Deck 5: Infancy: Physical Development

Question 1

Which of the following statements supports the role of nature in perceptual development?

A)Neonates are born with a variety of sensory preferences.
B)Neonates are born with visual-motor coordination skills.
C)Four-month-olds cannot distinguish between their mother's and father's voices.
D)Sensory changes, unlike motor changes, appear to be linked to maturation of the nervous system.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Dennis is four months old. He holds his toys between his fingers and palm when he plays with them. He does not use his thumb even after his mother shows him how to hold something the right way. This is an example of _____.

A)an ulnar grasp
B)canalization
C)a pincer grasp
D)habituation

Answer 2

A

Question 3

According to S. P. Johnson (2011) and Slater et al. (2010), the most dramatic gains in visual acuity are made:

A)between the teenage years and adulthood.
B)during puberty.
C)between birth and six months of age.
D)in the fetal stage.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

People often get accustomed to a loud or irritating noise after being exposed to it for a considerable amount of time. This best exemplifies _____.

A)habituation
B)canalization
C)assimilation
D)generalization

Question 5

In a classic study on depth perception, Gibson and Walk placed infants of various ages on a fabric-covered runway that ran across the center of a clever device called a visual cliff. In the study, _____.

A)girls refused to cross the visual cliff but boys crossed it
B)boys crossed the visual cliff faster than girls
C)infants crossed the cliff when their mothers encouraged them to do so
D)eight out of ten crawling infants refused to cross the seemingly unsupported surface of the visual cliff

Question 6

Myelin allows electrical messages to be conducted efficiently in the nervous system.

Question 7

It is important to completely restrict infants' intake of fat and cholesterol.

Question 8

When one-month-old neonates are given the opportunity to look at human faces, they tend to pay most attention to the edges.

Question 9

Infants with failure to thrive (FTT) are more likely to be described as voracious eaters.

Question 10

Which of the following statements is true of the medulla?

A)Many nerves that connect the spinal cord to higher levels of the brain pass through the medulla.
B)The medulla lies above the cerebellum.
C)It is primarily responsible for controlling motor behavior in humans.
D)It is primarily responsible for controlling temperature changes in the human body.

Question 11

A child's growth can be slowed from its genetically predetermined course by many organic factors. This phenomenon is referred to as canalization.

Question 12

The medulla refers to an area in the front part of the brain and is responsible for higher-level thinking and memory.

Question 13

Jason had placed a record player next to his seven-month-old son's crib that played a lullaby as soon as his son cried. The lullaby had a calming effect on the infant and put him back to sleep. As time passed, the lullaby failed to put the baby to sleep. The scenario is an example of _____.

A)habituation
B)canalization
C)assimilation
D)generalization

Question 14

The first major growth spurt of the brain occurs during the fourth and fifth months after birth.

Question 15

Neonates have highly developed peripheral vision.

Question 16

Which of the following is true of the diet for infants?

A)Infants usually have a preference for those foods they need the most.
B)Infants do not require fiber in their diet after the introduction of solid foods.
C)In an infant's diet, high-iron foods should be restricted.
D)In an infant's diet, fat and cholesterol should not be restricted too much.

Question 17

Unlike physical development, motor development does not follow cephalocaudal and proximodistal patterns.

Question 18

An individual develops intellectual disability because of a disorder called phenylketonuria. Which of the following occurrences is a cause of the intellectual disability in the individual?

A)The replacement of myelin by hard, fibrous tissue in the individual's neurons
B)The inhibition of normal myelin development in the individual's brain
C)Insulation of the neurons by myelin
D)Myelination of the prefrontal matter of the individual's brain

Question 19

Voluntary reaching and grasping are not present at birth because these actions require:

A)visual-motor coordination.
B)the development of abstract reasoning.
C)habituation.
D)neonates to direct their attention to the edges of objects.

Question 20

__________can be up to several feet in length if it is carrying messages from the toes to the spine.

A)A neurotransmitter
B)An axon
C)A dendrite
D)The amygdala

Question 21

__________transmits impulses to other neurons.

A)A myelin sheath
B)An axon
C)A dendrite
D)The amygdala

Question 22

Which of the following is true of an infant's brain?

A)At birth, an infant's brain is fully developed.
B)An infant's brain reaches nearly 70 percent of its adult weight by the age of one year.
C)An infant's brain is not myelinated at birth.
D)Infants have lesser connections among neurons than adults do.

