Question 1

Generalizing from the text,which body system is likely to give an elderly person the LEAST trouble?

Accepted Answer

The digestive system tends to be more resilient and less prone to age-related decline compared to the skeletal, circulatory, and sensory systems, which often face more significant challenges with age.

Question 2

Autoimmune theory suggests that the aging immune system may release antibodies that attack the body's own cells.This cell breakdown has been suggested as a factor in

Accepted Answer

The autoimmune theory suggests that antibodies produced by the aging immune system may attack the body's own cells, including brain cells. This breakdown of cells has been suggested as a contributing factor in Alzheimer's disease.

Question 3

After reading a study about monkeys who were placed on systematic dietary restrictions,Mario restricted his own diet,hoping to replicate all of the following results EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

The study did not mention any correlation between dietary restrictions and increased sexual performance in monkeys. Therefore, Mario cannot hope to replicate this result by restricting his own diet.

Question 4

During the last several years,Brian,who is now 87 years old,has experienced a decline in his hearing and vision.He also has increasing difficulty walking up stairs and lifting things.According to the text,Brian is in the _______________ period of life.

Accepted Answer

Brian's symptoms suggest he is in the senescent period of life, which is characterized by a general decline in physical and mental functioning due to the aging process. This period typically begins in a person's 60s or 70s and continues until death. The other answer options do not accurately reflect Brian's current stage of life. Terminal implies that he is near death, foreclosed refers to a stage in early adulthood where individuals have not yet explored different life options, and primary deterioration is not a recognized stage of life.

Question 5

Both internal and external factors may influence the process of aging.Variable-rate theories include all of the following factors EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Variable-rate theories of aging typically attribute the causes of aging to factors that vary across individuals rather than universal laws. These theories suggest that factors such as damage due to chance, environmental assaults, and the accumulation of free radicals can influence the process of aging. However, metabolism is not considered a variable-rate factor in these theories, as it is seen as a constant aspect of human biology.

Question 6

Senescence is

Accepted Answer

Senescence refers to the period of life marked by declines in body functioning related to aging. It is a natural and inevitable process that affects everyone at different rates and to different degrees. It can include physical changes such as decreased sensory and organ functioning, as well as cognitive changes such as memory decline.

Question 7

All of the following are normal physical changes associated with aging EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

While sleeping less, paler and less elastic skin, and higher blood pressure are all normal physical changes associated with aging, obesity is not a normal part of the aging process. It is primarily caused by lifestyle factors such as poor diet and lack of exercise.

Question 8

Generalizing from the text,what might be the single most important thing people can do to increase their life span?

Accepted Answer

The text mentions several times that caloric restriction is a key factor in increasing lifespan in various species, including humans. Eating less can lead to a variety of health benefits and has been linked to longevity. Therefore, eating less is the best choice to increase lifespan.

Question 9

According to the rate-of-living theory of aging,slowing down _______________ should increase the life span.

Accepted Answer

According to the rate-of-living theory of aging, the faster an organism's metabolism, the shorter its life span. Therefore, slowing down metabolism (choice B) should increase the life span. The other options (choices A, C, and D) are not directly related to the rate-of-living theory of aging.

Question 10

By the age of _________,the ratio of women to men is about 2 to 1.

Accepted Answer

By the age of 85, the ratio of women to men is approximately 2 to 1, reflecting women's longer life expectancy compared to men's.

Question 11

The finding that human cells can divide about 50 times before they stop dividing and die is called the

Accepted Answer

The finding that human cells can divide about 50 times before they stop dividing and die is called the Hayflick limit, named after the researcher who discovered it, Leonard Hayflick.

Question 12

One reason that the United States ranks 33rd among industrialized countries in healthy life expectancy rates is due to

Accepted Answer

The United States has high levels of violence, including gun violence, which contributes to a lower healthy life expectancy rate compared to many other industrialized countries. Other factors that contribute to this low rank include high rates of obesity, a lack of universal healthcare, and high levels of income inequality. The other options (A, B, and D) are not supported by research or data.

Question 13

We know that the efficiency of the immune system declines with age.Predictions of survival rates have been made through

Accepted Answer

Measures of immune cell levels have been found to be the best predictor of survival rates in older adults. This is because immune cell levels decrease with age, resulting in a weaker immune response and increased susceptibility to infections and diseases. The other options (A and B) may be factors that contribute to the decline in immune system efficiency but may not provide a direct measure of immune cell levels and their impact on survival rates.

Question 14

The survival curve,the biological limit to the life span,demonstrates that

Accepted Answer

The answer of The survival curve,the biological limit to the...

Question 15

Damage associated with free radicals,highly unstable oxygen atoms formed during metabolism,has been mentioned as a factor in all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Free radicals are known to cause damage to cells and tissues, contributing to aging and various diseases, including neurological disorders, muscular dystrophy, and late-onset diabetes. However, genetic disorders are primarily caused by alterations in DNA sequence or structure, not directly by free radicals.

Question 16

Recent research concerning the maximum human life span suggests that

Accepted Answer

Recent research suggests that the maximum human life span may be around 126 years based on mathematical models, as there have been no recorded instances of humans surpassing this age. Therefore, option A is the correct choice. Option B is incorrect, as there is no clear evidence indicating that environmental toxins are slowly reducing the maximum age that people can attain. Option C is also incorrect, as there have been recorded instances of people living beyond the age of 100 years. Option D is also incorrect, as there is no clear evidence indicating that increasing one's caloric intake greatly extends the life span.

Question 17

Which of the following terms is used for the theory that the body ages because of continued use and accumulated "insults"?

Accepted Answer

The term used for the theory that the body ages because of continued use and accumulated "insults" is wear-and-tear. Programmed aging refers to the theory that aging is predetermined by genes, primary aging refers to the normal, natural process of aging, and tertiary aging refers to the rapid physical and mental decline that occurs shortly before death.

Question 18

Which of the following terms is used for the theory that bodies age in accordance with a normal developmental pattern built into every organism?

Accepted Answer

Genetic programming is the term used for the theory that suggests bodies age in accordance with a normal developmental pattern built into every organism. This means that aging is predetermined genetically and that it follows a specific pattern over time.

Question 19

Your roommate tells you to take care of your body and don't subject it to stress because it will make you age faster.Your roommate's advice is consistent with the _______________ theory of aging.

Accepted Answer

The wear-and-tear theory of aging proposes that the body becomes less able to repair itself over time, leading to the accumulation of damage that eventually causes the aging process. Stress is thought to contribute to this damage, making it consistent with the advice given by the roommate. The programmed-aging theory suggests that aging is genetically predetermined, the expectancy theory focuses on the influence of attitudes and beliefs on aging, and the senescence-related theory emphasizes the role of cellular processes in aging.

Question 20

When specific genes "switch off" before age-related losses,it is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Programmed senescence refers to the genetic process by which specific genes "switch off" before age-related losses. This is a natural, programmed process rather than a result of hormonal changes, fatal illness, or genetic interference.

Quiz 17: Physical and Cognitive Development in Late Adulthood