Question 1

Which of the following is TRUE about research by Schaie and Salthouse?
A) Both agree that adulthood is the time when the level of functioning in a number of cognitive domains is maintained or even increases.
B) Salthouse recently has argued that his longitudinal research on aging and cognitive functioning should not be dismissed.
C) Salthouse agrees with Schaie that cognitive functioning involving accumulated knowledge,such as vocabulary and general information,does not show early age-related decline but rather continues to increase at least until 60 years of age.
D) Schaie has argued that reasoning,memory,spatial visualization,and processing speed begin declining in early adulthood and show further decline in the fifties.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is TRUE about...

Question 2

The slowdown in learning new information has been linked to changes in _____,where individuals manipulate and assemble information when making decisions,solving problems,and comprehending written and spoken language.
A) working memory
B) brain circuitry
C) episodic memory
D) neural network

Accepted Answer

Working memory is the cognitive system responsible for temporarily holding and manipulating information in the mind. It plays an important role in decision-making, problem-solving, and language comprehension. As we age, our working memory capacity tends to decline, which can result in a slowdown in learning new information. Brain circuitry, episodic memory, and neural network are all related to cognitive functioning, but they are not directly responsible for manipulating and assembling information in the same way that working memory is.

Question 3

Religiousness has been associated with all of the following EXCEPT:
A) a lower rate of depression.
B) a lower rate of hypertension.
C) a lower risk of cancer.
D) longevity.

Accepted Answer

While religiousness has been found to be associated with lower rates of depression, hypertension, and increased longevity, there is little evidence to suggest a direct link to a lower risk of cancer.

Question 4

Which of the following is the finding of the longitudinal and cross-sectional assessment of intellectual abilities conducted by Schaie?
A) Decline in intellectual abilities was more likely in the cross-sectional assessments than in the longitudinal assessments.
B) When assessed longitudinally,inductive reasoning showed a consistent decline in the middle adulthood years.
C) When assessed cross-sectionally,inductive reasoning increased until toward the end of middle adulthood.
D) People reach a peak in their cognitive functioning for many intellectual skills in early adulthood.

Accepted Answer

Cross-sectional assessments tend to show a decline in intellectual abilities due to comparing different age groups at one point in time, which can reflect generational differences in education and experiences rather than actual cognitive decline. Longitudinal assessments, which follow the same individuals over time, often show less decline, indicating that intellectual abilities may remain stable or even improve for some individuals as they age.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about spirituality is TRUE?
A) Only a small minority of U.S.adults consider themselves to be religious.
B) Most US middle-aged adults do not consider spirituality a major part of their lives.
C) There is no evidence of changes in spirituality and religiousness in people as they age.
D) Women have consistently shown a stronger interest in religion and spirituality than men have.

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that women tend to have a stronger interest in religion and spirituality than men do, making option D the correct statement. Options A and B are incorrect as research shows that a majority of US adults consider themselves to be religious or spiritual in some way, and spirituality can be a significant part of many adults' lives, regardless of age. Option C is incorrect as there is evidence to suggest that people may experience changes in spirituality and religiousness throughout their lives.

Question 6

What is the notable finding of Schaie's assessment of intellectual abilities of parents and their children?
A) The second generation scored higher on numerical abilities.
B) The second generation showed higher levels of cognitive functioning in inductive reasoning.
C) The offspring generation showed cognitive decline from 60 to 67 years of age.
D) The parent generation showed modest increase in cognitive functioning from 60 to 67 years of age.

Accepted Answer

Schaie's assessment found that the second generation showed higher levels of cognitive functioning in inductive reasoning compared to their parents. There was no notable finding regarding numerical abilities or cognitive decline. The parent generation showed modest increase in cognitive functioning from 60 to 67 years of age, but this was not the most significant finding.

Question 7

Which of the following is one of the reasons why many middle-aged workers are delaying their retirement plans?
A) The increase of retirement age to 75 years
B) The increasing opportunity for middle-aged professionals
C) The increased productive health owing to medical advances
D) The decline in defined-benefit pensions

Accepted Answer

The decline in defined-benefit pensions is one of the main reasons why many middle-aged workers are delaying their retirement plans. With fewer employers offering these traditional pension plans, workers are forced to save more for their retirement, which often delays their plans to retire.

