Deck 11: Middle Adulthood

Question 1

For most men of European descent, hair turning grey begins in ____, but by ____ most people have turned mostly or all grey.

A) the late teens; young adulthood
B) young adulthood; middle adulthood
C) the late teens; middle adulthood
D) middle adulthood; late adulthood

Answer 1

B

Question 2

There are two types of receptors of the eye. Rods are ____ receptors and cones are ____ receptors.

A) light; colour
B) colour; light
C) monocular-depth-cue; binocular-depth-cue
D) binocular-depth-cue; monocular-depth-cue

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Your father, who is a high school English teacher, is having some difficulty reading. This is causing him considerable frustration. He has a pair of reading glasses, but loses them constantly because he is not really used to needing glasses. What is something that you could suggest to him that might be helpful? What type of surgery could he have?

A) Monovision correction
B) Cataracts
C) Binocular adjustment procedure
D) Retinal replacement

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The changes that occur in vision during middle adulthood make it necessary that most adults ____.

A) take the visual test each time they renew their licences
B) get reading glasses
C) never drive at night
D) watch movies and television on large-screen television sets

Question 5

What enlarges and becomes less flexible and less transparent, making it more difficult to perceive images in sharp focus and to see in dim light?

A) Retina
B) Iris
C) Cornea
D) Lens

Question 6

What is a surgical technique that can be used to help those who have difficulties with distance vision?

A) Lens ablation
B) Retinal surgery
C) Mono-chromal adjustment
D) Lasik

Question 7

During what developmental period are individuals most likely to notice that it is more difficult to perceive images in sharp focus and to see in dim light?

A) Late teens
B) Young adulthood
C) Middle adulthood
D) Late adulthood

Question 8

Lasik is a type of surgery that corrects ____.

A) visual problems
B) auditory problems
C) tactile problems
D) olfactory problems

Question 9

Which of the following best explains why visual acuity declines during middle age?

A) The lens of the eye enlarges and becomes less flexible and less transparent.
B) The occipital lobe, the area of the brain that controls vision, becomes less efficient.
C) The retina of the eye becomes less pliable and malleable, therefore affecting acuity.
D) The phenomenon known as binocular vision becomes less efficient and slowly disappears.

Question 10

What continues to increase in prevalence partly due to a biological tendency toward increasing body fat and losing muscle mass in middle adulthood?

A) Obesity
B) Joint problems
C) Athletic injuries
D) Hair loss

Question 11

You have noticed that whenever you and your mother are at a bookstore, she needs to hold the book that she is reading about an arm's length away from her face. Is she just trying to embarrass you?

A) Yes, middle adults have really good vision.
B) No, she needs to get reading glasses.
C) No, she probably has macular degeneration and needs to see an ophthalmologist.
D) Yes, although there are minor visual changes, she is obviously just playing them up.

Question 12

During middle adulthood, which of the following is more likely to experience hair thinning and baldness?

A) A male of European descent
B) A female of European descent
C) A male of Asian descent
D) A female of Asian descent

Question 13

During middle adulthood, the number of rods and cones of the retina decline dramatically. By age 60, an individual has lost about ____ of their rods and cones.

A) one-third
B) one-quarter
C) one-half
D) two-thirds

Question 14

By age 60, the rod and cone receptors diminish by what percentage?

A) 10%
B) 30%
C) 50%
D) 70%

Question 15

During what period of adulthood does vision and hearing both decline, although the decline is greater for ____?

A) young adulthood; vision
B) young adulthood; hearing
C) middle age; vision
D) middle age; hearing

Question 16

Which the following best describes the number of people who need glasses for reading by age 60?

A) A small handful of people
B) A few
C) About half of people
D) Most people

Question 17

A few years ago Robert noticed a few grey hairs. A little frustrated, he was able to isolate and pluck them out one by one; however, recently his grey hairs have become overwhelming in number and he has more grey hairs than brunette. Which of the following best describes the development of time period Robert is in?

A) Emerging adulthood
B) Young adulthood
C) Middle adulthood
D) Late adulthood

Question 18

During Lasik monovision correction, one eye is corrected for near vision and one eye is corrected for distance vision. It is possible for an individual to see both near and far away because ___________.

