Question 1

What did researchers find when they compared plant and animal naming of rural villagers in Central America to urban dwellers in the United States?
A) People who rely on the plants and animals for daily needs often named them at a more specific level.
B) People from both communities relied on the same basic-level category names.
C) The Itza' Maya and the urban dwellers had such different ways of categorizing nature that direct comparisons were impossible.
D) Vast differences in plant and animal life in the two locations made it impossible to make any direct comparisons.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What did researchers find when they compared...

Question 2

The smallest units of language that convey meaning are known as:
A) semantics
B) morphemes
C) phonemes
D) sytnaxes

Accepted Answer

Morphemes are the smallest units of language that convey meaning. They can be words or parts of words (such as prefixes and suffixes) that carry particular meanings within a given language. Semantics refers to the study of meaning in language, while phonemes are the smallest units of sound in language and syntax refers to the rules governing the structure of language.

Question 3

_____ are problem-solving strategies that provide a reasonable guess for the solution.
A) Algorithms
B) Heuristics
C) Operators
D) Subgoals

Accepted Answer

Heuristics are problem-solving strategies that provide a reasonable guess for the solution, often used when algorithms are not practical or when there is incomplete information. Algorithms are step-by-step procedures for solving a problem, operators are symbols or actions that represent transformations or computations, and subgoals are intermediate goals that divide a problem into smaller, more manageable parts.

Question 4

Louis needs a screwdriver to fix his remote-controlled care but he doesn't have one on hand. It does not occur to him that the dime in his pocket could serve as a makeshift substitute. This is because he is experiencing ________.
A) mental set
B) prototyping
C) functional fixedness
D) an ill-defined problem

Accepted Answer

Louis is experiencing functional fixedness, which is the cognitive bias that limits a person's ability to see an object's potential uses beyond its typical function. In this case, Louis only sees the dime as money and not as a potential tool. Mental set refers to a person's tendency to approach a problem in the same way as they did in the past, while prototyping refers to the creation of a simplified model to represent a complex object or idea. Ill-defined problems are unclear and lack a clear solution.

Question 5

Research on linguistic relativity suggests that
A) Language has a complete control over how people categorize the world.
B) Language can have some effects on categorization, but the effects are limited.
C) Language has no effect on categorization.
D) Researchers have not addressed this question.

Accepted Answer

Research on linguistic relativity, also known as the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, suggests that language can have some effects on categorization, but the effects are limited. This means that language can influence the way people think and categorize the world, but it does not have complete control over it. This hypothesis has been debated and studied by linguists and psychologists for decades.

Question 6

Describe the concepts of phonemes, morphemes, syntax, and pragmatics. Then use the sentence "The concert was so great that it blew my mind!" to provide examples of each type of language unit.

Accepted Answer

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Question 7

Identify three specific nonhuman primates discussed in your textbook that researchers attempted to teach to use language. In each example, briefly describe the research and the results.

Accepted Answer

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Question 8

Besides being based in a different region of the brain, a major distinction between Broca's aphasia and Wernicke's aphasia is that
A) Words from people with Broca's aphasia are strung together fluently, but often make little sense.
B) Broca's aphasia is due to a FOXP2 mutation.
C) Wernicke's aphasia results in extreme stuttering.
D) Words from people with Wernicke's aphasia are strung together fluently, but often make little sense.

Accepted Answer

Individuals with Wernicke's aphasia have fluent speech but may have difficulty with word meanings and producing coherent sentences. In contrast, individuals with Broca's aphasia may have non-fluent speech with difficulty producing words and sentences, but the words they do produce are more likely to be meaningful and intentional.

Question 9

If you usually spend twice as long as your dinner companions poring over the menu, considering every choice and fretting over which one would be best, then you are almost certainly ________.
A) experiencing mental set
B) a satisficer
C) facing an operator
D) a maximizer

Accepted Answer

A maximizer is someone who seeks the best possible option and spends a lot of time and energy trying to make the perfect choice. This behavior is often exhibited when faced with important decisions or choices with significant consequences, such as choosing a career, a house, or a partner. In this scenario, spending twice as long as the dinner companions poring over the menu and considering every choice indicates maximizer behavior.

Question 10

Newton has been studying English for about a month and keeps getting tripped up y irregular verbs, often saying runned instead of ran. Although technically incorrect, this shows that Newton has learned that the ____ =ed is a suffix that indicates past tense.
A) morpheme
B) phoneme
C) pragmatic
D) syntax

Accepted Answer

A morpheme is the smallest unit of meaning in a language. In this case, the suffix -ed is a morpheme that indicates past tense. Phonemes are the smallest units of sound, pragmatic refers to the use of language in social contexts, and syntax refers to the structure of sentences.

Question 11

Is heuristic thinking, good, bad, or somewhere in between? What advantages-if any-are associated with heuristic thinking? Are there disadvantages to using heuristics, and if so, what are they? Use the availability heuristic to provide examples to support your claims.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Is heuristic thinking, good, bad, or somewhere...

Question 12

When a writer or artist sits down to begin a new piece of work, the creator does not know what it will sound like when it is finished. This is a(n) _____.
A) ill-defined problem
B) well-defined problem
C) algorithm
D) operator state

Accepted Answer

The situation described is an example of an ill-defined problem, as the creator does not have a clear, specific goal in mind for what the finished product should sound like.

