Deck 8: C: Thought and Language

Question 1

Which of the following is most likely to be a basic-level category?

A)1967 Ford Mustang
B)vehicle
C)convertible
D)car

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Mental representations of an average category member are called _____________ and allow for "classification by resemblance."

A)classical categories
B)semantic networks
C)algorithms
D)prototypes

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Concepts and categories are important because they allow us to:

A)classify objects or ideas as belonging to one single group and no others.
B)avoid using prototypes in most situations.
C)develop mental sets which help us solve new problems.
D)organize and manage tremendous amounts of information.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Because semantic networks are arranged ________________,they show which categories are more specific than others.

A)algorithmically
B)hierarchically
C)categorically
D)congruently

Question 5

In cognitive psychology,a(n)__________________ is an interconnected set of nodes (or concepts)and the links that join them to form a category.

A)semantic network
B)lexical decision tree
C)algorithm
D)representativeness heuristic

Question 6

One problem with the theory of classical categorization is that it does not allow for _____________.

A)formal definitions
B)basic-level categorization
C)graded membership
D)mental sets

Question 7

Which example would most people take longest to identify as a fruit?

A)banana
B)apple
C)raspberry
D)olive

Question 8

In a semantic network,what is the correct hierarchical order from broad to the most specific?

A)basic,subordinate,superordinate
B)subordinate,basic,superordinate
C)superordinate,basic,subordinate
D)superordinate,subordinate,basic

Question 9

For most people,a dog is a better fit than a tarantula for the category of pets.This is an example of ____________.

A)linguistic relativity
B)graded membership
C)classical categorization
D)functional fixedness

Question 10

Classical categorization involves typically involves the use of ______________,while categorization using prototypes involves _____________.

A)comparison;definitions
B)definitions;comparison
C)concepts;graded memberships
D)graded memberships;concepts

Question 11

Research indicates that people categorize concepts by using

A)classical categorization,not prototypes.
B)prototypes,not classical categorization.
C)both classical categorization and prototypes.
D)algorithms rather than classical categorization or prototypes.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT true of basic level categories?

A)They are the most general category in a semantic network.
B)They are the level at which most thinking occurs in a semantic network.
C)They are the level at which most prototypes exist in a semantic network.
D)They are the most specific category in a semantic network.

Question 13

The concepts of dog,cat,and goldfish can be grouped together to form a _____________ called pets.

A)prototype
B)mental set
C)super-concept
D)category

Question 14

Most people take longer to identify a platypus as a mammal than it takes them to identify a cat as a mammal.This is likely because a cat is closer to most people's _______________ for the concept of mammal.

A)superordinate category
B)prototype
C)classical categorization
D)basic-level category

Question 15

In a semantic network,the ____________ represent concepts,and the _______________ represent the structure of a category.

A)nodes;links
B)links;nodes
C)algorithms;prototypes
D)prototypes;algorithms

Question 16

The use of specific rules to categorize objects is an example of:

A)graded membership.
B)linguistic relativity.
C)functional fixedness.
D)classical categorization.

Question 17

Mandi shares her frozen dessert with her sister."Wow!" says her sister,"What type of ice-cream is this?" Mandi explains that,because it does not contain any dairy,the dessert is a sorbet and not an ice-cream.Mandi's use of the technical definition for ice-cream to classify the dessert is an example of:

A)graded membership.
B)classical categorization.
C)functional fixedness.
D)linguistic relativity.

Question 18

A group of interrelated concepts is a called a ____________.

A)category
B)super-concept
C)mental set
D)prototype

Question 19

Many people categorize tomatoes as a vegetable,even though they technically meet the scientific definition for a fruit.A likely reason for this is that:

A)they are using classical categorization to define a vegetable.
B)within their semantic network,tomatoes are a basic-level category.
C)tomatoes are closer to most people's prototype for a vegetable than for a fruit.
D)the tomato is a common prototype for fruit.

Question 20

A _____________ is the mental representation of an object,event,or idea.

A)mental set
B)concept
C)algorithm
D)prototype

Question 21

Which of the following is true regarding cognitive obstacles?

