Question 1

While walking in the woods, Larry happens to stumble across a nest of turkey eggs just as they are hatching.Larry watches the chicks as they emerge from their eggs and begin walking about.As he leaves the nest area, Larry finds the young birds are determined to go with him.Larry's new friends are victims of .
A)instinctive drift
B)imprinting
C)the nonhereditability of learning
D)low intelligence

Accepted Answer

The behavior of the turkey chicks following Larry is likely an example of imprinting, a type of learning where young animals form strong, rapid attachments to the first moving object they encounter during a critical period early in development. This can often lead to animals following and mimicking the behavior of the object of their imprinting, even if it is not their own species.

Question 2

John has difficulty training a raccoon to pick up coins and put them in a bank.It is most likely that .
A)the raccoon lacks the intelligence to learn this task
B)the raccoon was contraprepared to learn this task
C)this task had to be learned during a critical period
D)raccoons lack the ability for insightful problem solving

Accepted Answer

The term "contraprepared" suggests that a species may be biologically predisposed to learn or not learn certain tasks. In this case, it is likely that raccoons have not evolved to easily learn tasks that involve picking up objects and depositing them in a container. This does not necessarily mean they lack intelligence or problem-solving abilities in other contexts. This question suggests the concept of "contrapreparedness," which refers to the idea that some behaviors are harder to teach animals because they go against their natural tendencies. Raccoons are known to have a strong instinct to hoard shiny objects, but they don't naturally understand the concept of money or banking. Therefore, it is likely that they are contraprepared to learn the specific task of picking up coins and putting them in a bank.

Question 3

Armadillos curl up into a ball when attacked.Reginald teaches an armadillo to curl up into a ball when a buzzer sounds.Reginald is making use of the phenomenon known as .
A)intelligence
B)critical periods
C)overadaptability
D)preparedness

Accepted Answer

Reginald is taking advantage of the armadillo's innate preparedness to curl up into a ball when attacked. This behavior is a natural response that armadillos have developed through evolution as a survival mechanism. Reginald is using classical conditioning to associate the sound of the buzzer with the armadillo's innate behavior of curling up, making it more likely for the armadillo to do so in the presence of the sound. Preparedness refers to the instinctive or innate ability of animals to learn and respond to certain stimuli or situations that are relevant to their survival. In this case, the armadillo's instinct to curl up into a ball when attacked is being reinforced or trained further by associating it with the sound of a buzzer.

Question 4

Learning is of vital importance because so many problems that face society involve .
A)behavior
B)heredity
C)criminal impulses
D)unconscious motivation

Accepted Answer

Learning plays a crucial role in shaping behavior, which can impact society in both positive and negative ways. By learning new skills, behaviors, and ways of thinking, individuals can contribute to the betterment of society. On the other hand, negative behaviors and attitudes can also be learned, which can lead to problems such as crime, discrimination, and other social issues. While heredity, criminal impulses, and unconscious motivation can also have an impact on behavior, learning is often the key factor in determining how individuals behave and interact with each other. Learning influences behavior, while heredity affects physical traits and some behavioral tendencies. Criminal impulses and unconscious motivation may also play a role in some problems, but learning is the most fundamental factor in shaping behavior and addressing societal issues.

Question 5

The person whose name is associated with the inheritance of acquired characteristics is .
A)Lamarck
B)Galton
C)Bannister
D)Copernicus

Accepted Answer

Lamarck is the person whose name is associated with the inheritance of acquired characteristics. He proposed the theory of inheritance of acquired characteristics, which suggested that an organism can pass down traits it acquired during its lifetime to its offspring. However, this theory has been discredited by modern genetics.

Question 6

Joseph Wolpe has raised doubts about the idea that people are prepared to acquire certain phobias.

Accepted Answer

Joseph Wolpe, a prominent figure in behavior therapy, questioned the concept of biological preparedness, which suggests that humans are predisposed to develop certain phobias more easily than others due to evolutionary factors.