Question 13

One type of mental representation is the concept. How do concepts allow us to relate to the world around us in a manageable way? What are categories, and how do they relate to our use of concepts? Create an example to show what a person's experience in a novel situation might be like if humans didn't organize the world based on concepts and categories.

Accepted Answer

The answer of One type of mental representation is the...

Question 14

What are the rules that govern how words are strung together into meaningful sentences?
A) semantics Semantics
B) pragmatics Pragmatics
C) morphemics Morphemics
D) syntaxSyntax

Accepted Answer

Syntax is the area of linguistics that studies the rules that govern how words are combined into meaningful sentences, including rules for word order, agreement, and phrase structure. Semantics, pragmatics, and morphemics are also important aspects of language, but they do not specifically deal with the rules for sentence structure.

Question 15

When a professor asked the class to name the first fruit that came to mind, over 80% of the students said either apple, orange, or banana. This illustrates that ______.
A) students are generally conformists
B) most people are limited by relying on rule-based categorization.
C) these are very prototypical fruits
D) any single concept can be placed into only one category

Accepted Answer

This illustrates that apple, orange, and banana are very prototypical fruits that come to mind for most people when they are asked to name a fruit. It does not necessarily indicate that students are conformists or limited by rule-based categorization, nor does it make a statement about the placement of concepts into categories.

Question 16

_____ refer to mental representations of objects, events, or ideas.
A) Categories
B) Concepts
C) Primings
D) Networks

Accepted Answer

The definition given in the question best matches the definition of concepts, which refer to mental representations of objects, events, or ideas. Categories are broader groupings of similar things, primings are the activation of concepts through exposure to related stimuli, and networks refer to the interconnectedness of concepts in the brain. Therefore, B is the best choice.

Question 17

________ categorization approaches assume that all members of a category share a number of defining features.
A) Basic level
B) Prototypical
C) Priming
D) Rule-based

Accepted Answer

Rule-based categorization approaches assume that all members of a category share a number of defining features, while basic level and prototypical categorization approaches do not necessarily require all members to share the same defining features. Priming is not a categorization approach but rather a phenomenon in which exposure to a stimulus influences subsequent processing of related stimuli.

Question 18

Explain the difference between algorithmic and heuristic approaches to solving problems. Then provide one algorithmic and one heuristic strategy for deciding how much paint you would need to paint your bedroom.

Accepted Answer

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Question 19

What is the most accurate conclusion from research conducted on primate language abilities?
A) Primates can learn some aspects of human language, though many differences remain.
B) Primates can learn human language in full.
C) Primates cannot learn human language in any way.
D) There are not enough research data to reach reliable conclusions on this topic.

Accepted Answer

While primates have demonstrated the ability to learn some aspects of human language, such as basic vocabulary and simple grammar, they have not been shown to attain full proficiency in using it. Therefore, option A is the most accurate conclusion.

Question 20

Why do psychologists assert that heuristics are beneficial for problem solving?
A) Heuristics increase the amount of time we spend arriving at good solutions to problems.
B) Heuristics decrease our chances of errors dramatically.
C) Heuristics help us make decisions efficiently.
D) Heuristics are considered the most logical thought pattern for problem solving.

Accepted Answer

Psychologists assert that heuristics are beneficial for problem solving because they help us make decisions efficiently. While heuristics may not always lead to the most accurate or optimal solutions, they can often lead to good enough solutions more quickly than more exhaustive problem-solving strategies.

Quiz 8: Thought and Language

What did researchers find when they compared plant and animal naming of rural villagers in Central America to urban dwellers in the United States?

The smallest units of language that convey meaning are known as:

_____ are problem-solving strategies that provide a reasonable guess for the solution.

Louis needs a screwdriver to fix his remote-controlled care but he doesn't have one on hand. It does not occur to him that the dime in his pocket could serve as a makeshift substitute. This is because he is experiencing ________.

Research on linguistic relativity suggests that

Describe the concepts of phonemes, morphemes, syntax, and pragmatics. Then use the sentence "The concert was so great that it blew my mind!" to provide examples of each type of language unit.

Identify three specific nonhuman primates discussed in your textbook that researchers attempted to teach to use language. In each example, briefly describe the research and the results.

Besides being based in a different region of the brain, a major distinction between Broca's aphasia and Wernicke's aphasia is that

If you usually spend twice as long as your dinner companions poring over the menu, considering every choice and fretting over which one would be best, then you are almost certainly ________.

Newton has been studying English for about a month and keeps getting tripped up y irregular verbs, often saying runned instead of ran. Although technically incorrect, this shows that Newton has learned that the ____ =ed is a suffix that indicates past tense.

Is heuristic thinking, good, bad, or somewhere in between? What advantages-if any-are associated with heuristic thinking? Are there disadvantages to using heuristics, and if so, what are they? Use the availability heuristic to provide examples to support your claims.

When a writer or artist sits down to begin a new piece of work, the creator does not know what it will sound like when it is finished. This is a(n) _____.

What are the rules that govern how words are strung together into meaningful sentences?

When a professor asked the class to name the first fruit that came to mind, over 80% of the students said either apple, orange, or banana. This illustrates that ______.

_____ refer to mental representations of objects, events, or ideas.

________ categorization approaches assume that all members of a category share a number of defining features.

Explain the difference between algorithmic and heuristic approaches to solving problems. Then provide one algorithmic and one heuristic strategy for deciding how much paint you would need to paint your bedroom.

What is the most accurate conclusion from research conducted on primate language abilities?

Why do psychologists assert that heuristics are beneficial for problem solving?