Question 1

A(n) ________ involves arranging concepts from general to specific.
A) concept formation
B) algorithm
C) prototype
D) concept hierarchy
E) mental set

Accepted Answer

Concept hierarchy involves arranging concepts from general to specific, based on their level of abstraction or inclusiveness. This helps in organizing and understanding complex information and relationships among different concepts. For example, a concept hierarchy for animals could include the general concept of "living beings" at the top, followed by "animals" at a slightly lower level, and then more specific categories such as "mammals," "birds," "reptiles," and so on.

Question 2

Brad is home when all of his lights suddenly go out. His thought that "this is what happens when a fuse is blown" would be said to be
A) demonstrating functional fixedness.
B) identifying the problem.
C) using an algorithm.
D) working backward.
E) evaluating a solution.

Accepted Answer

Brad's thought of the cause of the problem is identifying the problem correctly.

Question 3

On the first day of class you are likely to do all of the following: find a desk, sit down, listen to the teacher talk about her syllabus, take out a pen, start taking notes, and not speak very much. These activities are part of your ________ about the first day of class.
A) algorithm
B) mental set
C) script
D) episodic memory
E) heuristic

Accepted Answer

A script is a preexisting knowledge structure that guides behavior in certain situations. The scenario described in the question reflects a common script for the first day of class. Algorithms are step-by-step procedures for solving problems, heuristics are mental shortcuts for making decisions, and episodic memory refers to the recall of specific events or experiences. None of these concepts accurately capture the nature of the script in this scenario.

Question 4

"Good thinkers" possesses which of the following attributes?
A) They are capable of careful reasoning.
B) They make use of effective thinking strategies.
C) They avoid ineffective thinking strategies.
D) They avoid misleading thinking strategies.
E) All of the above are

Accepted Answer

All of the attributes listed are qualities possessed by good thinkers. Good thinkers are capable of analyzing information carefully, using effective thinking strategies, avoiding ineffective or misleading strategies, and making judicious decisions based on the information available to them.

Question 5

The brain region believed to be associated with "hunches," "intuition," and the emotional component of thinking is located in the
A) parietal lobes near the cerebellum.
B) temporal lobes directly above the hippocampus.
C) frontal lobes just behind the central fissure.
D) temporal lobes beside the lateral fissure.
E) frontal lobes just above the eyes.

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobes, particularly the area just above the eyes (the prefrontal cortex), are associated with complex cognitive functions such as decision making, planning, and moderating social behavior, which includes the processing of "hunches" or "intuition" and the emotional components of thinking.

Question 6

You ask a student to describe the path to his dorm room. The most likely way in which he will do this is to
A) recite a rote list of directions he memorized.
B) give you the GPS location of his dorm room.
C) walk through a mental image of the path and describe it to you as he does it.
D) draw a diagram on a piece of paper and then point out where you should go.
E) none of these

Accepted Answer

The most likely way for the student to describe the path to their dorm room is by mentally walking through the path and describing it. This allows them to provide a more accurate and detailed description, rather than simply reciting a memorized list or giving coordinates. Drawing a diagram may also be helpful, but it is less likely than mentally walking through the path.

Question 7

When you give someone verbal directions on how to find a classroom in a building, you are using a
A) prototype.
B) mental set.
C) cognitive map.
D) hierarchy.
E) hindsight bias.

Accepted Answer

Verbal directions involve creating a mental representation of a spatial environment, and this mental representation is known as a cognitive map. Therefore, the best choice is C. Prototypes refer to an idealized representation of a concept or category, mental set refers to a tendency to approach problems in the same way, hierarchy refers to an organizational structure, and hindsight bias refers to believing that an event was more predictable or expected after it has occurred.

Question 8

A heuristic is BEST described as a
A) rule of thumb.
B) step-by-step procedure.
C) time-consuming process that guarantees success.
D) schema.
E) categorization process from general to specific.