Question 7

The psychologist who mistakenly believed that learned behavior could be inherited was .
A)McArthur
B)McConnell
C)McDougall
D)McEdwards

Accepted Answer

The psychologist who mistakenly believed that learned behavior could be inherited was William McDougall.

Question 8

Harry and Martha Frank found that on barrier problems dogs did not perform as well as .
A)wolves
B)coyotes
C)foxes
D)otters

Accepted Answer

The passage states that on barrier problems, dogs did not perform as well as wolves. No information is provided about the performance of coyotes, foxes, or otters on these tasks. The passage states that "on barrier problems dogs did not perform as well as wolves." Therefore, the correct choice is A) wolves.

Question 9

Learning does not always mean progress.

Accepted Answer

Learning can involve gaining new information or skills, but progress also depends on how that learning is applied and whether it leads to positive change or improvement. Simply acquiring knowledge or skills does not guarantee progress.

Question 10

Efforts to teach chimpanzees to talk probably failed because .
A)the researchers did not use the proper reinforcement procedures
B)chimps have their own language which they would not give up
C)the researchers did not begin instruction when the chimps were very young
D)chimps lack the biological structures for speech

Accepted Answer

Chimps lack the biological structures for speech, specifically the necessary anatomy and physiology of the larynx, vocal cords, and mouth. Therefore, even with proper reinforcement procedures and beginning instruction at a young age, they would not be physically able to produce human speech. Chimps lack the biological structures for speech, such as the human-like vocal cords and tongue position, making it impossible for them to produce speech sounds in the same way as humans.

Question 11

Allen and Beatrice Gardner taught a chimpanzee to .
A)use sign language
B)speak
C)read and write
D)communicate with geometric forms

Accepted Answer

The Gardners famously taught a chimpanzee named Washoe to use American Sign Language. Allen and Beatrice Gardner were pioneers in teaching sign language to a chimpanzee named Washoe, who was able to learn and use over 350 signs to communicate with humans.

Question 12

Keller and Marion Breland are known for their article, .
A)Prepared to Learn
B)The Misbehavior of Organisms
C)Learning at an Early Age
D)Animal Farm

Accepted Answer

Keller and Marion Breland are known for their article, "The Misbehavior of Organisms," which detailed their experiences training animals for commercial purposes. Keller and Marion Breland are known for their article "The Misbehavior of Organisms," which describes their work with animal training and behavior modification.

Question 13

Louise goes to an outdoor rock concert at which she tries pizza for the first time, and listens to a new rock group.During the course of the concert she becomes nauseated.You predict that she will become nauseated the next time she .
A)attends an outdoor rock concert
B)hears the same rock group perform
C)eats pizza
D)eats dinner while listening to music

Accepted Answer

Based on the information given, the only consistent factor in Louise's experience of becoming nauseated is eating pizza for the first time. Therefore, it is reasonable to predict that she may become nauseated again if she eats pizza in the future. There is no evidence to suggest that attending outdoor rock concerts or listening to music causes her nausea, so options A, B, and D are not supported by the given information.

Question 14

Substances that damage the nervous system are called .
A)trace elements
B)neurotoxins
C)CNS inhibitors
D)cortical blockers

Accepted Answer

Neurotoxins are substances that damage the nervous system, causing adverse effects on behavior, cognition, and motor functions. Trace elements are essential nutrients required in small amounts and do not necessarily cause harm to the nervous system. CNS inhibitors and cortical blockers are not commonly used terms for substances that damage the nervous system. Neurotoxins are substances that can damage or destroy neurons in the nervous system. This can lead to a variety of neurological problems, including impaired cognitive function, motor deficits, and sensory disturbances. Examples of neurotoxins include heavy metals like lead and mercury, pesticides and herbicides, and certain drugs and chemicals.

Question 15

Frances puts a hungry rat into an experimental chamber.Whenever the rat presses a lever, food falls into a tray.In about 30 minutes, the rat is pressing the lever steadily.Frances returns the rat to the training cage for one hour a day every day until the rat produces young.Frances then trains one of this rat's offspring in the same manner as its mother and repeats this procedure for generation after generation.You predict that when the twelfth generation rat is put into the training cage, it will press the lever steadily in about .
A)7 minutes
B)10 minutes
C)20 minutes
D)30 minutes

Accepted Answer

The behavior of pressing the lever is learned through operant conditioning, not inherited genetically. Each generation will likely take the same amount of time to learn the behavior as the first generation, which is 30 minutes.