A)Cognitive obstacles are often self-imposed.
B)Cognitive obstacles can be overcome by using a mental set.
C)Cognitive obstacles can be overcome by using an algorithm.
D)Cognitive obstacles can be overcome by using functional fixedness.

Question 22

Computers are particularly well-suited for using ________________ to solve problems.

A)mental sets
B)heuristics
C)prototypes
D)algorithms

Question 23

Which of the following is most likely to be a basic-level category?

A)animal
B)striped
C)cat
D)Siamese

Question 24

Based on the linguistic relativity hypothesis,which of the following would most likely be true?

A)People from New Brunswick and New Zealand think very differently.
B)People from London,Ontario and London,England think very differently.
C)People from Paris,France and Paris,Ontario think very differently.
D)People from Canada and America think very differently.

Question 25

When tested in a laboratory study,Reese identified the statement,"Cows make milk" as true,faster than she did the statement "Cows breathe air." What does this likely indicate about the relationship between categories in her semantic network?

A)Cows and breathing air are closer together than milk and breathing air.
B)Milk is a basic level category.
C)Cows and milk are closer together than cows and breathing air.
D)Animals that breathe air is a basic level category.

Question 26

The tendency to solve problems using procedures or strategies that worked in the past with similar problems is called:

A)an availability heuristic.
B)the anchoring effect.
C)a mental set.
D)the representativeness heuristic.

Question 27

Kendra has been a professional chef for 20 years.Instead of following recipes step by step,she uses her experience to guide her cooking,adding a pinch of salt here,or a little extra oil there.Kendra's approach to cooking is an example of:

A)functional fixedness.
B)using heuristics.
C)using a mental set.
D)using an algorithm.

Question 28

Which of the following is a heuristic-based approach to determining how many brownies to make for a party?

A)Make the same number as you did for your last party because you recall that number being about right.
B)Multiply the number of people invited by the number of brownies you want each person to have.
C)Determine the number of brownies in each batch and then determine which multiple of that number is closest the estimated number of brownies needed.
D)Estimate the number of brownies each invitee will eat and then sum the estimates.

Question 29

A formula is an example of a(n)______________.

A)mental set
B)algorithm
C)fallacy
D)heuristic

Question 30

The linguistic relativity hypothesis suggests that:

A)an individual's language determines their pattern of thinking and view of the world.
B)an individual's thinking and view of the world determines the structure of their language.
C)within the animal kingdom,humans are uniquely suited to learn and produce language.
D)our understanding of syntax is directly related to our use of semantic networks.

Question 31

Which of the following is true about priming effects?

A)Priming is an effective form of behaviour control.
B)Priming effects can only be reproduced in a laboratory setting.
C)Priming effects are ineffective at influencing behaviour.
D)Priming can occur without conscious awareness.

Question 32

The ___________ hypothesis states that language influences how we view the world.

A)classical categorization hypothesis
B)cultural categorization hypothesis
C)linguistic relativity hypothesis
D)category-specific visual hypothesis

Question 33

In the field of psychology,problem solving is defined as:

A)a cognitive obstacle that occurs when an individual is faced with a challenge.
B)finding ways to cope with life stressors.
C)accomplishing a goal when the solution is not clear.
D)the use of formal,rules-based strategies to find precise solutions.

Question 34

______________ are problem-solving strategies based on a series of rules,while ______________are more like educated guesses based on prior experience.

A)Algorithms;heuristics
B)Heuristics;algorithms
C)Algorithms;mental sets
D)Heuristics;mental sets

Question 35

Research on the Inuit has revealed that:

A)they conceptualize different types of snow in the same way as English-speaking Canadians.
B)they have a more complex understanding of snow than English-speaking Canadians.
C)they have dozens of different words for snow.
D)when taught English as a second-language,their concepts for different types of snow change.

Question 36

On his way to work,Charlie sees a sign for an upcoming concert for the band Cake.Without even realizing it,the word cake has made Charlie think of baked sweets,which makes him think of getting a donut.This is an example of ______________.

A)classical categorization
B)priming
C)the linguistic relativity hypothesis
D)an availability heuristic

Question 37

Talia is looking for her cat by methodically searching each room and then closing the door.She is using what type of problem solving strategy?

