for both phrases because it is incapable of
A) receptive language.
B) appropriate syntax.
C) outcome simulations.
D) bilingual communication.

Accepted Answer

Assuming that the chimpanzee has a basic understanding of sign language, it should be able to communicate the meaning of "You follow me" and "Me follow you" by using appropriate signs for "follow" and "you" or "me". However, if it uses the same sequence of signs for both phrases, it suggests that it is not differentiating between subject and object or using appropriate syntax. This would indicate a lack of understanding of basic grammar rules rather than a deficit in receptive language or outcome simulations. Bilingual communication is also not relevant in this context.

Question 3

An impairment of language is known as
A) linguistic determinism.
B) telegraphic speech.
C) babbling.
D) aphasia.

Accepted Answer

An impairment of language is known as aphasia. The other options are not related to language impairments but rather different aspects or developmental stages of language.

Question 4

By about age 7,those who have not been exposed to either a spoken or a signed language gradually lose their ability to master any language.This illustrates the importance of ________ for language acquisition.
A) a critical period
B) an outcome simulation
C) telegraphic speech
D) linguistic determinism

Accepted Answer

The scenario described in the statement is an example of a critical period, which is a specific time frame in development during which an organism must learn a particular skill or ability if it is to be fully developed. In the case of language acquisition, if a child is not exposed to any language by about age 7, they gradually lose the ability to master any language, suggesting that there is a critical period for learning language.

Question 5

John,a football quarterback,simultaneously calculates receiver distances,player movements,and weather conditions.This best illustrates the activity of multiple
A) critical periods.
B) morphemes.
C) neural networks.
D) phonemes.

Accepted Answer

John's ability to process and integrate multiple types of information in order to make decisions and execute actions is a clear example of the complex activity of neural networks. These networks are made up of interconnected neurons in the brain that work together to process and transmit information.

Question 6

After Miguel's recent automobile accident,doctors detected damage to his cerebral cortex in Broca's area.It is likely that Miguel will have difficulty
A) remembering past events.
B) speaking fluently.
C) reading.
D) understanding other people when they speak.

Accepted Answer

Damage to Broca's area, located in the left hemisphere of the cerebral cortex, is associated with difficulty producing fluent speech, also known as expressive aphasia. This type of damage would not necessarily affect memory, reading, or comprehension of others' speech.

Question 7

Gestures are especially likely to be associated with speech that has
A) a bilingual advantage.
B) a social context.
C) perceptual meaning.
D) a familiar ring.

Accepted Answer

Gestures are a part of non-verbal communication and are often used to supplement speech in social contexts. They help convey emotions and reinforce the message being conveyed through speech. While gestures are not limited to a particular type of speech, they are more commonly associated with speech that has a social context.

Question 8

Research on the language capabilities of apes clearly demonstrates that they have the capacity to
A) vocalize the most common vowel sounds.
B) acquire language vocabulary as rapidly as most children.
C) communicate through the use of symbols.
D) do all of these things.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that apes can communicate using symbols, such as sign language or lexigrams, but they do not vocalize like humans nor acquire language as rapidly as children.

Question 9

The part of the cerebral cortex that directs the muscle movements involved in speech is known as
A) Wernicke's area.
B) Broca's area.
C) the temporal lobe.
D) the parietal lobe.

Accepted Answer

Broca's area, located in the left frontal lobe, is responsible for the motor production of speech. Wernicke's area, on the other hand, is responsible for language comprehension. The temporal lobe is involved in auditory processing, while the parietal lobe is involved in spatial processing and sensory integration.

Question 10

Wernicke's area is typically located in the left ________ lobe.
A) parietal
B) occipital
C) temporal
D) frontal

Accepted Answer

Wernicke's area is located in the left temporal lobe, specifically in the posterior part of the superior temporal gyrus.

Question 11

The best evidence that there is a critical period for language mastery is the fact that
A) infants babble in sounds that occur in their parents' native language.
B) toddlers maintain a capacity to discriminate language sounds they have never heard.
C) people most easily master the grammar of a second language during childhood.
D) preschoolers typically fail to use proper syntax.

Accepted Answer

The fact that people most easily master the grammar of a second language during childhood supports the idea that there is a critical period for language mastery. Research has shown that after puberty, individuals have a much more difficult time learning a second language and may never become fluent in the same way that a native speaker can. A critical period for language learning appears to be biologically based, and is likely linked to brain development during early childhood.

Question 12

Which of the following would be most characteristic of a 2-year-old's telegraphic speech?
A) "a doggy"
B) "eat apple"
C) "to store"
D) "ball pretty"

Accepted Answer

Telegraphic speech typically involves two-word sentences that communicate a simple idea or request, characteristic of the speech patterns of a 2-year-old. "Eat apple" fits this description, as it conveys a clear, simple action and object without unnecessary words.

Question 13

Beatrice and Allen Gardner taught the chimpanzee Washoe to communicate by means of
A) pictures.
B) Morse code.
C) sign language.
D) English letters.

Accepted Answer

The passage specifically states that Washoe was taught to communicate using sign language by Beatrice and Allen Gardner. The other answer choices are not mentioned in the passage.

