Question 1

Although in earlier decades, it was true that boys did better at quantitative and spatial tasks and girls did better at tasks involving verbal skills, today these gender differences have disappeared.

Accepted Answer

These gender differences have gotten smaller over recent decades, but they still exist.

Question 2

Children with learning disorders tend to have below-average general intellectual ability.

Accepted Answer

Children with learning disorders may have average or above-average general intellectual ability, since learning disabilities are specific to certain academic skills but not others.

Question 3

Most people with intellectual disability fall into the category of mild retardation.

Accepted Answer

According to the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), mild intellectual disability is the most common level of severity, accounting for about 85% of cases. Therefore, most people with intellectual disability fall into the category of mild retardation.

Question 4

Sometimes intellectual disability is not identified until the child enters formal education.

Accepted Answer

This is true, as intellectual disability can vary in severity and may not become apparent until a child faces the academic and social demands of formal education.

Question 5

Most children with dyslexia have problems with their visual system.

Accepted Answer

Most children with dyslexia do not have problems with their visual system, although a few do. Dyslexia appears to be caused by problems in how the language centers in the brain process speech sounds.

Question 6

Children with learning disorders often have difficulty with social skills as well as with academic skills.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Children with learning disorders may struggle with both academic and social skills, including communication, social interaction, and making friends. These difficulties can have a negative impact on their self-esteem and overall well-being. It is important for educators and parents to provide support and resources to help children with learning disorders develop their social skills in addition to addressing their academic needs.

Question 7

It is not unusual for a teacher to spend only 10 to 15% of a 30-minute class period on academic work.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Many factors can contribute to this, including classroom management issues, disruptions, transitions, and administrative tasks. Teachers may not have control over some of these factors, but they can work to minimize their impact and maximize instructional time.

Question 8

According to Carol Dweck, children with a "performance" motivation generally persist longer at difficult tasks.

Accepted Answer

Dweck noted that children with "learning" motivation persisted longer, because they viewed their failures as the result of lack of effort, rather than the lack of ability.
Intellectual and Developmental Disorders

Question 9

Even when social and economic disparities are taken into account, there still is a large difference in the average IQ scores of minority and majority groups.

Accepted Answer

When factors such as social and economic circumstances are taken into account, IQ score difference between minority and majority groups all but disappear.

Quiz 8: Middle Childhood: Physical and Cognitive Development