Question 1

Sounds that serve as the smallest distinct unit of speech are called:

Accepted Answer

Phonemes are the smallest units of sound in a language that can distinguish one word from another. For example, the difference in sound between the word "bat" and "pat" is a difference in a single phoneme.

Question 2

Your dog has fleas. You've never before encountered this situation and feel a sense of urgency to address it. According to Cattell's model of intelligence, you must rely upon your _____ to solve this problem.

Accepted Answer

Cattell's model of intelligence differentiates between crystallized intelligence, which involves the use of learned knowledge and experience, and fluid intelligence, which is the capacity to think logically and solve problems in novel situations, independent of acquired knowledge. In this scenario, solving a new problem (your dog having fleas for the first time) would primarily require fluid intelligence, as it involves devising new strategies and solutions.

Question 3

After taking an intelligence test, Tyrone is informed that he has an IQ of 145. What can be concluded based on Tyrone's IQ score?

Accepted Answer

An IQ score of 145 is significantly above the average IQ, which is set at 100. The standard deviation for most IQ tests is 15, so a score of 145 is three standard deviations above the mean, indicating a very high level of intelligence.

Question 4

According to John Carroll's three-stratum theory of intelligence:

Accepted Answer

John Carroll's three-stratum theory of intelligence posits a hierarchical model with three layers: a single general intelligence (g) at the top (stratum III), a set of broad abilities (big s) in the middle (stratum II), and many specific abilities (little s) at the bottom (stratum I).

Question 5

_____ theory of language development is to nature as _____ theories of language development are to nurture.

Accepted Answer

Nativist theories of language development emphasize the role of innate biological structures and genetic predispositions (nature), while nonnativist theories focus on environmental influences, learning, and social interaction (nurture).

Question 6

The rules by which you extract meaning from words and sentences is called:

Accepted Answer

Semantics is the study of meaning in language, focusing on the interpretation of words and sentences.

Question 7

Test bias is defined as:

Accepted Answer

Test bias occurs when a test consistently produces scores that are systematically inaccurate for members of specific groups, indicating that the test may not equally measure the abilities or knowledge of individuals from different backgrounds or demographics.

Question 8

The _____ theory of language development asserts that the ability to use language is inborn.

Accepted Answer

The nativist theory, most famously associated with linguist Noam Chomsky, posits that the ability to use language is innate, suggesting that humans are born with a set of grammatical rules hardwired into their brains.

Question 9

Part of the Wechsler Intelligence Tests assesses verbal comprehension. Items on this subtest would test your ability to:

Accepted Answer

The verbal comprehension subtest of the Wechsler Intelligence Tests focuses on assessing an individual's understanding and use of language, which includes the ability to understand words and sentences.

Question 10

An example of reliability is:

Accepted Answer

Reliability refers to the consistency of a measure. A test is considered reliable if it produces the same results under consistent conditions. Retaking a personality test and getting the same results demonstrates this consistency, indicating that the test reliably measures what it claims to.

Question 11

Why do more recently created culture-fair intelligence tests minimize the use of words?

Accepted Answer

Words can introduce cultural and linguistic biases, so minimizing their use helps create a more equitable assessment of intelligence across diverse populations.

Question 12

The _____ heuristic is an educated guess based on similarity to a prototype, whereas the _____ heuristic is an educated guess based on information that most easily and quickly comes to mind.

Accepted Answer

The representativeness heuristic involves making decisions based on how similar something is to a typical case (a prototype), while the availability heuristic involves making decisions based on how easily examples come to mind.

Question 13

Components of language other than the literal meaning of the words are called:

Accepted Answer

Extralingistic information refers to elements of communication and language understanding that go beyond the literal meaning of words, including tone, context, body language, and cultural norms.

Question 14

The levels of grammar, beginning with the smallest level, follow which order?

Accepted Answer

Phonology deals with the sounds in a language, morphology with the structure of words, syntax with the arrangement of words in sentences, and semantics with the meanings of words and sentences.

Question 15

Brad tends to overreact when in conversations with his friends. His closest friends understand how Brad can be quite sensitive, and often say to him, "Come on, don't make a mountain out of a molehill!" Brad's friends are using _____ to point out when he is making a big deal about nothing.

Accepted Answer

The phrase "don't make a mountain out of a molehill" is an example of figurative language, specifically an idiom, which means to make a big deal out of something that is actually not very important.

Question 16

The nativist theory of language development suggests that:

Accepted Answer

The nativist theory, most notably associated with linguist Noam Chomsky, posits that the ability to acquire language is innate, suggesting that humans are born with a biological predisposition or a specific cognitive ability for language learning. This contrasts with theories that emphasize learning from the environment or social interaction as primary drivers of language development.

Question 17

Which statement about Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences approach is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences has been influential but also controversial. Intelligence experts and psychologists do not universally agree that the nine intelligences he identified cover all areas of intelligence comprehensively across different cultures. There is ongoing debate about the scope and categorization of intelligence, with some critics arguing that Gardner's model is too broad or lacks empirical support.

Question 18

Which is NOT one of the primary reasons psychologists give intelligence tests?

Accepted Answer

Intelligence tests are primarily designed to assess cognitive abilities such as reasoning, problem-solving, and understanding. Measuring emotional intelligence, which involves recognizing, understanding, and managing emotions, is not a primary purpose of traditional intelligence tests.

Question 19

At school, Minnie took the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC). When Minnie got home, she told her mom about all the different kinds of puzzles that she had to solve on the test and how fun she thought it was. These types of questions were designed to assess Minnie's:

Accepted Answer

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) includes various subtests designed to assess different cognitive abilities. The description of solving different kinds of puzzles aligns with the perceptual reasoning index, which measures a child's ability to interpret, organize, and reason with visually presented nonverbal material.

Question 20

Taryn takes the Stanford-Binet test at her elementary school and scores a 142 on it. She is subsequently placed into a program with just a few other kids at her school where they participate in activities that are cognitively engaging and challenging. It is likely that Taryn is now part of a program for children with:

Accepted Answer

A score of 142 on the Stanford-Binet test indicates a high level of intelligence, typically associated with giftedness, which is why Taryn is likely placed in a program for gifted children.

Quiz 7: Cognition: Thinking, Language, and Intelligence