Question 1

The term ________ refers to the ability to focus on a specific aspect of experience that is relevant while ignoring others that are irrelevant.
A) divided attention
B) selective attention
C) attention deficit
D) sustained attention

Accepted Answer

The term that refers to the ability to focus on a specific aspect of experience that is relevant while ignoring others that are irrelevant is selective attention. Divided attention refers to the ability to process multiple stimuli at the same time, attention deficit refers to a neurological disorder affecting attention and behavior, and sustained attention refers to the ability to maintain focus on a particular task over a prolonged period of time.

Question 2

Which of the following is true of changes in touch and pain sensitivity in older adults?
A) The most frequent pain complaints of older adults are back pain, peripheral neuropathic pain, and chronic joint pain.
B) With aging, individuals could detect touch less in the upper extremities than in the lower extremities.
C) Older adults are more sensitive to pain than are younger adults.
D) Increased sensitivity to pain can help older adults cope with disease and injury.

Accepted Answer

According to research, the most frequent pain complaints of older adults are back pain, peripheral neuropathic pain, and chronic joint pain. Option B is incorrect as the reverse is true; individuals could detect touch less in the lower extremities than in the upper extremities. Option C is incorrect, as older adults are generally less sensitive to pain than younger adults. Option D is also incorrect, as increased sensitivity to pain can lead to greater discomfort and difficulty with coping.

Question 3

A recent study of older adults found that the greater the variability in their ________ attention, the more likely they were to experience falls.
A) sustained
B) selective
C) divided
D) executive

Accepted Answer

Sustained attention refers to the ability to focus on a task for an extended period of time. In the context of falls in older adults, sustained attention is relevant because it helps individuals maintain focus and awareness of their surroundings, which can prevent dangerous situations. Variability in sustained attention in older adults may indicate lapses in attention and perception that increase the risk of falls.

Question 4

An example of ________ attention is the ability to focus on one voice among many in a crowded room or a noisy restaurant.
A) selective
B) divided
C) sustained
D) executive

Accepted Answer

Selective attention refers to the ability to selectively focus on one stimulus while ignoring others. In the given example, the individual is able to focus on one voice among many, which requires selective attention. Divided attention refers to the ability to pay attention to multiple tasks at the same time. Sustained attention refers to the ability to maintain attention over a prolonged period of time. Executive attention refers to the ability to allocate attentional resources to achieve a particular goal or deal with a novel situation. While executive attention may play a role in the given example, selective attention is the most relevant type of attention needed to focus on one voice among many.

Question 5

________ is the most common chronic disorder in late adulthood.
A) Glaucoma
B) Diabetes
C) Arthritis
D) Kidney disease

Accepted Answer

Arthritis is the most common chronic disorder in late adulthood, affecting over half of the older adult population. While glaucoma, diabetes, and kidney disease are also prevalent in older adults, they are not as common as arthritis.

Question 6

In the respiratory system, lung capacity drops ________ percent between the ages of 20 and 80, even when disease is not present.
A) 20
B) 40
C) 50
D) 60

Accepted Answer

Lung capacity typically drops about 40 percent between the ages of 20 and 80, even in the absence of disease, due to natural changes in the lungs and chest wall as we age.

Question 7

In the study by Judith Rodin and Ellen Langer (1977), which of the following was found to be the result of older adults having perceived control over their own lives?
A) It led to fewer social interactions.
B) It significantly reduced life expectancy.
C) It increased the levels of stress.
D) It was found to increase longevity.

Accepted Answer

The study by Judith Rodin and Ellen Langer (1977) found that older adults having perceived control over their own lives was associated with increased longevity.

Question 8

________ attention is focused and extended engagement with an object, task, event, or some other aspect of the environment.
A) Selective
B) Sustained
C) Divided
D) Executive

Accepted Answer

Sustained attention refers to the ability to maintain a continuous behavioral response during a prolonged task that requires vigilance. Selective attention refers to the ability to focus on a particular task or stimulus while ignoring others, divided attention refers to the ability to process multiple tasks at the same time, and executive attention refers to the ability to plan, inhibit, and shift attention between tasks.