Accepted Answer

A heuristic is a mental shortcut or a rule of thumb that is used to make judgments quickly and efficiently, often without conscious awareness or deliberate reasoning. It is not a step-by-step procedure or a time-consuming process that guarantees success, nor is it a schema or a categorization process from general to specific.

Question 9

Deanna reads that horses are a type of animal, and that palominos are a type of horse. To understand this, Deanna will organize these concepts into a
A) script.
B) syllogism.
C) hierarchy.
D) mental set.
E) cognitive map.

Accepted Answer

A hierarchy is the best choice because it involves organizing concepts into levels or categories based on their relationships to one another. In this case, horses would be at a higher level than palominos, as palominos are a specific type of horse.

Question 10

________ are clusters of knowledge that provide general conceptual frameworks regarding certain topics, events, and situations.
A) Prototypes
B) Schemas
C) Hierarchies
D) Algorithms
E) Cognitive maps

Accepted Answer

Schemas are the clusters of knowledge that provide general conceptual frameworks regarding certain topics, events, and situations. Prototypes are mental representations of the most typical or ideal example of a particular concept or category. Hierarchies are systems that arrange concepts or items according to their relationships and levels of importance. Algorithms are step-by-step procedures for solving problems or completing tasks. Cognitive maps are mental representations of physical locations and directions.

Question 11

A(n) ________ is a cognitive representation of a physical space.
A) chunk
B) spatial heuristic
C) algorithm
D) cognitive map
E) confirmation bias

Accepted Answer

A cognitive map is a mental representation or framework of a physical space that includes the spatial relationships and the objects within it. This term was coined by psychologist Edward Tolman in the 1940s, who conducted research on rats using mazes to study cognitive maps.

Question 12

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 means-end strategy
D) a hunch
E) a mental set

Accepted Answer

Talia is using an algorithm, which is a systematic and logical step-by-step procedure for finding the solution to a problem. She is searching each room in a methodical way and closing the door to indicate that the cat is not in that room.

Question 13

What problem-solving strategies don't guarantee solutions but make efficient use of time?
A) heuristics
B) algorithms
C) mnemonic devices
D) cognitive shortcuts
E) availability biases

Accepted Answer

Heuristics are problem-solving strategies that do not guarantee a solution, but they do make efficient use of time. They are mental shortcuts or rules of thumb that can help to simplify a problem and narrow down possible solutions, but they may not always lead to the correct answer. Algorithms, on the other hand, are problem-solving strategies that do guarantee a solution, but they may be more time-consuming to apply. Mnemonic devices and cognitive shortcuts are memory aids and mental shortcuts that can help with problem-solving, but they may not necessarily save time or guarantee a solution. Availability biases are mental shortcuts that rely on information that is easily available or comes to mind quickly, but they can lead to errors in problem-solving.

Question 14

Consider the following concept hierarchy-food, desserts, chocolates, ________. The last term should be
A) brownies.
B) vanilla ice cream.
C) main courses.
D) side dishes.
E) edible food.

Accepted Answer

Brownies are a subcategory of desserts and fit logically into the given hierarchy as a type of sweet treat. Vanilla ice cream could also be a suitable answer as it is a type of dessert, but it does not fit into the same subcategory as chocolates. Main courses and side dishes are not related to the concept hierarchy of desserts and do not fit logically into the progression. Edible food is a vague term and does not provide a specific subcategory that fits logically in the hierarchy.

Question 15

What systematic problem-solving method guarantees a solution, provided that it is applied properly?
A) heuristic method
B) algorithmic method
C) mnemonic device
D) cognitive shortcut
E) the confirmation bias

Accepted Answer

The algorithmic method is a systematic and step-by-step process of problem-solving that guarantees a solution, given that it is applied properly. It involves a predefined sequence of instructions that determines the correct solution to the problem. This method is commonly used in computer programming and mathematical problem-solving. The other options listed do not necessarily guarantee a solution, and may even hinder the problem-solving process (e.g. confirmation bias).

