Question 1

Which statement is true?
A) Estrogen is found only in females, and androgens are found only in males.
B) Estrogen is found only in males, and androgens are found only in females.
C) During puberty, estrogen and androgens are released at the same levels in adolescent males and females.
D) During puberty, estrogen and androgens are released at different levels in adolescent males and females.

Accepted Answer

During puberty, estrogen and androgens are released at different levels in adolescent males and females. Females typically have higher levels of estrogen, while males have higher levels of androgens such as testosterone. However, both hormones are present in both sexes, just at different levels.

Question 2

The term puberty denotes ____ specific types of changes that mark the transition from childhood to young adulthood.
A) two
B) three
C) four
D) six

Accepted Answer

A

Question 3

From whom would you expect the biggest gains in height and weight over the next three years?
A) Ginger, who is 2 years old
B) Grant, who is 6 years old
C) Tina, who is 11 years old
D) Louise, who is 14 years old

Accepted Answer

C

Question 4

Pubertal changes that are related to reproduction are to ________ as pubertal changes that are not directly linked to the reproductive organs are to ________.
A) adrenal maturatives; pituitary maturatives
B) primary sexual characteristics; secondary sexual characteristics
C) pituitary maturatives; adrenal maturatives
D) secondary sexual characteristics; primary sexual characteristics

Accepted Answer

Primary sexual characteristics are those directly related to the reproductive organs and functions, such as the development of the ovaries in females and the testes in males. Secondary sexual characteristics are features that distinguish the sexes but are not directly involved in reproduction, such as breast development in females and facial hair in males.

Question 5

At about age ____, most boys reach spermarche, which is the first spontaneous ejaculation of sperm-laden fluid.
A) 9
B) 11
C) 13
D) 15

Accepted Answer

Spermarche typically occurs around the age of 13, although it can occur as early as 9 or as late as 15.

Question 6

Which of the following chemicals, when released in the body, will initiate the biochemical changes that produce body hair?
A) phytogens
B) prolactins
C) androgens
D) estrogens

Accepted Answer

Androgens, such as testosterone, initiate the biochemical changes that produce body hair. They stimulate hair follicles to grow thick, coarse hair in areas such as the face, chest, and pubic areas.

Question 7

Young Tiffany is just starting puberty, and there are several changes occurring in her body. Which of the following would be an example of change in a secondary sexual characteristic?
A) development of her ovaries
B) development of her breasts
C) development of her vagina
D) development of her uterus

Accepted Answer

Development of breasts is a secondary sexual characteristic because it is a physical change that is not directly related to reproduction, but rather a visible sign of an individual's sexual development. The other options listed are all primary sexual characteristics and directly involve reproductive organs.

Question 8

Suzy has just begun her pubescent growth spurt, and her mother often says, "That girl is growing like a weed!" If Suzy's development is typical of most girls, she is probably about ____ years old.
A) 9
B) 11
C) 13
D) 15

Accepted Answer

The typical age for girls to begin their pubescent growth spurt is around 11 years old. This is a general average, as individual development can vary.

Question 9

________ refers to a collection of physical changes that marks the onset of adolescence, including bodily changes and transitions in one's sexual maturation.
A) Adolescence
B) Climacteric
C) Puberty
D) Menarche

Accepted Answer

Puberty refers specifically to the physical changes that occur during adolescence, including changes in hormone levels, growth spurts, and the development of secondary sex characteristics. Adolescence is a broader term that encompasses not only physical changes but also psychological and social changes. Climacteric refers to the period of life when a person's reproductive ability declines (usually occurring in middle age), and menarche specifically refers to the onset of menstruation in girls.

Question 10

During the peak of adolescence, a girl may gain as much as ________ pounds in a year, while a boy may gain ________ pounds.
A) 5-7; 6-8
B) 8-10; 10-12
C) 10-12; 14-15
D) 14-15; 16-17

Accepted Answer

The answer of During the peak of adolescence, a girl...

Question 11

The key player in the physical changes that are experienced as puberty begins is the
A) pituitary gland.
B) adrenal gland.
C) gonads (testes or ovaries).
D) thalamus.

Accepted Answer

The pituitary gland plays a crucial role in initiating puberty by releasing hormones that stimulate the gonads (testes in males and ovaries in females) to produce sex hormones. These hormonal changes lead to the physical developments characteristic of puberty.

Question 12

A sex difference during puberty involves the fact that ____ is greater for girls than boys.
A) muscle development
B) heart capacity
C) lung capacity
D) body fat

Accepted Answer

During puberty, girls tend to experience an increase in body fat, while boys typically experience an increase in muscle mass. This difference is due to hormonal and physiological differences between males and females.

Question 13

Which of the following statements is the most accurate with regard to the timing of the onset of puberty in youngsters?
A) The timing of puberty is regulated by environmental forces, but these environmental forces are strongly influenced by genetics.
B) Puberty is something that is uniquely determined by environmental factors, and genetics play no part in when these changes emerge.
C) The timing of puberty is regulated by genetics, but these genetic forces are strongly influenced by environmental factors.
D) Puberty is something that is uniquely determined by genetics, and environmental influences play no part in when these changes emerge.

Accepted Answer

The timing of puberty is primarily determined by genetics, but environmental factors such as nutrition and stress can influence the onset of puberty. However, genetics play a stronger role in determining the timing of puberty than environmental factors. Therefore, statement C is the most accurate. Statements A and D are both incorrect because they either give too much or too little credit to environmental factors in determining the onset of puberty. Statement B is also incorrect as genetics do play a role in puberty.