Question 9

________ diseases have a slow onset and a long duration, and they are rare in early adulthood.
A) Acute
B) Chronic
C) Terminal
D) Pervasive

Accepted Answer

Chronic diseases have a slow onset and a long duration, often lasting for years or even a lifetime. They are more common in older adults and are rare in early adulthood. Acute diseases, on the other hand, have a sudden onset and a short duration. Terminal diseases refer to those that are ultimately fatal, and pervasive diseases are those that affect multiple parts of the body or systems.

Question 10

Zack is having a conversation with his friend Ben in a crowded room. Despite the presence of many voices around him, Zack focuses on what Ben is saying. This is an example of ________ attention.
A) selective
B) divided
C) implicit
D) executive

Accepted Answer

Selective attention refers to the process of focusing on certain inputs while ignoring others. In this scenario, Zack is selectively attending to Ben's voice while filtering out other voices in the crowded room.

Question 11

Maria is 75 years old. She is experiencing severe loss of bone tissue. Maria is most likely to be diagnosed with
A) arteriosclerosis.
B) diabetes.
C) arthritis.
D) osteoporosis.

Accepted Answer

Severe loss of bone tissue is a symptom of osteoporosis, a disease commonly found in older adults, especially women. Arteriosclerosis and diabetes do not directly lead to loss of bone tissue, while arthritis is a general term for inflammation of the joints, which may or may not involve bone loss.

Question 12

The retention of information about the details of life's happenings is called ________ memory.
A) episodic
B) prospective
C) source
D) semantic

Accepted Answer

Episodic memory refers to the ability to remember specific events or episodes that have occurred in one's life, including the time, place, and emotions associated with them. This is in contrast to semantic memory, which refers to general knowledge and facts about the world, and prospective memory, which involves remembering to carry out future intentions or plans. Source memory refers to the ability to remember where information was obtained from.

Question 13

Which of the following is a term used to describe sustained attention?
A) executive functioning
B) transitivity
C) vigilance
D) multitasking

Accepted Answer

Vigilance is a term used to describe sustained attention, which is the ability to maintain focus and attention over a prolonged period of time. This is important in tasks that require continuous monitoring, such as driving or watching security cameras. Executive functioning refers to a set of cognitive processes that include planning, decision-making, and working memory. Transitivity is a concept in mathematics and logic, and multitasking refers to the ability to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.

Question 14

Recent research indicates that the greater distractibility of older adults is associated with less effective functioning in neural networks running through the ________ of the brain, which are involved in cognitive control.
A) occipital and temporal lobes
B) frontal and parietal lobes
C) cerebellum
D) medulla

Accepted Answer

The frontal and parietal lobes are primarily responsible for cognitive control processes such as attention, working memory, and decision-making. Recent research suggests that the age-related decline in cognitive control is associated with less effective functioning in the neural networks that run through these regions of the brain. The occipital and temporal lobes are primarily involved in visual processing and memory, respectively, while the cerebellum is involved in motor control and coordination, and the medulla regulates basic autonomic functions such as breathing and heart rate.

Question 15

What is a leading cause of blindness in older adults?
A) presbyopia
B) myopia
C) macular degeneration
D) retinal hardening

Accepted Answer

Macular degeneration is a leading cause of blindness in older adults, particularly those over the age of 60. It is a progressive disease that affects the macula, which is the part of the retina responsible for central vision. As the macula deteriorates, it becomes difficult to see fine details and recognize faces. There are two types of macular degeneration: dry and wet. Dry macular degeneration is more common and progresses slowly, while wet macular degeneration is more severe and can cause rapid vision loss.

Question 16

Felicia is a 70-year-old American woman. Her doctor should be most concerned about her developing ________, the leading cause of death in her age group.
A) cancer
B) influenza
C) lung disease
D) cardiovascular disease

Accepted Answer

The answer of Felicia is a 70-year-old American woman. Her...

