Question 1

How many genes have been shown to play a role in determining one's height?

Accepted Answer

Almost 200 genes have been identified to play a role in determining one's height. However, it is important to note that environmental factors such as nutrition and early childhood experiences can also impact one's height.

Question 2

Identical twins are less alike as adults than they were as children, which demonstrates the influence of

Accepted Answer

The fact that identical twins become less alike as they age suggests that their environment plays a significant role in shaping their behavior and traits. Despite sharing the same genes, their differing experiences and interactions with the world around them can lead to differences in personality, interests, and other aspects of their lives. This supports the influence of the environment rather than heredity or polygenic factors.

Question 3

Jeffery is 16 months old, and his mother has spent almost every waking moment of the last three weeks trying to toilet-train Jeffery. However, Jeffery has shown no improvement. Jeffery's mother should be told that toilet training as well as other milestones in development are governed by the

Accepted Answer

Toilet training readiness is determined by the child's physical and cognitive development, as well as their ability to communicate and cooperate. It is important for parents to recognize that each child develops at their own pace, and pushing too hard can lead to frustration and setbacks. Therefore, Jeffery's lack of progress may be due to the fact that he is not yet ready for toilet training, and his mother should wait until he shows signs of readiness before trying again.

Question 4

Gabe, at first, holds the beach ball by pulling the ball to his body with his arms. With increasing age, he begins to hold the ball with his hands and later with his fingertips. This progression of development illustrates

Accepted Answer

The proximodistal pattern refers to the progression of development from the center of the body (proximal) to the extremities (distal), as seen in the example of Gabe holding the beach ball first with his whole body, then with his hands, and finally with his fingertips. The cephalocaudal pattern refers to development from head to toe and would not be applicable in this scenario. Habituation and assimilation refer to cognitive development and are not relevant to this physical progression of holding a ball.

Question 5

Amy lifts her head, then learns to crawl, then to walk with the development progressing from her head to her feet. This progression illustrates

Accepted Answer

The description of Amy's development progressing from her head to her feet is an example of the cephalocaudal pattern, which refers to the idea that growth and development occur from head to toe. The other options are not relevant to the scenario described.

Question 6

Regarding their visual capabilities, babies are able to tell the difference between dogs and birds or other groups of animals as early as the age of

Accepted Answer

The answer of Regarding their visual capabilities, babies are able...

Question 7

The study of changes in behavior from conception to death encompasses the field known as

Accepted Answer

The study of changes in behavior from conception to death is specifically the focus of developmental psychology. Gerontology primarily focuses on the biological, psychological, and social aspects of aging, while thanatology focuses on death, dying, and bereavement. Social psychology focuses on how social factors influence behavior.

Question 8

The brain of a newborn baby is capable of being altered by experience, that is, it is highly

Accepted Answer

The term "plastic" in this context means that the brain is malleable and can be shaped by experiences. This is important for early childhood development and learning.

Question 9

Jeremy is sitting in his high chair, when his big brother runs into the kitchen and slams the door. Little Jeremy reacts to this loud noise by throwing his arms out into a hugging motion. Little Jeremy's reaction illustrates

Accepted Answer

The Moro reflex is an involuntary response that infants exhibit in response to a sudden loss of support or loud noises, where they throw their arms out, arch their back, and then bring their arms together as if to grasp something. This reflex is a normal part of infant development and typically disappears around 4 to 6 months of age.

Question 10

Regarding the grasping reflex, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

The grasping reflex is actually elicited in newborns and is not related to standing or holding onto objects. It is a natural response for infants to grasp onto objects placed within their palms.

Question 11

In the nucleus of every human cell, except for the sperm and ova, are __________ chromosomes.

Accepted Answer

The correct number of chromosomes in a human cell, except for the sperm and ova, is 46 (23 pairs).

Question 12

Regarding toilet training, which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Current guidelines do not suggest that toilet training should begin between 10 and 16 months of age. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting until a child shows signs of readiness, which may be between 18 and 24 months of age or even later for some children.

Question 13

If you were to observe the development of psychomotor abilities in infants across cultures, you would find the most similarities in the

Accepted Answer

The sequence in which psychomotor abilities appear tends to be similar across cultures. For example, infants typically develop gross motor skills before fine motor skills regardless of cultural differences. However, the specific ages at which each ability appears can vary depending on environmental and cultural factors. Child-rearing practices and the relationship between intellectual and psychomotor development can also vary widely across cultures.

Question 14

Cephalocaudal means from

Accepted Answer

Cephalocaudal development refers to the pattern of growth and development that occurs from the head to the toes, with the head developing first and the rest of the body following in sequence. This term is often used in the context of child development and can help identify milestones such as when an infant gains control of their neck muscles before gaining control of their torso and limbs.

Question 15

A major scientific milestone was reached with the completion of the entire sequencing of three billion chemical base pairs of human DNA. This project was known as the __________ Project.

Accepted Answer

The completion of the entire sequencing of three billion chemical base pairs of human DNA is commonly known as the Human Genome Project. The other options (A, B, and D) are not related to this specific milestone.

Question 16

Which of the following is an adaptive infant reflex that is elicited by pressing an object into the neonate's palm and aids the neonate's survival by helping him or her to avoid falling?

Accepted Answer

The grasping reflex is an adaptive infant reflex that is elicited by pressing an object into the neonate's palm and aids the neonate's survival by helping him or her to avoid falling. The Moro reflex is a startle reflex that may have served a survival function by preparing the infant to cling to the mother during times of danger. The rooting reflex helps the neonate to locate a nipple for feeding, and the Babinski reflex is a reflex of the foot that is elicited by stroking the sole of the foot and may help to detect nervous system abnormalities.

Question 17

Carol is seven years old, and her brother is 10 years old. According to the human growth sequence, Carol and her brother are in the period known as

Accepted Answer

Middle childhood is the period between early childhood (ages 3-6) and adolescence (ages 12-18). It is typically defined as the years between ages 6 and 11. Therefore, Carol and her brother, at ages 7 and 10, are in the middle childhood period.

Question 18

Maturation is defined as the

Accepted Answer

Maturation specifically refers to the physical growth and development of the body, brain, and nervous system. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer. Choice B refers to adaptation, choice C refers to the environment, and choice D refers to genetics.

Question 19

Dianne is a psychologist who is interested in the progressive changes that people show in their physical, cognitive, emotional, and social abilities from conception to death. Dianne is most likely a __________ psychologist.

Accepted Answer

Dianne's interest in studying the changes in physical, cognitive, emotional, and social abilities from conception to death indicates that she is a developmental psychologist. Social psychologists study how people interact with each other, behave in groups, and are influenced by their social environment. Behavioral psychologists focus on how behavior is learned and shaped by rewards and punishments in the environment. Comparative psychologists study behavior and mental processes across different animal species.

Question 20

A gene whose influence will be expressed each time the gene is present is known as a __________ gene.

Accepted Answer

A dominant gene will always be expressed whenever it is present, regardless of whether there are any copies of a recessive gene present.

Quiz 3: Human Development