A) the brain automatically figures out which eye to rely on most, depending on whether near vision would distance vision is necessary
B) human beings only rely on one eye at any given time, a phenomenon known as monocular vision
C) binocular vision is seldom used and human beings rely on one eye, his or her dominant eye, the majority of the time
D) of the photoreceptors-cones are located in the left eye and rods are located in the right eye and it is these photoreceptors that help to determine distance

Question 19

During middle adulthood, which of the following best explains why skin begins to wrinkle and becomes saggy?

A) Skin begins to lose its fat content and the three layers of skin begin to adhere to each other less firmly.
B) The body retains less water; therefore, skin begins to wrinkle and becomes less pliable.
C) White blood cells begin to decrease in number and skin cells are indirectly affected.
D) The nuclei of skin cells begin to shrink, which in turn affects skin elasticity.

Question 20

In midlife, many individuals require special glasses to correct visual difficulties while they read. What type of surgery can be performed to assist with visual difficulty that eliminates the need for reading glasses?

A) Cataract surgery
B) Lasik surgery
C) Glaucoma surgery
D) Botox surgery

Question 21

Why do tribal Africans in middle adulthood show less decline in hearing than people in developed countries do?

A) They are exposed to less noise in their daily lives.
B) They must make loud noises to keep away predators, so they are used to loud noise.
C) They are genetically better at hearing.
D) Their diets have been shown to support hearing.

Question 22

What is the term that is used to describe the end of monthly ovulation and menstruation?

A) Menopause
B) Climacteric
C) Infertility
D) Ovarian blockage

Question 23

Why are men more likely to experience great hearing loss than women in middle adulthood? They are more likely to ____.

A) listen to very loud music, which causes damage to the inner ear
B) be employed in places where there would be chronic exposure to loud noises
C) smoke, which causes irreversible harm to the outer and middle ear
D) not spend as much time trying to listen to what other people are saying

Question 24

What happens to the eardrum and other structures of the inner ear during middle adulthood? They become ____.

A) less flexible and more sensitive to sound
B) less flexible and less sensitive to sound
C) more flexible and less sensitive to sound
D) basically unchanged during this time

Question 25

At what age does menopause usually occur?

A) Between 20 and 30 years of age
B) Between 30 and 40 years of age
C) Between 40 and 50 years of age
D) Between 50 and 60 years of age

Question 26

What is the time preceding menopause known as?

A) Premenopause
B) Perimenopause
C) Pseudomenopause
D) Postmenopause

Question 27

Hearing declines in midlife for about 13% of adults in developed countries, especially for ____.

A) speech sounds
B) low-pitched sounds
C) high-pitched sounds
D) bone-conducted sounds

Question 28

Which of the following best describes the phenomenon known as menopause?

A) The end of monthly ovulation and menstruation
B) The first menstrual period; the establishment of menstruation
C) The first male climax and the releasing of sperm
D) The end of sperm production and fertility

Question 29

What is the term used to indicate the end of monthly ovulation and menstruation?

A) Menstruation
B) Menstrual cycle
C) Menopause
D) Menarche

Question 30

Menopause tends to occur earlier among women if they ____.

A) Abuse alcohol
B) Smoke
C) Are obese
D) Live in poverty

Question 31

Your mother has been experiencing some of the symptoms of menopause and has been asking her mother about her own experiences with menopause, specifically, when it stopped. Although you are a woman who is still in her early 20s, why is this information important for you and your mother alike?

A) Just for information
B) The beginning and end of menopause is influenced by genetics.
C) The end of menopause has a lot to do with generational attitudes.
D) Menopause is completely different for each person and there is no genetic or environmental influence.

Question 32

One of the most important physical changes of midlife occurs in the reproductive system. What is the term used to indicate a decline in fertility?

A) Cacography
B) Cochlea
C) Climatology
D) Climacteric

Question 33

When you were in high school, your friends had 'mosquito' ring tones on their cell phones. Mosquito tones are very high-pitched (17 kHz) tones. What did your 45-year-old teachers think of it?

