Deck 1: Biological Transitions

Question 1

Which of the following statements about prenatal development is not true?

A) Up until about eight weeks after conception, all human brains are feminine.
B) Puberty is part of a gradual process that begins at conception.
C) All hormones necessary for puberty are present before birth.
D) The amount of cortisol exposed to the fetus is directly linked to the timing and tempo of puberty.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following statements suggests that rising levels of the protein leptin is an important signal that tells the body it is ready for puberty?

A) Production of pubic hair relates to increased sex drive.
B) Excessive thinness can delay onset of puberty.
C) Poorer adolescents tend to go through puberty earlier than non-poor adolescents.
D) Excessive exercise promotes early physical development.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The hormonally induced increase in the rate of growth in height and weight is referred to as:

A) the adolescent growth spurt.
B) epiphyses.
C) secular trend.
D) delayed phase preference.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Adrenarche contributes to the development of body ______, signaling the beginning of sexual maturation to others.

A) activation
B) odor
C) maturation
D) gonads

Question 5

The physical transformation from child to adult is called:

A) puberty.
B) early adolescence.
C) middle adolescence.
D) late adolescence.

Question 6

Which of the following is not part of the feedback loop in the endocrine system?

A) gonads
B) hypothalamus
C) pituitary gland
D) thyroid hormones

Question 7

Hormones play two very different roles in adolescence. _______ hormones program the brain to behave in certain ways, whereas _______ hormones are thought to stimulate development of the secondary sex characteristics.

A) Activational; organizational
B) Organizational; activational
C) Testosterone; endocrine
D) Endocrine; testosterone

Question 8

The simultaneous release of growth hormones, thyroid hormones, and _________ stimulates rapid acceleration in height and weight during puberty.

A) pituitary glands
B) estrogens
C) androgens
D) thyroid glands

Question 9

The presence or absence of certain hormones early in life may "program" the brain and the nervous system to develop in certain ways later on. These hormones are considered:

A) androgens.
B) estrogens.
C) organizational.
D) activational.

Question 10

Which of the following is not thought to contribute to the onset of puberty?

A) the presence of sexually mature partners in the environment
B) whether the individual is healthy enough to begin reproduction
C) the development of primary sex characteristics
D) whether there are nutritional resources available to support a pregnancy

Question 11

According to the textbook, puberty involves all of the following except

A) development of the primary sex characteristics.
B) rapid growth and dramatic increases in height and weight.
C) development of secondary sex characteristics.
D) increases in intellectual functioning.

Question 12

Up until about eight weeks after conception, the human brain is ______ until it is exposed to certain hormones.

A) feminine
B) masculine
C) asexual
D) dormant

Question 13

The stimulation by maturation of adrenal glands is called

A) androgens.
B) estrogens.
C) adrenche.
D) activational.

Question 14

Of all the developments that take place during the second decade of life, the only one that is truly inevitable is:

A) puberty.
B) an identity crisis.
C) rebellion against one's parents.
D) the first experience of romantic love.

Question 15

The term puberty refers to the period during which:

A) an individual is between the ages of 12 and 15.
B) an individual's endocrine system creates new hormones.
C) an individual becomes capable of sexual reproduction.
D) an individual stops growing.

Question 16

When levels of _____ and _____ fall below the set points, the _____ stops inhibiting the pituitary gland, thus permitting it to stimulate the release of sex hormones by the gonads.

A) leptin; thyroid hormones; hypothalamus
B) androgens; estrogen; adrenal gland
C) androgens; estrogens; hypothalamus
D) leptin; thyroid hormones; adrenal gland

Question 17

Professor Radon is studying the _________ system, which produces, circulates, and regulates levels of hormones in the body.

A) adrenal
B) circulatory
C) respiratory
D) endocrine

Question 18

Which of the following affect the onset of puberty?

A) Genetics
B) Number of fat cells
C) Amount of light exposure
D) All of these are correct.

Question 19

Which of the following statements about the production of hormones at puberty is false?