Question 23

Most infants can remain in a standing position by holding on to something by the age of__________.

A)one or two months
B)eight or nine months
C)two or three months
D)three or four months

Question 24

Which of the following is true of the cerebellum?

A)It is located above the medulla.
B)It becomes increasingly wrinkled as a child develops.
C)It controls basic functions, such as heartbeat and respiration.
D)It is only one-eighth of a centimeter in length.

Question 25

In the context of the development of hearing, which of the following is true?

A)Neonates can crudely orient their heads in the direction of a sound.
B)By nine months of age, the accuracy of the sound-localizing ability of infants approaches that of adults.
C)Till the age of three months, babies are unable to distinguish between speech sounds that are highly similar.
D)Infants can discriminate the sounds of their parent's voices by one month of age.

Question 26

An adult's arms are nearly:

A)three times the length of the head.
B)five times the length of the head.
C)four times the length of the head.
D)six times the length of the head.

Question 27

Baby Bonita is eight months old. Which of the following motor activities is she most likely to be involved in?

A)Walking
B)Crawling
C)Standing up without support
D)Running

Question 28

If a neonate's finger is pricked or burned, he or she may withdraw the finger and also thrash about, cry, and show general signs of distress. If a toddler's finger is pricked or burned, he or she shows distress and withdraws the finger, but is less likely to thrash about wildly. This scenario best exemplifies _____.

A)the Babinski reflex
B)an instance of regression
C)the Moro reflex
D)an instance of differentiation

Question 29

Which of the following is a central feature of failure to thrive?

A)The presence of a third copy of chromosome 21
B)The complete absence of rapid eye movement sleep
C)Feeding problem
D)Excessive growth due to hormonal imbalance

Question 30

Samantha, a three-year-old girl, showed stunted growth. She weighed only 22 pounds and was much shorter than most of her peers six months ago. She was treated for failure to thrive. She is now returning to her normal growth rate, and her weight is showing an increase. Which of the following phenomena does this scenario represent?

A)Canalization
B)Myelination
C)Differentiation
D)Habituation

Question 31

In the context of neurons, which of the following is a function of the myelin sheath?

A)It facilitates the entry of electrically charged atoms in the fluids that encase the nervous system into the neurons.
B)It prevents electrical messages from traveling down an axon.
C)It facilitates the creation of neurotransmitters.
D)It minimizes leakage of the electric current being carried along an axon.

Question 32

Which of the following statements is true of growth patterns in boys?

A)Boys reach about half their adult height by two years of age.
B)Boys reach about one-third their adult height by five years of age.
C)Boys reach about one-fourth their adult height by four years of age.
D)Boys reach about one-tenth their adult height by three years of age.

Question 33

Max, a two-year-old boy, suffered from jaundice for three months. During this period, he lost five pounds and his physical growth was not normal. After he recovered from his illness, he gained eight pounds and grew by two inches. Max's growth after his recovery from jaundice can be described as _____.

A)canalization
B)myelination
C)differentiation
D)habituation

Question 34

Breakdown of myelin is believed to be associated with _____, a source of cognitive decline that begins later in life.

A)multiple sclerosis
B)Alzheimer's disease
C)autism
D)Down syndrome

Question 35

Myelination of motor pathways:

A)increases the speed at which an infant can process cognitive information.
B)begins during the fifth month of pregnancy and continues till birth.
C)results in poorly coordinated motor movements.
D)allows neonates to show stereotyped reflexes.

Question 36

In the context of the ability of neonates to lift and hold their torsos and heads, which of the following is true?

A)They generally manage to hold their heads quite well; hence, supporting the head is not necessary.
B)They cannot move their heads on their own.
C)They can move their heads slightly to the side.
D)They can lift their heads and torsos for short periods of time when on their stomachs.

Question 37

Physical development is similar to motor development in that:

A)the latter follows cephalocaudal and proximodistal patterns and differentiation.
B)the latter begins after the neonatal stage.
C)the latter occurs independent of other factors such as environment or nutrition.
D)the latter follows the same patterns as sensory and perceptual development.

Question 38

Infants can hold objects in each hand and inspect them in turn by the age of _____.

A)two months
B)eleven months
C)four days
D)three weeks

Question 39

Identify a true statement about infant growth during the second year after birth?