A)an algorithm
B)a heuristic
C)a semantic network
D)a mental set

Question 38

Individuals with category-specific visual agnosia (CSVA)lend support to which of the following statements?

A)Specialized groups of circuits exist in the brain for each category a person has.
B)Specialized groups of circuits exist in the brain for small groups of categories.
C)Specialized groups of circuits exist in the brain for animal and vegetable categories only.
D)Specialized groups of circuits exist in the brain for categories of other humans (e.g. ,races)only.

Question 39

If someone walked up to you and said,"Milk," and then asked you to quickly name an animal,you would likely say,"cow." This illustrates the concept of ______________.

A)priming
B)classical categorization
C)hierarchies
D)the linguistic relativity hypothesis

Question 40

According to your textbook,in which way do Americans and the Japanese tend to differ?

A)Americans tend to use basic level categories whereas Japanese tend to focus on superordinate level categories.
B)Americans tend to focus on a single characteristic,whereas Japanese people tend to view objects in relation to their environment.
C)Japanese people tend to focus on a single characteristic,whereas Americans tend to view objects in relation to their environment.
D)Americans tend to use prototypes,whereas the Japanese tend to use classical categorization.

Question 41

When people make the conjunction fallacy,it is most likely because:

A)they are using an algorithmic approach.
B)their judgment is being affected by an anchor.
C)they are using the representativeness heuristic.
D)they are using a mental set.

Question 42

When using the availability heuristic,people tend to judge the probability of an event based on:

A)their previously existing beliefs about the likelihood of the event.
B)their step-by-step analysis of the situation.
C)how well the example represents a specific category.
D)the ease with which they can think of examples.

Question 43

Nate thinks that Conservatives and the NDP almost never work together in Senate.The reason he believes this is that he finds it much easier to think of examples of politicians from the two parties not working together than to think of examples them working together.It is likely that the ______________ has caused Nate to underestimate how frequently Conservatives and the NDP work together.

A)availability heuristic
B)confirmation bias
C)representativeness heuristic
D)anchoring effect

Question 44

When someone does not see that a tool can be used for something other than its intended purpose,they are likely experiencing ________________.

A)a conjunction fallacy
B)belief perseverance
C)functional fixedness
D)confirmation bias

Question 45

When negotiating with a potential buyer,Tela always starts by suggesting a price that is much higher than she expects to receive.She's noticed that when she suggest a specific number,the buyer is likely to counter with an offer that is relatively close to her initial suggestion.This is an example of:

A)a framing effect.
B)a mental set.
C)an availability effect.
D)an anchoring effect.

Question 46

The television character MacGyver was famous for using everyday objects to get out of trouble.In one episode,for example,MacGyver used the aluminum foil wrapper from a stick of gum to replace a blown electrical fuse.The MacGyver character clearly did NOT suffer from what cognitive obstacle to problem solving?

A)the anchoring effect
B)confirmation bias
C)functional fixedness
D)the representative heuristic

Question 47

When Arya tries to hang her degree in her office,she realizes that she doesn't have a hammer to secure the nail to the wall.She thinks for a moment and then takes off her shoe and uses it to bang in the nail.Arya has overcome which cognitive obstacle?

A)confirmation bias
B)belief perseverance
C)a conjunction fallacy
D)functional fixedness

Question 48

Researchers have suggested that beyond simply comprehending a joke,a person must __________ to find it 'humourous'.

A)elaborate or identify with it
B)break it down and analyze its components
C)observe someone else laughing at it
D)be surprised by the outcome

Question 49

When people attempt to solve a problem involving numbers,they may find themselves using another number called a(n)____________ to keep their response within a limited range.

A)anchor
B)mental set
C)frame
D)ground

Question 50

Research has shown that jokes often involve some form of problem solving.The initial step of identifying that some aspect of the set-up is unexpected is known as _________.

A)incongruity resolution
B)cognitive elaboration
C)incongruity detection
D)comprehension-elaboration

Question 51

Suppose 40% of all of the books in a library are fiction and 2% of all of the books are on the Roman Empire.Wanda is a big fan of historical fiction novels.Which of the following is she LEAST likely to leave the library with?