A) The body begins to produce several hormones that have not been present in the body up until this time.
B) There is an increase in the production of certain hormones.
C) Boys' bodies produce more androgens and girls' bodies produce more estrogens.
D) The feedback loop regulating the endocrine system's set point for each hormone becomes increasingly important.

Question 20

The average girl in the United States reaches _________, the time of her first menstrual period, sometime between the ages of 12 and 15.

A) spermarche
B) menarche
C) puberty
D) adrenarche

Question 21

Sarah is a junior high student anticipating and preparing for puberty. She wants to know when puberty will start and how long it will take until she looks and is considered an adult. What would you tell her?

A) The timing of puberty, as well as the rate with which it occurs, is highly variable and is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.
B) The timing of puberty, as well as the rate with which it occurs, is highly predictive. She will begin the puberty process around 12.5 years of age and it will take four years until it is completed.
C) The timing of puberty, as well as the rate with which it occurs, is highly controllable.
D) The timing of puberty, as well as the rate with which it occurs, is predetermined by your DNA.

Question 22

At the time of peak height velocity, adolescents grow at about the same rate as:

A) newborns.
B) infants.
C) toddlers.
D) elementary schoolchildren.

Question 23

The first sign of puberty in girls is generally:

A) growth of breasts.
B) underarm hair.
C) menarche.
D) acne.

Question 24

Who is at the greatest risk of developing body dissatisfaction?

A) Callie, an early-maturing, affluent White girl who compares herself to her friends
B) Miranda, a late-maturing Black girl
C) John, an early-maturing Black male who compares himself to his friends
D) Mike, a late-maturing White male who feels he is not muscular enough

Question 25

Which of the following girls would probably be least susceptible to feelings of body dissatisfaction due to the rapid increase in body fat in early adolescence?

A) Suzy, an early maturer
B) Lilly, someone who began dating early
C) Diane, someone from a relatively affluent family
D) Beth, a Black adolescent girl

Question 26

Which of the following female sex characteristics is usually the last to develop?

A) menarche
B) regular ovulation
C) development of the nipples of the breasts
D) growth of pubic hair

Question 27

Although both sexes experience changes in muscle tissue and body fat, the ratio of muscle to body fat is:

A) greater in boys than girls.
B) greater in girls than boys.
C) about the same in both genders.
D) greater in early-maturing girls than in late-maturing boys.

Question 28

Which of the following statements about puberty in girls is false?

A) Regular ovulation and the ability to carry a baby to term usually follow menarche by several years.
B) The development of the areola and nipple are far better indicators of sexual maturation than is breast size.
C) Menarche occurs very early in the process of sexual development.
D) The changes in the nipple and areola occur regardless of the size to which the breast finally develops.

Question 29

One reason for the difference in the body shapes of the sexes is:

A) the timing of the growth spurt.
B) that females tend to be more "left-brained" and males more "right-brained."
C) differences in the size of the hypothalamus.
D) the difference in the amount and distribution of body fat.

Question 30

Which of the following sex characteristics is the first to develop in boys?

A) production of sperm
B) appearance of facial hair
C) growth of testes and scrotum
D) growth of penis

Question 31

All of the following are reasons that males have greater gains in strength than females during early adolescence, except:

A) increased production of androgens among females.
B) strong societal pressures on girls to decrease their physical activity in adolescence.
C) inadequate nutrition among adolescent girls.
D) sex differences in body fat.

Question 32

The first ejaculation of seminal fluid that occurs is:

A) biologically predetermined.
B) genetically inherited.
C) often determined culturally.
D) a major embarrassment for most boys.

Question 33

The rapid increase in body fat that adolescent girls experience:

A) leads to a majority of adolescent girls dieting unnecessarily.
B) leads to an increase in healthy eating patterns among adolescent girls.
C) increases vulnerability to feelings of body dissatisfaction for Black adolescent girls.
D) is seen by the Centers for Disease Control as a major risk factor for obesity among adolescent girls.

Question 34

Which of the following statements about the timing and tempo of sexual maturation is true?