Question 14

A stroke may impair the ability to speak distinctly without harming the ability to read because different language functions depend on different
A) mental images.
B) perceptual sets.
C) neural networks.
D) critical periods.

Accepted Answer

Different language functions depend on different neural networks within the brain. A stroke may damage one network while leaving another intact. This can explain why someone may have difficulty speaking but can still read, as these are separate language functions that rely on different neural networks.

Question 15

Animal trainers' expectations may have led them to interpret some chimpanzees' signs as indicative of greater linguistic ability than is warranted.This best illustrates the shortcoming of
A) a universal grammar.
B) a critical period.
C) a perceptual set.
D) linguistic determinism.

Accepted Answer

The animal trainers' expectations created a perceptual set that influenced their interpretation of the chimpanzees' signs, leading them to see greater linguistic ability than was actually present.

Question 16

Marla was born deaf and has never heard spoken language.With advances in technology,at the age of 11,she can now hear.What can be expected in terms of her ability to learn to speak?
A) She will acquire language skills quickly.
B) She will need one-on-one instruction to learn language.
C) She will never learn to speak language as well as those who learned during infancy.
D) She will refuse to speak language and will continue to use sign language.

Accepted Answer

Marla may struggle to develop language skills to the same level as those who learned during infancy. According to the critical period hypothesis, there is a time frame during early childhood when language acquisition is most successful. Marla missed this critical period and may struggle to develop language to the same extent as her hearing peers. Furthermore, while she can now hear, her brain may not be able to process and interpret auditory information in the same way as someone who has heard since birth.

Question 17

After Paul's snow-skiing accident,doctors detected damage to his cerebral cortex in Wernicke's area.Because of the damage,Paul is most likely to experience difficulty in
A) remembering past events.
B) pronouncing words correctly.
C) understanding what others are saying.
D) recognizing familiar faces.

Accepted Answer

Damage to the cerebral cortex in Wernicke's area specifically affects language comprehension, making it difficult for Paul to understand what others are saying.

Question 18

For many skills,childhood represents a(n)________ for mastery of that skill.
A) critical period
B) outcome simulation
C) telegraphic speech
D) linguistic determinism

Accepted Answer

A critical period refers to a specific time in someone's development when the brain is particularly receptive to learning and mastering a particular skill. Childhood is often considered a critical period for many skills, such as language acquisition, because this is when the brain is most malleable and adaptable to new experiences and learning.

Question 19

Compared with deaf children exposed to sign language from birth,those who first learn sign language as teens are less likely to
A) correctly imitate the signs they are shown.
B) use signs to indicate concrete objects.
C) mentally associate signs with written words.
D) comprehend the grammatical subtleties of sign language.

Accepted Answer

Deaf children who are exposed to sign language from birth have a better chance of developing a complete understanding of the grammatical subtleties of sign language. Adolescents who learn sign language for the first time may struggle with fully comprehending and utilizing the language's nuances.

Question 20

Wernicke's area is a region of the brain involved in
A) implicit memory.
B) muscle coordination.
C) language comprehension.
D) face recognition.

Accepted Answer

Wernicke's area is located in the left hemisphere of the brain and is involved in the comprehension and production of language. Damage to this area can result in difficulties understanding and producing language, a condition known as Wernicke's aphasia.

Quiz 9: Thinking, Language, and Intelligence

Human language appears to have evolved from

To a child,"You follow me" and "Me follow you" communicate different ideas.A chimpanzee well trained in sign language might use the same sequence of signs for both phrases because it is incapable of

An impairment of language is known as

By about age 7,those who have not been exposed to either a spoken or a signed language gradually lose their ability to master any language.This illustrates the importance of ________ for language acquisition.

John,a football quarterback,simultaneously calculates receiver distances,player movements,and weather conditions.This best illustrates the activity of multiple

After Miguel's recent automobile accident,doctors detected damage to his cerebral cortex in Broca's area.It is likely that Miguel will have difficulty

Gestures are especially likely to be associated with speech that has

Research on the language capabilities of apes clearly demonstrates that they have the capacity to

The part of the cerebral cortex that directs the muscle movements involved in speech is known as

Wernicke's area is typically located in the left ________ lobe.

The best evidence that there is a critical period for language mastery is the fact that

Which of the following would be most characteristic of a 2-year-old's telegraphic speech?

Beatrice and Allen Gardner taught the chimpanzee Washoe to communicate by means of

A stroke may impair the ability to speak distinctly without harming the ability to read because different language functions depend on different

Animal trainers' expectations may have led them to interpret some chimpanzees' signs as indicative of greater linguistic ability than is warranted.This best illustrates the shortcoming of

Marla was born deaf and has never heard spoken language.With advances in technology,at the age of 11,she can now hear.What can be expected in terms of her ability to learn to speak?

After Paul's snow-skiing accident,doctors detected damage to his cerebral cortex in Wernicke's area.Because of the damage,Paul is most likely to experience difficulty in

For many skills,childhood represents a(n) ________ for mastery of that skill.

Compared with deaf children exposed to sign language from birth,those who first learn sign language as teens are less likely to

Wernicke's area is a region of the brain involved in