A)a fiction book
B)a book that involves the Roman Empire
C)a fictional book that takes place in the Roman Empire
D)the answer cannot be determined from the information given

Question 52

When Howie's old girlfriend used to get upset with him,he could smooth things over by buying flowers or chocolates for her.He keeps trying this strategy with his current girlfriend,but she gets angry with him each time.It appears that Howie has developed _______________,which is interfering with the development of a new relationship strategy.

A)a mental set
B)functional fixedness
C)a prototype
D)a representativeness heuristic

Question 53

Which decision-making strategy involves making judgments of likelihood based on how well an example represents a specific category?

A)an algorithm
B)a conjunction heuristic
C)the representativeness heuristic
D)the availability heuristic

Question 54

Johannes has been a car mechanic for many years and is very good at diagnosing problems with cars.However,when an electric car comes into the garage,his approach to diagnosing the problem is unsuccessful.Johannes failure is likely the result of:

A)a conjunction fallacy.
B)an availability heuristic.
C)functional fixedness.
D)a mental set.

Question 55

A(n)_______________ occurs when an individual believes the probability of finding a specific member in two overlapping categories is more likely than finding any member of one of the larger,general categories.

A)anchoring effect
B)representativeness error
C)confirmation bias
D)conjunction fallacy

Question 56

In a research study,participants are told that Louis has lived in Boston his whole life.They are then asked which is more likely: A)Louis is a baseball fan,or B)Louis is a baseball fan who roots for the Boston Red Sox.Which of the following is true?

A)Participants who answer 'A' have committed an availability heuristic error.
B)Participants who answer 'A' have committed the conjunction fallacy.
C)Participants who answer 'B' have committed an availability heuristic error.
D)Participants who answer 'B' have committed the conjunction fallacy.

Question 57

Seventy percent of the students in a classroom are women and 30 percent are men.One student is described as ambitious,athletic,and assertive.Why might people think this description refers to a male student?

A)They are using a conjunction fallacy.
B)They are using the representativeness heuristic.
C)They are being influenced by framing effects.
D)They are being influenced by confirmational biases.

Question 58

A loose screw on the glove compartment causes it to drop down while Ben drives,but he keeps forgetting to take a screwdriver out to the car to fix it.When the compartment falls open again,he reaches into his pocket for a dime to use to tighten the screw.What problem-solving difficulty did Ben overcome?

A)belief perseverance
B)functional fixedness
C)conjunction fallacy
D)the representative heuristic

Question 59

A real-estate agent is asked by her clients how much they should ask for their house.She just sold a house for $300 000,so she finds herself suggesting an amount within the same range.This is an example of _____________.

A)belief perseverance
B)confirmation bias
C)the representativeness heuristic
D)the anchoring effect

Question 60

Frank mistakenly believes that there are more words that begin with the letter "k" than there are with the letter "k" in the third position due to __________________.

A)the representativeness heuristic
B)the availability heuristic
C)a conjunction fallacy
D)confirmation bias

Question 61

A person with damage to Broca's area is likely to have difficulty_______________,but should still be able to _____________ relatively well.

A)speaking;understand the speech of others
B)understanding the speech of others;speak normally
C)learning a new language;speak normally in his or her native language
D)using pragmatics;speak normally

Question 62

_________________ is involved in speech production,while ___________________ is associated with the meaning of words.

A)Apasia;agnosia
B)Agnosia;aphasia
C)Wernicke's area;Broca's area
D)Broca's area;Wernicke's area

Question 63

Kyle is buying a new mattress for his bed.Instead of spending hours or days finding the perfect mattress,Kyle buys the first mattress that is in his price range,and feels as though it's "good enough".Kyle's behaviour is typical of a(n)_______________.

A)maximizer
B)true believer
C)denier
D)satisficer

Question 64

Which of the following is a unique property of language that helps to distinguish it from other forms of communication?

A)Language can convey information about the past or future.
B)Language uses combinations of sounds create meaning.
C)Language can be used to pass on information between individuals.
D)Without language,survival would be impossible.

Question 65

One way to investigate the way language is processed in the brain is to study patients with ________________,language disorders caused by damage to the brain structures that support using and understanding language.

