Question 1

An evolutionary explanation of why we get goose bumps when cold is that:

Accepted Answer

Goose bumps are a vestigial response inherited from our remote, hairy ancestors. When they were cold, their body hair would stand on end, trapping a layer of air that helped keep them warm. This response is no longer useful, as our body hair is much less substantial than that of our ancestors.

Question 2

In most bird species, only the male sings and then only in his territory during the reproductive season. This is to attract females and to ward off other males, which serves to improve their chances of mating. This behavior demonstrates:

Accepted Answer

This behavior can be explained by multiple factors including physiological factors (the ability of males to produce certain hormones that allow them to sing), ontogenetic factors (learning to sing during a critical period), evolutionary factors (selection for males who are able to attract and mate with females), and functional factors (singing to attract females and ward off other males). All of these explanations can be used together to provide a more complete understanding of the behavior.

Question 3

An adult male sparrow sings its normal song:

Accepted Answer

The answer of An adult male sparrow sings its normal...

Question 4

A(n) ____ explanation would describe eating in terms of the hypothalamus affecting insulin production, which affects the availability of glucose in cells.

Accepted Answer

A physiological explanation would focus on the biological processes that occur in the body, like the relationship between the hypothalamus, insulin, and glucose in cells. Ontogenetic, evolutionary, and functional explanations would focus on different aspects of eating, such as how it develops over time, why it evolved in humans, or how it serves a purpose in our lives.

Question 5

A person who studies the influence of genetic predisposition to be aggressive in combination with early aggressive experiences is seeking for a(n) ____ explanation.

Accepted Answer

Ontogenetic explanation refers to the way individuals develop and how their behaviors are influenced by their life experiences, including genetic predispositions and environmental factors.

Question 6

A functional explanation of why giraffes have such long necks is that:

Accepted Answer

Giraffes have long necks to reach the leaves high up on trees, which make up the majority of their diet. This allows them greater access to their food supply.

Question 7

Which of the following would be a functional explanation for why birds sing?

Accepted Answer

Birds sing to defend territories and attract mates.

Question 8

Mapping out the relationship between shared bone structures across different species suggests there is a(n) ____ explanation.

Accepted Answer

Shared bone structures across different species suggest an evolutionary explanation, as they are inherited from a common ancestor and have evolved over time through natural selection. Ontogenetic explanations focus on an individual's development, behavioral explanations on actions and interactions, and physiological explanations on the functions of systems and processes within an organism.

Question 9

Which type of explanation might describe the presence of a behavior in a particular species by showing how that behavior increased the reproductive success of the species?

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary

Question 10

Which of the following is TRUE about genetic drift?

Accepted Answer

Genetic drift occurs more often in small populations because chance events can have a greater impact on the allele frequencies in a small gene pool. In large populations, the effects of genetic drift are generally minimized because there is a greater prevalence of different alleles that can balance out the fluctuations caused by chance events.

Question 11

Having camouflage that matches an animal's typical surroundings in order to provide protection from predators is an example of a(n) ____ explanation.

Accepted Answer

A functional explanation describes how a particular behavior or trait increases an organism's chances of survival and reproduction, such as camouflage providing protection from predators.

Question 12

A(n) ____ explanation of human behavior is often controversial, because many behaviors alleged to be part of our evolutionary heritage could have been learned instead.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n) ____ explanation of human behavior is...

Question 13

Explaining differences in running speed as a function of differences in muscle fiber types is an example of a(n) ____ explanation.

Accepted Answer

A physiological explanation relates to the functioning of the body and its systems, such as how muscle fiber types affect running speed.

Question 14

Which type of explanation describes the advantages provided by a particular structure or behavior?

Accepted Answer

Functional

Question 15

The amygdala appears to be an important part of the brain for experiencing fear. Which of the following is an example of a functional explanation of fear?

Accepted Answer

A functional explanation of fear would describe why fear is important for survival, and how it helps individuals respond to potential threats. Choice A and B describe structural and biochemical aspects of the brain, while Choice D describes the development of fear from a psychological perspective.

Question 16

In a small population of sheep, the dominant male may produce many more offspring than the other males, spreading his genes. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This scenario describes genetic drift, which is the change in the frequency of alleles in a population due to chance events. In this case, due to the random chance that the dominant male produces more offspring, his genes become more common in the population over time.

Question 17

How human language develops as the result of genes and the opportunity to hear language during a sensitive period in early life is an example of a(n) ____ explanation.

Accepted Answer

Ontogenetic

Question 18

Which of the following would be a physiological explanation for why birds sing?

Accepted Answer

Testosterone causes the growth of certain brain areas which control singing in certain birds.

Question 19

Understanding differences in intelligence as a function of early learning experiences is an example of a(n) ____ explanation.

Accepted Answer

Understanding differences in intelligence as a function of early learning experiences falls under the ontogenetic explanation, which focuses on the development of an individual over their lifetime.

Question 20

In certain species of songbirds, development of the song requires the opportunity to hear the appropriate song during a sensitive period in life as well as the genes to prepare them to learn the song. This is a(n) ____ explanation of birdsong.

Accepted Answer

The explanation describes the role of both nature (genes) and nurture (hearing the appropriate song during a sensitive period) in the development of birdsong, which is a key aspect of ontogenetic explanations. Physiological explanations focus more on the biological mechanisms involved, evolutionary explanations focus on how the behavior has evolved over time, and functional explanations focus on the purpose or function of the behavior.

Quiz 1: The Major Issues