A)All infants grow about seven to nine inches taller during this time.
B)The growth rates of shorter-than-average infants tend to speed up during this time.
C)The growth of taller-than-average infants continues to speed up during this time.
D)Boys mature more quickly than girls during this time.

Question 40

Which of the following statements is true of growth patterns in girls?

A)Girls reach about half their adult height by the age of 10 months.
B)Girls reach about half their adult height by the age of 18 months.
C)Girls reach about one-fourth their adult height by three years of age.
D)Girls reach about one-tenth their adult height by six years of age.

Question 41

In the context of introducing solid foods to an infant, which of the following is recommended?

A)Solid foods should not be introduced until about 12 to 15 months of age.
B)Solid foods should be introduced only when an infant is two to three years of age.
C)Solid foods should be given to an infant from birth.
D)Solid foods should not be introduced until about four to six months of age.

Question 42

Which of the following is true of the growth spurts of the brain?

A)The first major growth spurt of the brain occurs during the fourth and fifth months of prenatal development.
B)The first major growth spurt of the brain occurs between the 25th week of prenatal development and the end of the second year after birth.
C)The first growth spurt of the brain is due primarily to the proliferation of dendrites and axon terminals.
D)The second growth spurt of the brain is due to the formation of neurons.

Question 43

Infants' brains are different from adults' brains in that infants' brains:

A)have more connections among neurons than adults' brains do.
B)comprise a significantly smaller percentage of the body size.
C)completely comprise non-myelinated neurons.
D)have around 300 billion neurons.

Question 44

__________is a disorder in which hard fibrous tissue replaces myelin, impeding neural transmission.

A)Autism
B)Multiple sclerosis
C)Down syndrome
D)Phenylketonuria

Question 45

Which of the following is an example of shape constancy?

A)Recognizing that a door is a rectangle whether closed or ajar
B)Perceiving a ruler to be 12 inches long whether it is two feet or six feet away
C)Being able to see someone by means of peripheral vision
D)Scanning a human face from the edges inward

Question 46

Most infants can walk by themselves by the age of__________.

A)5 to 7 months
B)8 to 9 months
C)12 to 15 months
D)4 to 6 months

Question 47

Baby Marla's brain cannot control her heartbeat and respiration. Which part of her brain is most likely damaged?

A)The medulla
B)The cerebellum
C)The cerebrum
D)The hypothalamus

Question 48

Which of the following is true of locomotive development in infants?

A)Most infants begin to crawl at about six months.
B)Crawling appears a month or so after creeping.
C)By about seven months, infants usually begin to sit up by themselves.
D)Most infants can remain in a standing position by holding on to something at the age of five months.

Question 49

Which of the following is a similarity between sensory changes and motor changes in infants?

A)Both are fully developed at the time of birth.
B)Both are passive modes of development.
C)Both are linked to the maturation of the nervous system.
D)Both can be achieved without sensory stimulation.

Question 50

Infants can transfer objects back and forth between hands by the age of _____.

A)one to two months
B)four to six months
C)three to four days
D)two to three weeks

Question 51

Which of the following is true of infants' ability to differentiate sounds?

A)Infants are born with the ability to ignore small, meaningless variations in the sounds of their native language.
B)Infants can discriminate the sounds of their parent's voices by 3½ months of age.
C)By the age of one week, infants perceive differences between speech sounds that are highly similar.
D)By the age of one month, infants reliably discriminate three-syllable words.

Question 52

Which of the following is true of myelination?

A)It is complete at birth.
B)Myelination of the brain's prefrontal matter is completed during neonatal development.
C)The breakdown of myelin generally occurs in the first decade of life.
D)It is part of the maturation process that leads to the abilities to crawl and walk during the first year after birth.

Question 53

Which of the following statements is true about cephalocaudal development?

A)Infants gain control over their lower legs, feet, and toes before gaining control over their hips and arms.
B)The spinal cord develops more rapidly than the brain.
C)Leg buds form before arm buds.
D)Infants can sit up before they can crawl and walk.

Question 54

Which of the following is a guideline for infant nutrition from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2011?

A)Completely restrict the intake of fat.
B)Introduce new foods one at a time.
C)Completely restrict the intake of cholesterol.
D)Avoid high-iron foods.

Question 55

Samson is a seven-year-old boy. He always gets poor grades in school. His language teacher complains that he does not remember anything that she teaches and he speaks in an incoherent manner. If Samson's condition is caused by brain damage, which part of the brain is his physician most likely to check first?