A) Some of the teachers thought that there was an invasion of mosquitoes at your school.
B) Most of the time the ring tones were very quiet and the teachers seemed to like them.
C) They found the high-pitched noise to be very irritating.
D) Most never heard it.

Question 34

Which of the following is a neurological explanation of why auditory acuity declines during midlife?

A) The eardrum and other structures in the inner ear become less flexible.
B) The auditory cortex in the brain becomes less efficient in processing information from the inner ear.
C) The cilia in the inner ear begin to thin, making it more difficult to hear.
D) The pinna and external auditory canal become less flexible and pliable, therefore making it more difficult to capture environmental sounds.

Question 35

At what age do men stop producing sperm?

A) 50 years
B) 60 years
C) 70 years
D) Never

Question 36

What describes the most important physical changes of midlife in terms of the reproductive system as fertility declines in males and females?

A) Menopause
B) Climacteric
C) Infertility
D) Erectile dysfunction

Question 37

The tiny hairs in the inner ear that transmit sounds to the brain and make it possible for an individual to hear are known as ____.

A) cilia
B) malleus
C) eardrum
D) incus

Question 38

Your mother has exercised regularly throughout her entire life. She is very fit, and she has never smoked. Relative to most women, when is menopause likely to occur for her?

A) It will occur earlier than most women.
B) Exercise has no effect on menopause.
C) It will occur later than most women.
D) Women who exercise generally do not menstruate.

Question 39

Which of the following is an environmental cause for decreased auditory acuity during middle adulthood?

A) The eardrum and other structures in the inner ear become less flexible.
B) In the brain, the auditory cortex becomes less efficient in processing information from the inner ear.
C) The cilia in the inner ear begin to thin, making it more difficult to hear.
D) Having a history of working within a factory or a job that exposes a person to chronically loud noises.

Question 40

What are the tiny hairs in the inner ear known as?

A) Tympanic hairs
B) Incus, stapes and malleus
C) Cilia
D) Hearing hairs

Question 41

Which of the following is a known factor that contributes to an earlier onset of menopause?

A) An increase in oestrogen
B) Having never given birth
C) Regular exercise
D) A decrease in testosterone

Question 42

Approximately what percentage of women experience symptoms of menopause extreme enough to cause severe distress?

A) 5%
B) 10%
C) 15%
D) 20%

Question 43

All women experience _____ and the end of menstruation (menopause), but women vary widely in how they experience the ____.

A) spiritual decline, physiological and psychological effects
B) emotional decline; physiological and social effects
C) cognitive decline; social and psychological effects
D) hormonal declines; physiological and psychological effects

Question 44

Generally speaking, how do women across cultures view menopause?

A) Fear, it in that it signifies the end of reproduction
B) Generally welcome the end of their reproductive years
C) Dislike it, in that they feel less attractive
D) Are typically completely ambivalent

Question 45

Women from what world region have the highest rate of hot flushes at 80%?

A) Africa
B) Japan
C) United States
D) India

Question 46

Your aunt is beginning menopause and was discussing her feelings about it with you. She was wondering if you knew of anything 'natural' that might help relieve her symptoms. What is one thing that might help?

A) Taking daily naps in the afternoon
B) Drinking large amounts of caffeine
C) Eating soybean-based foods
D) Living in a very warm climate

Question 47

What is a very common symptom of menopause?

A) Cravings for carbohydrates
B) Sleeping constantly
C) Hot flushes
D) Rashes

Question 48

Sichhun is a 50-year-old female whose hormone levels have dropped. Her menstrual cycle has ceased and she has begun to experience hot flushes, headaches, dizziness and heart palpitations on a frequent basis. Which of the following best explains Sichhun's condition?

A) Menopause
B) Jaundice
C) Anaemia
D) Dementia

Question 49

A common symptom of menopause is ____.

A) hot flushes
B) anaemia
C) dementia
D) jaundice

Question 50

Your 45-year-old neighbor knows that you are taking a developmental course. She is experiencing some severe symptoms of menopause and was interested in your thoughts on hormone replacement therapy (HRT). What would you tell her? HRT is

A) effective, but there are serious potential side effects.
B) effective and completely safe.
C) not effective and carries many potential side effects.
D) not effective, but there are no severe risks.