A)agnosias
B)apraxias
C)aphasias
D)ataxias

Question 66

Following a stroke,Rahul's grandfather lost the ability to understand when people would ask him questions.In addition,when his grandfather spoke,the individual words made sense,but the sentences did not.The stroke appears to have damaged which area of the brain?

A)left frontal lobe
B)FOXP2 receptors
C)Wernicke's area
D)Broca's area

Question 67

________________ is the search for evidence that only supports a preexisting belief,whereas ______________ involves accepting preexisting evidence only if it confirms a belief.

A)Confirmation bias;the representativeness heuristic
B)Belief perseverance;the representativeness heuristic
C)Belief perseverance;confirmation bias
D)Confirmation bias;belief perseverance

Question 68

Belief perseverance states that:

A)if a person believes they have the correct answer they will maintain their belief even in the face of contradictory evidence.
B)an individual will attempt to solve a numerical problem using previous knowledge to stay within a limited range.
C)a person will make a decision based on how the question is framed (focusing on gains or losses).
D)a person will search for (and attend to)only information that confirms their previously held beliefs.

Question 69

Tim believes the attacks on Sept.11^th were an inside job.Although his friend Max,has shown him numerous studies,reviews,and assessments that suggest it could not have been an inside job,Tim rejects the validity of the research and holds firm in his beliefs.This is an example of _____________.

A)a confirmation bias
B)a conjunction fallacy
C)belief perseverance
D)functional fixedness

Question 70

Maximizers are individuals who:

A)are only satisfied if their decision is perceived by others to be the 'best'.
B)make decisions that are "good enough."
C)evaluate every possible option prior to making a decision.
D)select the fastest reasonable option in an effort to maximize their time.

Question 71

When reading information that challenges one's beliefs,one tends to minimize the strengths of such claims.__________ accounts for this barrier to reasoning rationally.

A)Belief perseverance
B)The availability heuristic
C)The framing effect
D)The conjunction fallacy

Question 72

Harmony believes that vaccines are dangerous.Rather than taking into consideration all of the evidence demonstrating their safety and efficacy,Harmony searches for the occasional studies that suggest that there may be risks associated with vaccines.This is an example of a ___________.

A)a confirmation bias
B)a conjunction fallacy
C)belief perseverance
D)functional fixedness

Question 73

What term do psychologists use to describe the tendency to search for evidence that supports one's beliefs and to ignore evidence that might disprove them?

A)confirmation bias
B)conjunction fallacy
C)availability heuristic
D)representativeness heuristic

Question 74

Asha was involved in a skiing accident that damaged her left frontal lobe.What symptoms is she likely experiencing?

A)difficulty remember previously learned words
B)difficulty producing words that others can understand
C)difficulty comprehending what others are saying
D)difficulty forming understandable sentences but the ability to produce clear words

Question 75

Satisficers are individuals who:

A)despite rigorous planning,are never satisfied with their decision.
B)make decisions that are "good enough."
C)evaluate every possible option prior to making a decision.
D)attempt to please as many people as possible with their decisions.

Question 76

The ability to communicate information about the past,future,and other locations is a unique property of ___________.

A)syntax
B)pragmatics
C)communication
D)language

Question 77

Research indicates that ______________ are typically happier with their decisions than _______________.

A)maximizers;satisficers
B)satisficers;maximizers
C)true believers;maximizers
D)satisficers;true believers

Question 78

Which of the following is an example of a framing effect?

A)Assuming a young,blond woman is more likely to be from California and a surfer,rather than just a surfer or just from California.
B)Being more worried about dying in a plane crash than in a car crash.
C)A patient being more upset with a 60% chance of dying than a 40% chance of survival
D)Not using a cup to hold soup when a bowl isn't available.

Question 79

Jenny is deciding on which invitations to use for her wedding.If Jenny is a maximizer,she is most likely to:

A)choose the invitation design that is the most extravagant.
B)choose the design she thinks will impress the most people.
C)choose the first invitation design she sees that she likes.
D)weigh all her options prior to selecting an invitation design.

Question 80

Which of the following correctly describes the relationship between language and communication?

A)All forms of communication are examples of language.
B)Only organisms with language are capable of communicating.
C)Language is a special form of communication.
D)Language involves the production of sounds,whereas communication involves specific sets of rules.