A) In the United States, and in all other countries, menarche typically occurs around age 12.
B) The duration of puberty varies widely, from 1.5 to 6 years in girls and 2 to 5 years in boys.
C) Adolescents who begin puberty early are also those who complete it early.
D) Adolescents who begin puberty earlier usually grow to be taller adults.

Question 35

Molly's breasts are beginning to develop, she is beginning to grow pubic hair, her skin is becoming more oily, and her body is growing rapidly. These changes are brought about by the secretion of _____ by the _____.

A) estrogen only; testes
B) androgens only; ovaries
C) estrogen and androgens; ovaries
D) estrogen and androgens; testes

Question 36

Which of the following is probably true for Ashley, an early-maturing girl who was short and stocky as a child?

A) After puberty, she will be shorter and heavier than her late-maturing peers.
B) After puberty, she will be shorter and thinner than her late-maturing peers.
C) After puberty, she will be taller and heavier than her late-maturing peers.
D) After puberty, she will be taller and thinner than her late-maturing peers.

Question 37

Based on research addressing ethnic differences in the timing and rate of pubertal maturation, which American girl would be expected to be the earliest to mature?

A) Brandy, a middle-income Black adolescent
B) Miranda, a middle-income Mexican adolescent
C) Emily, a middle-income White adolescent
D) Kimberly, a middle-income Asian adolescent

Question 38

The adolescent growth spurt:

A) generally begins two years earlier for girls than for boys.
B) generally begins two years earlier for boys than for girls.
C) is slower in the early adolescent years, then speeds up around age 15 for boys and girls.
D) proceeds along a smooth and rapid course over the teen years.

Question 39

Which of the following is not characteristic of changes in skeletal structure during puberty?

A) One marker that indicates the termination in growth in height is epiphysis.
B) Bones become more porous and more likely to break.
C) Height gains are attributable more to increases in torso length than leg length.
D) The growth sequence generally begins with the extremities, and then proceeds to the arms and legs, then to the torso and shoulders.

Question 40

According to the textbook, the sex difference in athletic performance during early adolescence results from all of the following except:

A) self-confidence.
B) body fat.
C) hormones.
D) diet and exercise.

Question 41

Which of the following can delay the onset of puberty?

A) stress
B) nutritional deficiencies
C) excessive exercise
D) All of these are correct.

Question 42

According to the textbook, when compared to their less mature peers, adolescents who are physically mature are:

A) less likely to have problems with their parents.
B) more likely to be involved in cross-sex activities such as going out on dates.
C) more likely to have platonic relationships with opposite sex peers.
D) less likely to be depressed.

Question 43

Given a choice, Mike would prefer to stay up until 1:00 a.m. and sleep until 10:00 a.m. This pattern is called the:

A) secular trend.
B) delayed phase preference.
C) longitudinal design.
D) adolescent growth spurt.

Question 44

Puberty began for Nancy when she was 9 years old. Her mother began puberty at 11 years. For her grandmother, the onset was at 13 years of age. These changes in the age of onset of puberty over time are referred to as:

A) cross-sectional trend.
B) secular trend.
C) longitudinal trend.
D) physiologic trend.

Question 45

According to the textbook, Julie, a seventeen-year-old living in a college dormitory, has noticed that her menstrual periods have begun to synchronize with _____, which is compelling evidence that social relationships can affect biological functioning.

A) the time her female roommate menstruates
B) her most stressful days of the month
C) days she feels most sexually aroused
D) her biological sister living in a different city

Question 46

Which of the following factors have not been found to influence the onset of maturation?

A) father absence
B) good nutrition
C) family conflict
D) peer pressure

Question 47

Which of the following statements about the impact of hormones on behavior is false?

A) Adolescents' moods fluctuate more during the day than the moods of adults.
B) The direct relation between adolescent moodiness and hormonal changes of puberty is extremely strong.
C) The relation between hormonal changes and adolescent mood is strongest during early puberty.
D) Rapid increase in hormones may be associated with increased irritability, impulsivity, aggression, and depression.