Question 16

An animal that can learn to perform one trick is sure to learn another trick of similar complexity.

Accepted Answer

The ability of an animal to learn one trick does not guarantee it will learn another, even of similar complexity, due to differences in motivation, interest, and individual learning capabilities.

Question 17

Sign tracking is also called .
A)sign monitoring
B)autotracking
C)autoshaping
D)autotrack

Accepted Answer

Sign tracking and autoshaping are interchangeable terms used to describe the phenomenon of an animal exhibiting a conditioned response to a cue associated with a reward, even if the cue itself is not the source of the reward. Autotracking and sign monitoring are not commonly used terms in reference to this behavior.

Question 18

In their study of conditioning, Garcia and Koelling paired water with radiation.They found that the rats later avoided .
A)water with a distinct odor
B)water with a distinct taste
C)water that was bright and noisy
D)any kind of water

Accepted Answer

Garcia and Koelling's study showed that the rats avoided water with a distinct taste, indicating that taste was a more salient (noticeable) cue for conditioned taste aversion than other cues such as odor or visual stimuli. This phenomenon is also known as the "Garcia effect." Garcia and Koelling found that the rats later avoided water with a distinct taste, indicating that the pairing of water with radiation had led to taste aversion conditioning. The rats did not develop an aversion to water with a distinct odor or any other type of water.

Question 19

Skinner's efforts to teach pigeons to play ping pong demonstrate that the inability to learn a skill may sometimes be overcome by .
A)making allowances for physical limitations
B)breaking the task into small parts
C)lots of patient training
D)surgical procedures

Accepted Answer

The answer of Skinner's efforts to teach pigeons to play...

Question 20

Robert Tryon's work demonstrates the role of heredity in .
A)maze learning
B)preparedness
C)critical periods
D)contingency traps

Accepted Answer

Robert Tryon's work primarily demonstrated the role of heredity in maze learning. In his experiments with rats, Tryon selectively bred individuals who were able to learn a maze more quickly and found that this ability was heritable and passed down to the offspring. This suggests that genetic factors play a significant role in maze learning ability. Robert Tryon's work focused on maze learning in rats and demonstrated the role of heredity in this type of learning. He selectively bred rats for their ability to navigate mazes quickly and found that the offspring of the "maze-bright" rats also performed well in maze learning tasks, indicating a genetic component to this skill.

Quiz 12: The Limits of Learning

John has difficulty training a raccoon to pick up coins and put them in a bank.It is most likely that .

Armadillos curl up into a ball when attacked.Reginald teaches an armadillo to curl up into a ball when a buzzer sounds.Reginald is making use of the phenomenon known as .

Learning is of vital importance because so many problems that face society involve .

The person whose name is associated with the inheritance of acquired characteristics is .

Joseph Wolpe has raised doubts about the idea that people are prepared to acquire certain phobias.

The psychologist who mistakenly believed that learned behavior could be inherited was .

Harry and Martha Frank found that on barrier problems dogs did not perform as well as .

Learning does not always mean progress.

Efforts to teach chimpanzees to talk probably failed because .

Allen and Beatrice Gardner taught a chimpanzee to .

Keller and Marion Breland are known for their article, .

Louise goes to an outdoor rock concert at which she tries pizza for the first time, and listens to a new rock group.During the course of the concert she becomes nauseated.You predict that she will become nauseated the next time she .

Substances that damage the nervous system are called .

An animal that can learn to perform one trick is sure to learn another trick of similar complexity.

Sign tracking is also called .

In their study of conditioning, Garcia and Koelling paired water with radiation.They found that the rats later avoided .

Skinner's efforts to teach pigeons to play ping pong demonstrate that the inability to learn a skill may sometimes be overcome by .

Robert Tryon's work demonstrates the role of heredity in .