Question 51

Menopause usually takes place during the ____, but there is a wide range of individual variations, from the ____.

A) late 30s or early 40s; early 20s to the late 40s
B) late 40s or early 50s; early 30s to the late 50s
C) late 50s or early 60s; early 40s to the late 60s
D) late 60s or early 70s; early 50s to the late 70s

Question 52

What is a positive result of HRT in menopausal women? It helps to _____.

A) increase bone density
B) decrease the likelihood of stroke
C) reduce the symptoms of menopause
D) improve sexual functioning

Question 53

Which of the following provides support for a genetic influence for the timing of menopause?

A) Research studies that found a correlation of the timing of menopause between mothers and daughters and identical twins
B) Research studies that show a correlation of the timing of menopause between biologically unrelated women who live in the same environment, sharing a house or an apartment
C) Research studies that show a correlation of the timing of menopause for women who live within the same geographical region or country
D) Research studies that show a correlation of the timing of menopause for mothers and their adopted daughters

Question 54

Your grandmother has been experiencing the side effects of menopause and you overheard your mother and grandmother discussing the possibility of using hormone replacement therapy. What would be your advice?

A) Not to use HRT, as there are serious side effects including increased risk of stroke, heart attacks and breast cancer
B) Not to use HRT, as it increases the likelihood of osteoporosis and colon cancer
C) To use HRT, as it decreases the likelihood of stroke, heart attacks and breast cancer
D) To use HRT, as it decreases the risk of spontaneous abortion

Question 55

Which of the following United States ethnic groups report the highest rate of hot flushes as a result of menopause?

A) Women of African descent
B) Women of Asian descent
C) Women of European descent
D) Women of South American descent

Question 56

When are the declines in oestrogen and progesterone levels associated with menopause the most severe?

A) At the very beginning
B) During the entire time menopause is occurring
C) At the very beginning and after the end of menopause
D) After the end of menopause

Question 57

For women who are experiencing severe symptoms during menopause, what is a strategy that can alleviate their distress?

A) Chiropractic massage
B) Hormone replacement therapy
C) Eating soybean-based foods
D) Frequent intercourse

Question 58

For women who experience severe symptoms during menopause, ____ is sometimes used to alleviate their distress.

A) chiropractic and acupuncture therapy
B) cognitive behavioural therapy
C) hormone replacement therapy
D) psychoanalytic therapy

Question 59

A possible explanation of why women in Japan experience a lower rate of hot flushes during menopause is that ____.

A) cultural forces have dictated that hot flushes are inappropriate and Japanese women unconsciously suppress them
B) soybean is a large part of their diet and it contains plant oestrogen
C) ginger root is commonly consumed and it has been proven to suppress hot flushes
D) fish is a large part of their diet and vitamin B12 is known to minimise hot flushes

Question 60

Your grandmother is a 62-year-old breast cancer survivor and is experiencing very strong menopausal symptoms. A friend of hers has suggested that hormone replacement therapy would probably help her with her symptoms. Given her background, what would be your advice? She should ____.

A) definitely not use HRT
B) try HRT cautiously and have frequent check-ups
C) alternate HRT weekly
D) definitely use HRT; there are no reasons not to do so

Question 61

How many hours of sleep do medical authorities recommend getting each night?

A) 5 to 6 hours
B) 7 to 9 hours
C) 10 to 11 hours
D) 12 hours

Question 62

In what condition do the bones become thin and brittle as a result of rapid calcium depletion?

A) Osteoporosis
B) Atherosclerosis
C) Ossicle depletion
D) Phosphoritis

Question 63

Your grandmother is a 56-year-old smoker and just read an article concerning osteoporosis. The article did not really cover much, just stated that the likelihood of osteoporosis increases with age. What would you say to her about her risk factor? She should ____.

A) not worry about osteoporosis, you are sure that she will not have trouble
B) get yearly bone density checks and quit smoking
C) drink a lot of milk
D) start an exercise routine

Question 64

Which of the following pairs of individuals have a higher concordance rate of osteoporosis than the rest?

