Question 1

By definition, intellectual impairment involves below-average intelligence and another element. What is the other element?

Accepted Answer

Intellectual impairment is defined by below-average intelligence and poor adaptive behaviours, which means individuals have difficulty with daily living skills such as communication, social interactions, and self-care. Low standardized IQ scores may be an indication of intellectual impairment, but they are not the only defining factor. Linguistic dysfunctions and emotional problems may be present in individuals with intellectual impairment, but they are not the defining elements of the condition.

Question 2

What current percentage of school-aged children are diagnosed with ADHD?

Accepted Answer

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the current percentage of school-aged children diagnosed with ADHD is approximately 3-5%.

Question 3

Hulme and Snowling (2009) conducted a study in which they attempted to identify the best method for training children with reading disabilities. What did they conclude?

Accepted Answer

Hulme and Snowling (2009) concluded that techniques focusing on phonological awareness were effective for training children with reading disabilities.

Question 4

Dr. Jordan is devising an intelligence test containing items that relate to experiences common to all people around the world. What type of test is Dr. Jordan most likely attempting to develop?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Jordan is attempting to develop a culture-fair intelligence test, which is designed to minimize cultural and ethnic biases and assess cognitive abilities that are not influenced by cultural background or socioeconomic status.

Question 5

Ten-year-old Ziggy is best described as "mildly" intellectually impaired, as his level of intellect is just below the "normal" range. In addition, his impairment appears not to be due to any biological damage. Given this description, how would Ziggy best be categorized?

Accepted Answer

Ziggy is best categorized as having familial intellectual impairment because his intellectual level is just below the normal range and there is no mention of biological damage, which distinguishes his condition from organic intellectual impairment. Familial intellectual impairment suggests a lower intellectual functioning that runs in families and is not caused by organic or biological factors.

Question 6

Which question is best answered through convergent thinking?

Accepted Answer

Convergent thinking involves finding the one correct answer to a question, which is the case with "What is 5 + 5?" It has a clear and concrete answer that can be arrived at through logical thinking and problem-solving. The other options require more divergent thinking, exploring multiple perspectives and ideas.

Question 7

Which of the following does the definition of a "learning disability" always include?

Accepted Answer

The definition of a learning disability always includes normal intelligence, as it refers to difficulties with specific areas of academic or functional learning despite average or above-average overall cognitive abilities. It is incorrect to assume that a learning disability necessarily involves mild intellectual impairment, attention deficit, or sensory problems, though these issues can sometimes co-occur or exacerbate learning difficulties.

Question 8

Chef Fintan has invited four aspiring chefs to his kitchen for a "chicken cook-off" contest. He allows the students to use any ingredients in his pantry, fridge or freezer. What characteristic is Fintan attempting to see in his aspiring chefs?

Accepted Answer

By allowing the students to use any ingredients in his pantry, fridge or freezer, Chef Fintan is encouraging divergent thinking. He is looking for creativity and innovative ideas in the aspiring chefs.

Question 9

What advice would you give to teachers trying to encourage creativity in their students?

Accepted Answer

Encouraging students to explore possibilities and not worry about getting the correct answer is a key factor in fostering creativity. Rote memorization and standardized test items do not encourage creative thinking. It is also important to note that while creativity may have some innate aspects, there are still ways to nurture and develop it in individuals of all ages.

Question 10

Zachary is a child with outstanding divergent-thinking skills. Which of the following would he definitely have a lot of?

Accepted Answer

Divergent thinking involves generating unique and creative ideas, so someone with outstanding divergent-thinking skills would likely have a lot of originality. While knowledge may be helpful in generating ideas, it is not necessarily a requirement for divergent thinking. Anxiety and number of friends are unrelated to divergent thinking ability.

Question 11

Who would most likely do the best job of playing a game in which the goal was to list as many novel ways to use a banana as possible?