Question 48

Professor Kendall has been researching adolescent maturation around the world. Which of the following is she likely to determine has the smallest role in determining group differences in pubertal maturation?

A) nutrition
B) sanitation
C) infectious diseases
D) genetics

Question 49

Which of the following statements about puberty's impact on family relationships is true?

A) Puberty appears to increase distance between parents and children.
B) Other species do not experience distance during the pubertal transition.
C) Distancing effect of puberty on adolescent-parent relationships is consistently observed in minority families.
D) Puberty does not interfere with family relations.

Question 50

The delayed phase preference suggests that:

A) adolescents should not be taught sex education until high school.
B) school should be held year-round.
C) school should begin later in the morning.
D) school should begin earlier in the morning.

Question 51

The biological changes that take place during puberty can cause changes in adolescents' behavior in all of the following ways, except:

A) directly.
B) by affecting the adolescent's self-image.
C) by affecting the reactions of others to the adolescent.
D) All of these are ways in which biological changes occurring in puberty can cause changes in adolescents' behavior.

Question 52

Which of the following statements about adolescent mood swings is false?

A) The effect of hormones on adolescent mood swings is strongest early in puberty.
B) Adolescents' moods fluctuate during the course of the day more than the moods of adults.
C) Adolescent mood swings parallel their changes in activities.
D) Hormones play a greater role in the development of depression than do stressful life events.

Question 53

Over the past century, the onset of puberty has been coming at an earlier age. This has been referred to as the:

A) cross-sectional trend.
B) endocrine trend.
C) menarche trend.
D) secular trend.

Question 54

Dr. Davis is interested in how puberty affects adjustment. He studies a group of 100 junior high school students over the course of three years. He is conducting what kind of study?

A) longitudinal
B) cross-sectional
C) cross-sequential
D) secular

Question 55

Which of the following plays the greatest role in the development of depression?

A) rapid increases in hormones
B) early maturation
C) stressful life events
D) the delayed phase preference

Question 56

Differences in the timing and rate of puberty among individuals growing up in the same general environment are largely caused by:

A) hormonal factors.
B) genetic factors.
C) environmental factors.
D) None of these are correct.

Question 57

A research design in which subjects of different ages are assessed simultaneously is called a

Question 58

Which of the following does not contribute to changes in sleep patterns during adolescence?

A) later secretion of melatonin
B) mood fluctuations throughout the day
C) television, computers, and artificial light sources
D) early school starting times

Question 59

Studies show that adolescent mood swings are most closely related to changes in:

A) hormone levels.
B) family relationships.
C) nutrition.
D) activities.

Question 60

Which of the following statements about hormonal changes of puberty is true?

A) Hormonal changes affect the brain in ways that increase adolescents' desire for sensation-seeking activities.
B) Hormonal changes of puberty make adolescents more risk averse.
C) Hormonal changes of puberty make adolescents more introverted.
D) Hormonal changes affect the brain in ways that decrease adolescents' desire for rewarding activities.

Question 61

Which of the following is true about obesity?

A) To be considered obese, a person's body mass index must fall at or above the 95th percentile for their age and gender.
B) Forty percent of American adolescents are obese.
C) The rate of obesity has quadrupled worldwide since 2005.
D) Obesity is solely caused by a low basal metabolic rate.

Question 62

When adolescents in the United States begin to experience specific pubertal events, which of the following is most likely to occur?

A) A girl's mother will be the first person the girl tells that she has begun to menstruate.
B) A girl's best friend will be the first person the girl tells that she has begun to menstruate.
C) A girl is likely not to tell anyone that she is menstruating for the first several months after she begins.
D) A boy will tell his friends about his first ejaculation soon after it occurs.

Question 63

Suzanne and Greg are the first members of their class to begin the pubertal transition. Based on what you know about early-maturing adolescents, Suzanne and Greg are more likely to:

A) become involved in illegal activities.
B) do better in school.
C) be ostracized by their classmates.
D) get along with their parents.