A) Monozygotic twins
B) Dizygotic twins
C) Biological sisters
D) Adopted sisters

Question 65

Medical authorities recommend ____ of sleep per night as optimal, but among midlife adults in the United States, more than ____ report receiving less than 7 hours of sleep at least occasionally.

A) 5-7 hours; three-quarters
B) 6-8 hours; two-thirds
C) 7-9 hours; one-fourth
D) 9-11 hours; one-half

Question 66

What is the risk factor for osteoporosis?

A) Eating soy-based foods
B) Smoking
C) Too much exercising
D) Obesity

Question 67

In what condition do the bones become thin and brittle as a result of rapid calcium depletion?

A) Scoliosis
B) Jaundice
C) Diabetes
D) Osteoporosis

Question 68

Evolutionary biologist Jared Diamond (1992) hypothesised that the danger that childbirth poses to human mothers, and the danger that a mother's death poses to human children, were related to what characteristically human experience?

A) Infant/mother bonding
B) Parenting
C) Menopause
D) Miscarriages

Question 69

By age 40 years, many individuals in midlife experience sleep problems. What are the consequences? Adults in midlife are ____.

A) less likely to experience the deepest type of sleep
B) more likely to have nightmares
C) more likely to fall asleep on the job
D) less likely to have appropriate bone density

Question 70

How often do health authorities recommend that women over 50 have their bone density checked?

A) Every 6 months
B) Every year
C) Every 2 years
D) Every 5 years

Question 71

What is unique to human females during midlife that does not happen to any other primate species?

A) Lifetime pair bonding
B) Menopause
C) Midlife crisis
D) Second families

Question 72

Eighty percent of people who are diagnosed with osteoporosis are women. What is the simple explanation for this phenomenon?

A) During menopause, women lose oestrogen and this puts women at a greater risk for the development of osteoporosis.
B) Women have two X chromosomes and it is known that an inoculating factor for the development of osteoporosis is the Y chromosome.
C) Men have higher levels of testosterone and higher levels of testosterone to combat the development of osteoporosis.
D) Women often live a lifestyle that puts them at greater risk for the development of osteoporosis as compared to men.

Question 73

Which of the following is the leading cause of death for adults worldwide?

A) Cardiovascular disease
B) Starvation
C) War
D) Cancer

Question 74

Your 46-year-old uncle is about 60 pounds overweight and is having difficulty sleeping at night. If he were interested in your advice, you could tell him that ____.

A) most people his age have difficulty sleeping and not to worry about it
B) he should probably consider trying to lose weight; that should help improve his sleeping
C) he is probably depressed and that is why he is having sleeping problems
D) he should see his doctor, he has probably had a small heart attack

Question 75

During middle adulthood, which of the following are factors related to sleep disturbances and sleep disorders?

A) Obesity, cardiovascular disease and depression
B) Arthritis, jaundice and diabetes
C) Restless legs syndrome, myopic vision and hypertension
D) Anxiety, eczema and psoriasis

Question 76

From middle adulthood onward, women lose about what percentage of their bone mass?

A) 10%
B) 30%
C) 50%
D) 70%

Question 77

What is a problem that is commonly experienced by individuals in midlife who are obese, have cardiovascular disease or who are depressed?

A) Heart palpitations
B) Snoring
C) Sleep problems
D) Low levels of dopamine

Question 78

Your 59-year-old uncle is convinced that he will have osteoporosis. He is in good health and is quite active. What would you tell him?

A) It is not very likely. Only 20% of individuals with osteoporosis are male.
B) He is probably correct, about 80% of males have osteoporosis.
C) It is not likely if he drinks a lot of milk.
D) He is probably correct, very active adults are more prone to osteoporosis.

Question 79

At what rate do testosterone levels decline during midlife?

A) 1% per year
B) 6% per year
C) 12% per year
D) 18% per year

Question 80

Your father, who is 45 years old, has recently been discussing the desire to father another child. He is worried that he will not able to do so even though he and your mother are strongly considering it. What would you tell him regarding his ability to father another child? He should _____.

A) probably get started, as sperm quality and mobility begin to decline at his age
B) give up on the idea, his sperm count is probably too low
C) he should have a fertility check since most males have little to no sperm at age 45 years
D) think carefully about fathering a child; the child has no chance of being born healthy