Question 14

A typical girl starting her growth spurt is to ______ years of age, as a typical boy starting his growth spurt is to _____ years of age.
A) 12; 10
B) 11; 13
C) 9; 12
D) 13; 10

Accepted Answer

On average, girls begin their growth spurt around the age of 11, while boys begin around the age of 13. Therefore, the closest choice is B with a starting age of 11 for girls and 13 for boys.

Question 15

Izzy is starting her pubertal growth spurt. Which of the following body parts do you think would start to grow the earliest?
A) her breasts
B) her hips
C) her arms
D) her hands

Accepted Answer

The answer of Izzy is starting her pubertal growth spurt....

Question 16

Why is it that social interactions between 11- and 12-year-old boys and girls are frequently so awkward?
A) Because girls tend to do much better than boys in school at this age, and this becomes a source of endless teasing and torment.
B) Because girls form cliques and boys form crowds, and thus they really have nothing to talk about
C) Because they are not yet at the age where they have anything in common, and thus there is no real value in these social interactions.
D) Because the girls may be taller and look more mature than the boys, since their pubertal growth spurt begins earlier.

Accepted Answer

Girls tend to start their pubertal growth spurt earlier than boys, which can lead to height and maturity differences between the two genders at this age. This can create social awkwardness and discomfort, as boys may feel inferior or intimidated by taller and more developed girls.

Question 17

Why is it that the brain of an adolescent becomes capable of processing information more efficiently than the brain of a child?
A) Because the brain has grown to its adult size by the time puberty occurs.
B) Because synaptic pruning begins to take place in adolescence.
C) Because not all of the cerebral lobes were "active" before puberty, but they are all working in adolescence.
D) Because the corpus callosum, a structure which used to block messages from going between the two cerebral hemispheres, atrophies and disappears during adolescence.

Accepted Answer

During adolescence, the brain undergoes synaptic pruning, which is the elimination of unused neural connections. This process leads to a more efficient processing of information, as the brain retains only the most important connections. This is what makes the adolescent brain more efficient than a child's brain.

Question 18

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about the brain of a person who is in early adolescence?
A) It has finally developed all 12 lobes of the cerebrum.
B) It reached its full size within the last two to three years and has already begun experiencing loss of both gray and white matter.
C) It has nearly reached its full size.
D) It is about half of its adult size.

Accepted Answer

The brain of a person in early adolescence has nearly reached its full size, but it still has some growth and development to go through. While the brain reaches its full size by early adulthood, there is still a lot of maturation that takes place during adolescence and beyond, including the development of neural connections and the pruning of unused neural pathways.

Question 19

Which of the following individuals has just experienced menarche?
A) Mona, who has started developing breasts.
B) Gaspar, who recently experienced his first ejaculation of semen.
C) Lisa, who recently experienced her first menstrual cycle.
D) Johnny, whose testicles have enlarged and descended.

Accepted Answer

Menarche refers to the onset of menstruation in females. Therefore, Lisa, who recently experienced her first menstrual cycle, has just experienced menarche. Developing breasts (A) and testicular enlargement and descent (D) are signs of puberty in females and males respectively, but do not indicate menarche. Gaspar's first ejaculation (B) is a sign of puberty in males and is not related to menarche.

Question 20

Which of the following is an accurate differentiation between a young man's initial and later ejaculations?
A) Initial ejaculations contain relatively few sperm, while later ejaculations contain enough sperm to fertilize an egg.
B) Initial ejaculations only occur during sleep (nocturnal emissions) while later ejaculations can occur either while sleeping or awake.
C) Initial ejaculations contain no sperm cells, while later ejaculations (typically starting around 15 years of age) do contain sperm cells.
D) Initial ejaculations contain a high content of urine combined with semen, while later ejaculations are almost exclusively semen.

Accepted Answer

Initial ejaculations often contain fewer sperm or may even lack sperm entirely, as the reproductive system is still maturing. Over time, as the reproductive system fully develops, ejaculations will contain enough sperm to potentially fertilize an egg.

Quiz 8: Rites of Passage: Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence

Which statement is true?

The term puberty denotes ____ specific types of changes that mark the transition from childhood to young adulthood.

From whom would you expect the biggest gains in height and weight over the next three years?

Pubertal changes that are related to reproduction are to as pubertal changes that are not directly linked to the reproductive organs are to .

At about age ____, most boys reach spermarche, which is the first spontaneous ejaculation of sperm-laden fluid.

Which of the following chemicals, when released in the body, will initiate the biochemical changes that produce body hair?

Young Tiffany is just starting puberty, and there are several changes occurring in her body. Which of the following would be an example of change in a secondary sexual characteristic?

Suzy has just begun her pubescent growth spurt, and her mother often says, "That girl is growing like a weed!" If Suzy's development is typical of most girls, she is probably about ____ years old.

________ refers to a collection of physical changes that marks the onset of adolescence, including bodily changes and transitions in one's sexual maturation.

During the peak of adolescence, a girl may gain as much as pounds in a year, while a boy may gain pounds.

The key player in the physical changes that are experienced as puberty begins is the

A sex difference during puberty involves the fact that ____ is greater for girls than boys.

Which of the following statements is the most accurate with regard to the timing of the onset of puberty in youngsters?

A typical girl starting her growth spurt is to __ years of age, as a typical boy starting his growth spurt is to _ years of age.

Izzy is starting her pubertal growth spurt. Which of the following body parts do you think would start to grow the earliest?

Why is it that social interactions between 11- and 12-year-old boys and girls are frequently so awkward?

Why is it that the brain of an adolescent becomes capable of processing information more efficiently than the brain of a child?

Which of the following is the most accurate statement about the brain of a person who is in early adolescence?

Which of the following individuals has just experienced menarche?

Which of the following is an accurate differentiation between a young man's initial and later ejaculations?