Question 17

Which of the following is the leading cause of death in the 75-to-84 and 85-and-over age groups?
A) cardiovascular disease
B) kidney disease
C) cancer
D) hypertension

Accepted Answer

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among individuals aged 75 and over. This includes conditions such as coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, and atrial fibrillation. While kidney disease and hypertension are common among older adults, they are not typically the direct cause of death, and cancer becomes less common as an individual reaches advanced age.

Question 18

In a classic study, Judith Rodin and Ellen Langer found that an important factor related to health, and even survival, in a nursing home is the
A) provision of emergency geriatric care.
B) availability of trained staff to care for the oldest-old.
C) patient's feelings of control and self-determination.
D) opportunity to interact with family members during the stay.

Accepted Answer

The study found that the elderly nursing home residents who felt a sense of control and self-determination over their lives had better health outcomes and even a higher chance of survival. This suggests that their perceived level of personal control influences their physical health.

Question 19

Which of the following is true of the effects of aging on human sexual performance?
A) Orgasm becomes less frequent in females with age, occurring in every second to third attempt rather than every time.
B) More direct stimulation usually is needed to produce an erection.
C) A large-scale study of individuals from 57 to 85 years of age revealed that sexually active life expectancy was longer for women than for men.
D) Women lost more years of sexually active life due to poor health than men did.

Accepted Answer

As men age, they often require more direct stimulation to achieve and maintain an erection. Other options are incorrect: A) Orgasm frequency may decrease in females, but it is not a universal trend. C) and D) Both statements are partially correct, but they do not accurately address the effects of aging on sexual performance.

Question 20

Which of the following is a way of preventing osteoporosis in middle-aged women?
A) eating foods rich in fiber
B) avoiding smoking
C) reducing weight
D) increasing the intake of vitamin B

Accepted Answer

Avoiding smoking is a way of preventing osteoporosis in middle-aged women as smoking has been linked to a higher risk of osteoporosis. Eating foods rich in fiber, reducing weight, and increasing the intake of vitamin B may have other health benefits but are not specifically known to prevent osteoporosis.

Quiz 15: Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood

The term ________ refers to the ability to focus on a specific aspect of experience that is relevant while ignoring others that are irrelevant.

Which of the following is true of changes in touch and pain sensitivity in older adults?

A recent study of older adults found that the greater the variability in their ________ attention, the more likely they were to experience falls.

An example of ________ attention is the ability to focus on one voice among many in a crowded room or a noisy restaurant.

________ is the most common chronic disorder in late adulthood.

In the respiratory system, lung capacity drops ________ percent between the ages of 20 and 80, even when disease is not present.

In the study by Judith Rodin and Ellen Langer (1977) , which of the following was found to be the result of older adults having perceived control over their own lives?

________ attention is focused and extended engagement with an object, task, event, or some other aspect of the environment.

________ diseases have a slow onset and a long duration, and they are rare in early adulthood.

Zack is having a conversation with his friend Ben in a crowded room. Despite the presence of many voices around him, Zack focuses on what Ben is saying. This is an example of ________ attention.

Maria is 75 years old. She is experiencing severe loss of bone tissue. Maria is most likely to be diagnosed with

The retention of information about the details of life's happenings is called ________ memory.

Which of the following is a term used to describe sustained attention?

Recent research indicates that the greater distractibility of older adults is associated with less effective functioning in neural networks running through the ________ of the brain, which are involved in cognitive control.

What is a leading cause of blindness in older adults?

Felicia is a 70-year-old American woman. Her doctor should be most concerned about her developing ________, the leading cause of death in her age group.

Which of the following is the leading cause of death in the 75-to-84 and 85-and-over age groups?

In a classic study, Judith Rodin and Ellen Langer found that an important factor related to health, and even survival, in a nursing home is the

Which of the following is true of the effects of aging on human sexual performance?

Which of the following is a way of preventing osteoporosis in middle-aged women?