A)The cerebellum
B)The medulla
C)The cerebrum
D)The auditory cortex

Question 56

Maggie, an infant, is holding a toy clumsily, using only her fingers and palm. This is an example of _____.

A)a pincer grasp
B)canalization
C)an ulnar grasp
D)habituation

Question 57

The introduction of whole cow's milk to an infant:

A)should be delayed until the infant is nine to twelve months old.
B)should be delayed until the infant is two to three years old.
C)is recommended from the time of birth of the infant.
D)is recommended by about four to six months of age.

Question 58

The__________principle relates to the fact that growth in infants proceeds from the trunk outward, from the body's central axis toward the periphery.

A)integration
B)differentiation
C)cephalocaudal
D)proximodistal

Question 59

Which of the following statements is true of dendrites?

A)They extend trunk-like from the cell body in a neuron.
B)They are short fibers that constitute neurons.
C)They account for much of the difference in length in neurons.
D)They become shorter as a child develops.

Question 60

Juan, a three-year-old baby, fell from his bed and ever since has had poor limb, and eye control. He also finds it difficult to hold his toys. Which part of Juan's brain is most likely to be damaged?

A)The medulla
B)The cerebellum
C)The cerebrum
D)The hypothalamus

Question 61

List some guidelines for infant nutrition set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2011.

Question 62

Define perceptual constancy. Briefly explain size constancy and shape constancy in infants.

Question 63

Discuss the changes that take place when an infant becomes a toddler.

Question 64

Toddlers begin to run with their legs in a bowlegged fashion because:

A)they lack the Babinski reflex.
B)this action requires visual-motor coordination, which is absent in toddlers.
C)the head and the torso are heavier than the rest of the body.
D)the principle of cephalocaudal development prevents them from running.

Question 65

Discuss the visual preferences of neonates.

Question 66

Elsa is a one-year-old infant. Her mother notices that while playing in the garden, Elsa often picks up tiny insects and worms by making a tight fist. A few months before, she had only been able to pat the insects and not pick them up as they were so tiny. This is an example of _____.

A)a pincer grasp
B)canalization
C)an ulnar grasp
D)habituation

Question 67

Discuss the development of hearing in neonates.

Question 68

Briefly explain proximodistal development in infants.

Question 69

The high _____ of a myelin sheath insulates a neuron from electrically charged atoms in the fluids that encase the nervous system.

A)fat content
B)protein content
C)carbohydrate content
D)fiber content

Question 70

Which of the following is true of neurons?

A)A neonate has lesser neurons than an adult.
B)A neonate's spinal cord contains more neurons than the brain.
C)As a child matures, axons in neurons shorten.
D)Infants are born with about 100 billion neurons, most of which are in the brain.

Question 71

Raymond, a one-year-old infant, loves playing with his rattle. He holds it in his hand by making a tight fist and shakes it vigorously. This is an example of _____.

A)a pincer grasp
B)canalization
C)an ulnar grasp
D)habituation

Question 72

In the context of development, discuss the adaptability of the human brain.

Question 73

Briefly describe myelination.

Question 74

Billy is a four-year-old boy. He has trouble walking and running like other children his age, and he sleeps through most of the day. He is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Billy's condition is the result of _____.

A)the abnormal lengths of the axons
B)a disruption in his myelin sheaths
C)the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21
D)a disruption in his rapid eye movement sleep

Question 75

__________is demonstrated by the fact that infants can hold up their heads before they gain control over their torsos, their arms, and, finally, their legs.

A)Habituation
B)Canalization
C)Cephalocaudal development
D)Proximodistal development

Question 76

Briefly explain the sequence of motor development in infancy.

Question 77

Isabel is a 5-month-old girl. She has not gained any weight in the last month. She feeds and sleeps irregularly. She also cries frequently and becomes irritable whenever her mother picks her up. Isabel is most likely to be diagnosed with _____.

A)multiple sclerosis
B)Alzheimer's disease
C)failure to thrive syndrome
D)Down syndrome

Question 78

Among neonates, the arms:

A)are longer than the legs.
B)are shorter than the legs.
C)are about the same length as the legs.
D)develop more slowly than the legs after the first birthday due to cephalocaudal development.

Question 79

As children mature, their behaviors become less loose and global, and more specific and distinct, a tendency called__________.

A)integration
B)differentiation
C)habituation
D)canalization

Question 80

Briefly explain cephalocaudal development in neonates.