Question 1

According to Jean Piaget, object permanence develops during the ________ stage.
A) concrete operations
B) sensorimotor
C) preoperational
D) formal operations

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget, object permanence is a key milestone in the sensorimotor stage of cognitive development, which occurs from birth to around 2 years of age. During this stage, infants learn that objects exist even when they cannot be seen, heard, or touched.

Question 2

Babies recognize key vowel and consonant sounds of their native language by:
A) 2 to 3 months.
B) 4 to 6 months.
C) 6 to 8 months.
D) 8 to 12 months.

Accepted Answer

Babies typically recognize key vowel and consonant sounds of their native language by 4 to 6 months of age.

Question 3

In the ________ stage, the infant learns through concrete actions: looking, touching, putting things in the mouth, sucking, and grasping.
A) preoperational
B) sensorimotor
C) formal operations
D) concrete operations

Accepted Answer

The sensorimotor stage is the first stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development, which lasts from birth to about 2 years of age. During this stage, infants learn through their senses and concrete actions such as looking, touching, putting things in their mouth, sucking, and grasping.

Question 4

A toddler smacks her lips to let her parents know that she wants food. This is an example of:
A) telegraphic speech.
B) parentese.
C) universal grammar.
D) a symbolic gesture.

Accepted Answer

The toddler's smacking lips gesture is a symbolic gesture, meaning she is using a specific action to represent her desire for food. This is different from telegraphic speech, which is use of short, simplified sentences by toddlers, or parentese, which is the high-pitched, sing-song tone used by caregivers when talking to babies. Universal grammar refers to the innate ability for humans to understand and produce language.

Question 5

Researchers have found that "baby talk" by parents:
A) helps babies learn the melody and the rhythm of their native language.
B) holds children back from learning real language.
C) promotes telegraphic speech, especially if overused.
D) teaches children the correct grammar of their native language.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that "baby talk," also known as infant-directed speech, helps infants learn the melody and rhythm of their native language, which in turn helps with language acquisition and development.

Question 6

When researchers compared infants who were in daycare for varying hours each week, they found that:
A) daycare has no significant effect on the security of a child's attachment.
B) even a few hours of daycare per week significantly impacts the security of a child's attachment.
C) thirty or more hours per week in daycare decreases secure attachment.
D) fifteen or more hours per week in daycare decreases secure attachment.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When researchers compared infants who were in...

Question 7

According to the anti-innate-module school, which of the following holds true for human language?
A) Experience and culture have no role in language development.
B) Culture is the primary determinant of a language's linguistic structure, rather than an innate grammar.
C) Genetics is the primary determinant of a language's linguistic structure.
D) Major differences between the world's languages can be explained by a "universal grammar."

Accepted Answer

The anti-innate-module school argues that culture, rather than an innate grammar, is the primary determinant of a language's linguistic structure. This means that experience and cultural factors play a significant role in language development. The anti-innate-module school rejects the idea of a "universal grammar" that explains major differences between the world's languages.

Question 8

Rakeish was kept locked in a basement for most of his childhood. During this period, he almost never heard a human voice. Finally, he was rescued from this abusive situation. It is likely that Rakeish will:
A) very quickly acquire the ability to speak normally.
B) learn to speak normally after many years.
C) eventually understand speech, but will never be able to talk.
D) never learn to speak normally.

Accepted Answer

Language acquisition is a complex process that requires exposure to human speech during early childhood. Without this exposure, it is unlikely that Rakeish will ever develop normal language abilities. While he may eventually understand speech to some extent, he will likely struggle to communicate verbally. Additionally, learning a language after childhood becomes increasingly difficult, so even with support and education, it is unlikely that Rakeish will learn to speak normally.

Question 9

Anatolie was raised in a substandard orphanage where he was given little attention. He wasn't adopted until he was 6 years old. Anatolie is ________________ to become insecurely attached to his adoptive parents as compared to a child that did not experience the same level of abandonment and deprivation.
A) no more or less likely
B) slightly less likely
C) more likely
D) much less likely

Accepted Answer

Children who have experienced early deprivation and abandonment have a higher likelihood of developing insecure attachment styles, which can manifest as difficulty forming close relationships and seeking comfort from others. Therefore, Anatolie is more likely to become insecurely attached to his adoptive parents compared to a child who did not experience the same level of abandonment and deprivation.

Question 10

Which of the following is true about language?
A) Any type of communication is a language.
B) All languages involve the making of sounds.
C) Language allows a near infinite number of novel ideas to be communicated.
D) Scientists are surprised that humans evolved to use language, because it probably wasn't very beneficial for our prehistoric ancestors.

Accepted Answer

Language allows for an unlimited number of unique thoughts and concepts to be communicated through various means, such as speech, writing, and sign language. Option A is incorrect because not all types of communication qualify as language. Option B is incorrect because sign language, for example, does not involve sound. Option D is also incorrect because language likely provided a significant survival advantage for prehistoric humans, such as being able to coordinate tasks and warn each other of danger.

Question 11

According to Noam Chomsky, the human brain contains an innate mental module called ________ that allows young children to develop language if they are exposed to an adequate sampling of conversation.
A) telegraphic speech
B) universal grammar
C) object permanence
D) theory of mind

Accepted Answer

Noam Chomsky's theory proposes that the human brain contains an innate mental module called Universal Grammar, which allows children to develop language skills when exposed to an adequate sampling of conversation. Universal Grammar consists of a set of principles that apply to all human languages, and it is thought to be an innate part of the brain's language acquisition system.