Accepted Answer

Terry, who is a very good divergent thinker, would be best suited for this task as it requires creativity and the ability to generate multiple ideas. Convergent thinking, as exhibited by Jenny in option B, tends to focus on finding a single best solution to a problem, whereas preoperational thinkers (option C) and concrete operational thinkers (option D) have not yet developed the cognitive skills necessary for this type of task.

Question 12

Which of the following phrases would best complete the analogy, "Intelligence is to creativity as"?

Accepted Answer

Both intelligence and creativity involve mental processes, but they differ in the type of thinking involved. Intelligence involves convergent thinking, which is focused on finding the single correct answer to a problem, while creativity involves divergent thinking, which is focused on generating multiple solutions or possibilities. Therefore, the analogy can be completed by saying "Intelligence is to creativity as convergent is to divergent."

Question 13

Ian has a problem. Though he is of normal intelligence and does well in most classes, he struggles tremendously in math. What does Ian most likely have?

Accepted Answer

Ian most likely has a learning disability as he struggles specifically in math despite performing well in other subjects. This indicates that he has a specific difficulty in processing and comprehending mathematical concepts, which is a common symptom of a learning disability. Options A, B, and D do not fully explain Ian's difficulties in math.

Question 14

In recent years, what has happened to the definition of "gifted?"

Accepted Answer

In recent years, the definition of "gifted" has broadened to include areas beyond academics, such as dance and music, in addition to intellectual abilities. This has been done to acknowledge and provide opportunities for students who possess exceptional talents in various fields other than academic achievement.

Question 15

Penny is a very intelligent child in math and sciences; however, she struggles in her art and music classes, especially when she must undergo an exam. She is afraid of doing poorly in these classes, and makes herself sick with worry about it. What is the term used to describe a person who struggles in one type of intelligence test yet succeeds in another?

Accepted Answer

The term used to describe a person who struggles in one type of intelligence test yet succeeds in another is called "stereotype threat." This refers to the fear of confirming negative stereotypes about one's group, which can lead to underperformance in situations where the stereotype is salient. In this case, Penny may have internalized a stereotype that suggests that people who are good at math and science are not good at art or music, which is causing her to struggle and fear failure in those classes.

Question 16

Jordy is a high school student who dreads his English class. He struggles with reading individual words and hopes that his teacher does not call upon him to read aloud in class. From what condition does Jordy suffer?

Accepted Answer

Jordy's struggles with reading individual words and his fear of being called upon to read aloud in class suggest that he may have developmental dyslexia. ADHD is more closely associated with difficulties with attention and impulse control, while impaired reading comprehension involves difficulty understanding and interpreting written text. While word recognition dyslexia is a term sometimes used to describe dyslexia that primarily affects the ability to recognize individual words, developmental dyslexia is a broader and more commonly used term for difficulties with reading that are not due to intellectual disability, lack of education or intelligence, or sensory deficits.

Question 17

Approximately what percentage of Canadians have a learning disability?

Accepted Answer

According to Statistics Canada, approximately 10% of Canadians have a learning disability.

Question 18

As a "gifted" child, how does Alicia most likely differ from her peers?

Accepted Answer

Gifted children often have greater emotional stability and fewer emotional problems than their peers. They also tend to be more mature than their non-gifted peers. Option A is not necessarily true for all gifted children, as social skills can vary. Option B is unlikely to be true as physical size is not correlated with giftedness. Option D is also unlikely, as gifted children often display advanced cognitive abilities and may process information more quickly than their peers.

Question 19

Which of the following is an important factor in the diagnosis of ADHD?

Accepted Answer

Heredity is a significant factor in the diagnosis of ADHD, as it often runs in families, indicating a genetic component to the disorder.

Question 20

If asked to list key symptoms for ADHD, which of the following should you avoid saying?

Accepted Answer

Inarticulation is not a commonly recognized symptom of ADHD. The other choices (overactivity, inattention, and impulsivity) are well-established symptoms.

Quiz 7: Off to School