Question 8

Which of the following strategies would be most helpful in improving memory in middle age?
A) Avoid using vivid imagery to keep from becoming distracted.
B) Use a recall rather than recognition strategy whenever possible.
C) Use an organization strategy to categorize information to be remembered.
D) Avoid using the information to be remembered so that it does not become confused with other information.

Accepted Answer

Using an organization strategy to categorize information to be remembered is most helpful in improving memory in middle age. This can help reduce the amount of information that needs to be remembered and make it easier to retrieve later. Avoiding vivid imagery and not using the information to be remembered are not effective strategies for improving memory. While using a recall strategy can be helpful, it may not always be possible in every situation.

Question 9

In the United States,approximately _____ of individuals 40 to 59 years of age are employed.
A) 30 percent
B) 50 percent
C) 65 percent
D) 80 percent

Accepted Answer

Approximately 80 percent of individuals aged 40 to 59 in the United States are employed, reflecting a high employment rate in this age group.

Question 10

What percentage of Americans considers themselves to be religious?
A) Between 35 and 40 percent
B) Not more than 55 percent
C) More than 70 percent
D) Almost 60 percent

Accepted Answer

According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2019, about 65% of American adults describe themselves as religious, which includes those who say they are Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, or belonging to any other faith tradition. In addition to these self-identified religious adults, another 18% of Americans identify as spiritual but not religious, bringing the total percentage of Americans who consider themselves to be either religious or spiritual to over 80%.

Question 11

According to Salthouse,a recent analysis of research found:
A) no evidence for significant changes in everyday cognition from 20 to 75 years of age.
B) that everyday cognition continued to increase from 20 to 75 years of age.
C) evidence of significant decline in everyday cognition from 20 to 75 years of age.
D) that everyday cognition peaked in the twenties and then declined.

Accepted Answer

Salthouse's analysis found no evidence for significant changes in everyday cognition from 20 to 75 years of age.

Question 12

Which of the following is one of the outcomes of the restructuring,downsizing,and outsourcing resulting from globalization?
A) Offering incentives to middle-aged employees to retire early
B) Encouraging middle-aged professionals to take up entrepreneurship
C) Offering incentives to young professionals to outperform middle-aged employees
D) Hiring more middle-aged professionals to supervisory and managerial positions

Accepted Answer

One of the outcomes of globalization and restructuring is that companies often offer incentives, such as early retirement packages, to middle-aged employees in order to reduce their workforce and cut costs. This is because older employees typically have higher salaries and benefits than younger employees, and letting them go can save money for the company.

Question 13

According to Denise Park,much of the blame for declining memory in late middle age is a result of:
A) neuroanatomical changes during late middle age.
B) decreased blood supply to various parts of the brain.
C) physiological and cognitive atrophy during late middle age.
D) information overload that builds up over the adult years.

Accepted Answer

Denise Park suggests that declining memory in late middle age is largely due to information overload that accumulates over the adult years, rather than physiological changes or atrophy.

Question 14

In a longitudinal study of individuals from their early thirties through their late sixties/early seventies showed that:
A) a significant increase in spirituality occurred between late middle and late adulthood.
B) spirituality peaked in late middle adulthood.
C) there was no significant change in spirituality from late middle to late adulthood.
D) a dramatic decrease in spirituality occurred between late middle and late adulthood.

Accepted Answer

The statement "a significant increase in spirituality occurred between late middle and late adulthood" suggests that there was a noticeable change in spirituality in this age range, indicating that spirituality did not remain stagnant or decrease during this time. This aligns with the findings of the longitudinal study.

Question 15

According to cognitive aging expert Denise Park,the slowdown in learning new information has been linked to changes in:
A) dopamine levels.
B) working memory.
C) cognitive atrophy.
D) neurotransmitter dysfunctions.