Question 64

Which of the following characteristics is not associated with being an early-maturing boy?

A) fewer problem behaviors
B) greater popularity
C) a more positive self-concept
D) greater confidence in one's self

Question 65

In America, early-maturing girls are more likely than their late-maturing peers to:

A) be unpopular.
B) have a more negative self-image.
C) succeed in school.
D) perceive themselves as attractive.

Question 66

Nadia is an early-maturing girl. Compared to her late-maturing peers, which of the following statements is most likely to be true for Nadia?

A) Nadia is less likely to suffer from social anxiety.
B) Nadia is less likely to be popular with girls.
C) Nadia is more likely to be popular with the boys.
D) Nadia is less likely to be the victim of rumors and gossip.

Question 67

Which of the following was not offered by the textbook as an explanation for the sex differences in the impact of early and late maturation?

A) the cultural desirability of thin body types
B) the developmental readiness hypothesis
C) the maturational deviance hypothesis
D) genetic makeup

Question 68

Which of the following characteristics is not typically associated with being an early-maturing girl?

A) feelings of awkwardness and self-consciousness
B) being less popular, especially with boys
C) being more likely to become involved in juvenile delinquency
D) being less likely to pursue advanced education and a demanding career

Question 69

A measure of an individual's body fat, ratio of weight to height, used to gauge overweight and obeisity is called

A) basal metabolism rate.
B) body mass index.
C) secular trend.
D) feedback loop.

Question 70

Early-maturing boys are:

A) likely to have low self-esteem.
B) often expected to be more mature than they are.
C) better prepared to deal with changes of adolescence.
D) more childish than their later-maturing peers.

Question 71

During puberty, individuals who mature early are likely to experience which of the following?

A) more intellectual curiosity
B) less frequent temper tantrums
C) less depression
D) more frequent and more intense temper tantrums

Question 72

Which of the following girls will experience the greatest menstrual discomfort?

A) Sarita, who is prepared for the physical changes
B) Alison, who is a late maturer
C) Loryn, who has a negative attitude toward menarche
D) Janet, who is unpopular among her classmates

Question 73

The _____ is the minimal amount of energy one uses when resting.

A) basal metabolism rate
B) delayed phase preference
C) secular trend
D) feedback loop

Question 74

Studies have shown that prepubertal girls who expect menstruation to be uncomfortable report:

A) milder menstrual symptoms than their peers.
B) more severe menstrual symptoms than their peers.
C) about the same level of menstrual symptoms as their peers.
D) experiencing menarche sooner than their peers.

Question 75

Follow-up studies of Swedish women who had been early maturers found that as adults they were:

A) unable to develop coping skills.
B) less likely to continue their education beyond high school.
C) more likely to continue their education beyond high school.
D) indistinguishable from those who had been late maturers.

Question 76

The impact of early maturation on problem behaviors or depression is worse when adolescents:

A) have many stressful life events.
B) have harsh or inconsistent parents.
C) live in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 77

Mike, an early maturer, is more likely to __________ than Bob, a late maturer.

A) experience pseudomaturity
B) suffer greater consequences if bullied by peers
C) experiment with drugs and alcohol
D) All of these are correct.

Question 78

Generalizing from the textbook, the children who are most likely to think of themselves as being "off schedule" with respect to their physical development are girls who mature _____ and boys who mature _____.

A) late; early
B) early; late
C) late; late
D) early; early

Question 79

Avram is considered a late-maturing boy. A year after pubertal onset, we would expect Avram to show all of the following advantages over his early-maturing peers, except:

A) greater athletic ability.
B) more intellectual curiosity.
C) greater exploratory behavior.
D) higher levels of social initiative.

Question 80

Which of the following conditions is most likely to produce the most favorable and easiest adjustment to menarche?

A) when the girl's mother prepares her by describing the unpleasant aspects of menarche
B) when the girl reaches menarche early
C) when menarche occurs before the girl has been told about the physical changes that will occur
D) when the girl knows the facts about the physical changes her body will undergo