Question 12

In Piaget's theory, the process of modifying existing cognitive structures in response to experience and new information is called:
A) operations.
B) accommodation.
C) conservation.
D) assimilation.

Accepted Answer

Accommodation is the process of modifying existing cognitive structures in response to experience and new information. This involves changing or adjusting one's understanding of the world to fit with new experiences or information. It is contrasted with assimilation, which involves fitting new experiences into existing cognitive structures without modifying them.

Question 13

Children begin to name objects at about:
A) 3 months of age.
B) 6 months of age.
C) 1 year of age.
D) 3 years of age.

Accepted Answer

Children typically begin to name objects at around 1 year of age, which corresponds with the stage of development known as "one-word speech" or holophrastic stage. Before this stage, infants use gestures and vocalizations to communicate their needs and wants.

Question 14

Which of the following appears to have the greatest effect on the security of a child's attachment?
A) the child's own genetically-influenced temperament
B) time spent in daycare
C) the mother's sensitivity
D) cultural differences in parenting

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following appears to have...

Question 15

According to Piaget, the first stage of a child's cognitive development is the ________ stage.
A) sensorimotor
B) preoperational
C) concrete operations
D) formal operations

Accepted Answer

Piaget's theory of cognitive development identifies four stages, and the first is the sensorimotor stage. This stage lasts from birth until roughly two years of age and is characterized by the child's developing abilities to explore and interact with their environment through their senses and actions. At this stage, infants learn through trial and error, repetition, and the development of object permanence.

Question 16

Janis sees a bat flying over the lake and says, "Birdie"! Her mother says, "That flies like a bird, Janis, but that is a bat." Janis begins pointing saying, "Bat! Bat! Bat!" Piaget would say that this is an example of:
A) assimilation.
B) preoperational thought.
C) accommodation.
D) egocentric thinking.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of accommodation, which occurs when a child adjusts their schema (understanding of the world) to fit new information. Janis initially thought the bat was a bird because it flew, but after her mother corrected her, she adjusted her schema to include the new information that bats can fly like birds.

Question 17

According to Piaget, during their first year, infants develop ________, the understanding that an object continues to exist even when you cannot see it or touch it.
A) egocentric thinking
B) accommodation
C) object permanence
D) assimilation

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget, object permanence is the understanding that an object continues to exist even when you cannot see it or touch it, and this develops during the first year of life. Egocentric thinking is the inability to take another person's perspective and is characteristic of the preoperational stage, which occurs between ages 2 and 7. Accommodation and assimilation are part of Piaget's theory of cognitive development but do not pertain specifically to the development of object permanence.

Question 18

What reason might Noam Chomsky give to explain why it is so difficult to teach language to animals?
A) Most animals do not live long enough to acquire language.
B) Animals are not born with a universal grammar.
C) Only humans are capable of communication.
D) Animals have their own languages and do not want to learn ours.

Accepted Answer

Noam Chomsky is famous for his theory of universal grammar, which posits that humans are born with an innate ability to acquire language. According to Chomsky, this ability is unique to humans and not shared by other animals. Therefore, the difficulty of teaching language to animals can be attributed to their lack of an innate universal grammar.

Question 19

In Piaget's theory, the process of absorbing new information into existing cognitive structures is called:
A) operations.
B) accommodation.
C) conservation.
D) assimilation.

Accepted Answer

According to Piaget's theory, assimilation is the process of incorporating new information into existing cognitive structures or schemas. This occurs when new information is similar to previously acquired knowledge, and a person can easily fit it into their pre-existing understanding of the world.

Question 20

________ refers to a child's first word combinations, which omit unnecessary words.
A) Telegraphic speech
B) Parentese
C) Universal grammar
D) Symbolic gesture

Accepted Answer

Telegraphic speech refers to a child's first word combinations, typically occurring between 18 and 24 months of age, which omit articles, prepositions, and other unnecessary words. This simplified speech allows young children to communicate more efficiently and effectively.

Quiz 13: Development Over the Life Span

According to Jean Piaget, object permanence develops during the ________ stage.

Babies recognize key vowel and consonant sounds of their native language by:

In the ________ stage, the infant learns through concrete actions: looking, touching, putting things in the mouth, sucking, and grasping.

A toddler smacks her lips to let her parents know that she wants food. This is an example of:

Researchers have found that "baby talk" by parents:

When researchers compared infants who were in daycare for varying hours each week, they found that:

According to the anti-innate-module school, which of the following holds true for human language?

Rakeish was kept locked in a basement for most of his childhood. During this period, he almost never heard a human voice. Finally, he was rescued from this abusive situation. It is likely that Rakeish will:

Which of the following is true about language?

According to Noam Chomsky, the human brain contains an innate mental module called ________ that allows young children to develop language if they are exposed to an adequate sampling of conversation.

In Piaget's theory, the process of modifying existing cognitive structures in response to experience and new information is called:

Children begin to name objects at about:

Which of the following appears to have the greatest effect on the security of a child's attachment?

According to Piaget, the first stage of a child's cognitive development is the ________ stage.

Janis sees a bat flying over the lake and says, "Birdie"! Her mother says, "That flies like a bird, Janis, but that is a bat." Janis begins pointing saying, "Bat! Bat! Bat!" Piaget would say that this is an example of:

According to Piaget, during their first year, infants develop ________, the understanding that an object continues to exist even when you cannot see it or touch it.

What reason might Noam Chomsky give to explain why it is so difficult to teach language to animals?

In Piaget's theory, the process of absorbing new information into existing cognitive structures is called:

________ refers to a child's first word combinations, which omit unnecessary words.