Question 16

A(n) ________ is a formula for solving a problem that is likely to be successful.
A) rule of thumb
B) schema
C) mental operant
D) algorithm
E) categorization process

Accepted Answer

An algorithm is a step-by-step procedure for solving a problem that is likely to be successful. It is a more formalized and precise version of a rule of thumb. Schemas are mental frameworks for organizing information, mental operants are cognitive processes that manipulate information, and categorization processes involve grouping items based on similarities. None of these options accurately describe a formula for solving problems like algorithms do.

Question 17

One of the reasons that people use algorithms is that these
A) are intuitive and obvious.
B) are flexible, because they are not too precise.
C) can solve only certain problems.
D) change over time as we become wiser.
E) will always work if used properly.

Accepted Answer

Algorithms are step-by-step procedures or instructions to solve a problem. Once an algorithm is created, it will always work if used properly. The other options are incorrect, as algorithms may not necessarily be intuitive and obvious, may need to be precise, can solve a wide range of problems, and may change over time.

Question 18

Sally is enrolled in a high school geometry course, which she describes as "drawing figures and figuring drawings." In a typical class, students draw geometric figures and use a formula to calculate an aspect of the figure such as its area. Each time Sally uses a formula she is making use of what psychologists call
A) heuristics.
B) logarithms.
C) algorithms.
D) convergence.
E) divergence.

Accepted Answer

Algorithms are step-by-step procedures used to solve a problem or achieve a specific outcome. In this case, Sally is using formulas as algorithms to calculate aspects of geometric figures.

Question 19

A person whose frontal lobes are damaged (just above the eyes) will be expected to
A) show difficulty in comprehending speech.
B) experience hallucinations.
C) display little response to a particular stimulus.
D) have difficulty in forming a cognitive map.
E) be unable to shift information into long-term memory.

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobes, particularly the prefrontal cortex, are crucial for executive functions, which include the ability to focus attention, predict the consequences of actions, and control impulses. Damage to this area can lead to difficulties in responding appropriately to stimuli, as it impairs the ability to process and react to information in a nuanced way.

Question 20

Results from neuroimaging studies suggest that
A) a single "thinking center" mediates thought.
B) thought occurs in widely distributed areas of the brain.
C) a single brain region mediates thought.
D) the cerebellum is loosely divided into subsections which deal with different kinds of thought.
E) most types of mental processing occur throughout the brainstem.

Accepted Answer

Neuroimaging studies have revealed that different areas of the brain are activated during different types of cognitive tasks, suggesting that thought occurs in widely distributed areas of the brain rather than a single "thinking center."

Quiz 6: Thinking and Intelligence

A(n) ________ involves arranging concepts from general to specific.

Brad is home when all of his lights suddenly go out. His thought that "this is what happens when a fuse is blown" would be said to be

On the first day of class you are likely to do all of the following: find a desk, sit down, listen to the teacher talk about her syllabus, take out a pen, start taking notes, and not speak very much. These activities are part of your ________ about the first day of class.

"Good thinkers" possesses which of the following attributes?

The brain region believed to be associated with "hunches," "intuition," and the emotional component of thinking is located in the

You ask a student to describe the path to his dorm room. The most likely way in which he will do this is to

When you give someone verbal directions on how to find a classroom in a building, you are using a

A heuristic is BEST described as a

Deanna reads that horses are a type of animal, and that palominos are a type of horse. To understand this, Deanna will organize these concepts into a

________ are clusters of knowledge that provide general conceptual frameworks regarding certain topics, events, and situations.

A(n) ________ is a cognitive representation of a physical space.

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?

What problem-solving strategies don't guarantee solutions but make efficient use of time?

Consider the following concept hierarchy-food, desserts, chocolates, ________. The last term should be

What systematic problem-solving method guarantees a solution, provided that it is applied properly?

A(n) ________ is a formula for solving a problem that is likely to be successful.

One of the reasons that people use algorithms is that these

A person whose frontal lobes are damaged (just above the eyes) will be expected to

Results from neuroimaging studies suggest that