Accepted Answer

Working memory refers to the ability to hold and manipulate information in one's mind over a short period of time. As we age, working memory capacity tends to decrease, making it more challenging to learn new information. Changes in dopamine levels and neurotransmitter dysfunctions can also occur with aging, but they are not specifically linked to the slowdown in learning new information. Cognitive atrophy, which refers to the loss of brain tissue and function, can contribute to age-related cognitive decline, including difficulties in learning new information, but is not specifically the cause.

Question 16

Which of the following statements is TRUE about work in midlife?
A) There are always huge differences in the work performance of young adults and middle-aged adults.
B) Age related declines occur in some occupations such as air traffic controllers and professional athletes.
C) There is usually little emphasis on work during middle adulthood regardless of the work being full-time,part-time or volunteer work.
D) The peak of work performance is usually reached in early adulthood and hence the percentage of people working during middle adulthood is the lowest.

Accepted Answer

Age-related declines do occur in some occupations, such as air traffic controllers and professional athletes, indicating that work performance may be affected by age in some cases. The other statements are either inaccurate or do not reflect the reality of work in midlife.

Question 17

An adult in middle age will be most likely to do POORLY on which of the following tasks?
A) Understanding verbal directions
B) Completing a crossword puzzle
C) Hitting the brakes of a car when the light suddenly turns red
D) Lifting a box that weighs 20 pounds

Accepted Answer

As individuals age, their reaction time and processing speed tend to decline. Therefore, hitting the brakes of a car when the light suddenly turns red can be challenging for an adult in middle age.

Question 18

Which of the following is a common way to assess speed of information processing?
A) Reaction-time task
B) Phonic simulation
C) Visual perception test
D) Neuropsychological test

Accepted Answer

A reaction-time task is a common way to assess the speed of information processing. In this task, the participant is presented with a stimulus and must respond as quickly as possible, usually by pressing a button or making a verbal response. The time it takes for the participant to respond is measured and used as an indicator of the speed of processing.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about novices and experts is TRUE?
A) Novices are more creative in solving problems than experts.
B) Novices are more flexible in solving problems than experts.
C) Experts avoid the use of strategies and shortcuts when solving problems.
D) Experts process information more automatically than novices.

Accepted Answer

Experts process information more automatically than novices. This is due to the fact that experts have a vast amount of knowledge and experience within their domain, allowing them to quickly recognize patterns and make connections without having to consciously think about each step. Novices, on the other hand, may struggle with the same task and rely more on deliberate processing. Therefore, statement D is the only true statement about novices and experts. A, B, and C are false.

Question 20

In Schaie's Seattle Longitudinal Study,verbal memory peaked in the:
A) twenties.
B) thirties.
C) sixties.
D) fifties.

Accepted Answer

The Seattle Longitudinal Study found that verbal memory typically peaks in the fifties.

Quiz 15: Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood

Which of the following is TRUE about research by Schaie and Salthouse?

The slowdown in learning new information has been linked to changes in _____,where individuals manipulate and assemble information when making decisions,solving problems,and comprehending written and spoken language.

Religiousness has been associated with all of the following EXCEPT:

Which of the following is the finding of the longitudinal and cross-sectional assessment of intellectual abilities conducted by Schaie?

Which of the following statements about spirituality is TRUE?

What is the notable finding of Schaie's assessment of intellectual abilities of parents and their children?

Which of the following is one of the reasons why many middle-aged workers are delaying their retirement plans?

Which of the following strategies would be most helpful in improving memory in middle age?

In the United States,approximately _____ of individuals 40 to 59 years of age are employed.

What percentage of Americans considers themselves to be religious?

According to Salthouse,a recent analysis of research found:

Which of the following is one of the outcomes of the restructuring,downsizing,and outsourcing resulting from globalization?

According to Denise Park,much of the blame for declining memory in late middle age is a result of:

In a longitudinal study of individuals from their early thirties through their late sixties/early seventies showed that:

According to cognitive aging expert Denise Park,the slowdown in learning new information has been linked to changes in:

Which of the following statements is TRUE about work in midlife?

An adult in middle age will be most likely to do POORLY on which of the following tasks?

Which of the following is a common way to assess speed of information processing?

Which of the following statements about novices and experts is TRUE?

In Schaie's Seattle Longitudinal Study,verbal memory peaked in the: