Question 1

As the benefits of evolutionary selection decrease with age,Baltes argues,the need for all of the following increases,EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Baltes argues that as the benefits of evolutionary selection decrease with age, the need for social support, medical technology, and culture increases because these resources are necessary to compensate for the decline in biological functioning. However, job training is not specifically mentioned as a need that increases with age.

Question 2

Scientists had thought that humans had as many as 100,000 or more genes,but recent research indicates a figure of approximately:

Accepted Answer

Recent research indicates that humans have approximately 20,500 genes, which is far fewer than the previously estimated 100,000 or more genes.

Question 3

According to Paul Baltes,the benefits conferred with evolutionary selection _____ with age.

Accepted Answer

According to Paul Baltes, the benefits conferred with evolutionary selection decrease with age. This is because natural selection has favored traits and behaviors that enhance survival and reproduction during the reproductive years, but these same traits may not be as advantageous in later life when reproduction is no longer possible or likely. As a result, natural selection is less effective in promoting traits that enhance survival and may even be counterproductive in old age.

Question 4

If a baboon learns to eat many different kinds of fruit instead of relying on only one kind for its nutritive needs,we would argue that this behavior promotes its survival.Thus,the behavior is:

Accepted Answer

The behavior of learning to eat many different kinds of fruit instead of relying on only one kind for its nutritive needs promotes the baboon's survival by increasing its chances of finding food even in times when its preferred fruit is scarce. This behavior is considered adaptive as it helps the baboon survive and reproduce in its environment.

Question 5

According to life-span developmentalist Paul Baltes,the benefits conferred by evolutionary selection decrease with age.Natural selection has not weeded out many harmful conditions and nonadaptive characteristics that appear among older adults.Why?

Accepted Answer

Natural selection operates primarily on characteristics that increase an organism's reproductive fitness and contribute to the survival of offspring. Since most harmful conditions and nonadaptive characteristics commonly appear after the reproductive age, natural selection has not had enough time or pressure to weed them out because they do not affect an individual's ability to produce viable offspring. Therefore, these conditions and characteristics continue to exist and accumulate as an individual ages.

Question 6

The nucleus of each human cell contains _____,which are threadlike structures made up of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).

Accepted Answer

Chromosomes are the threadlike structures in the nucleus of each human cell that are made up of DNA. Mitochondria are organelles responsible for producing energy, ribosomes are responsible for protein synthesis, and mesosomes are structures found in bacteria.

Question 7

Psychology's newest approach,_____,emphasizes the importance of adaptation,reproduction,and "survival of the fittest" in shaping behavior.

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary psychology emphasizes that behavior is shaped by the process of natural selection, with a focus on adaptations that have allowed organisms to survive and reproduce successfully.

Question 8

Adam was diagnosed with cardiovascular disease,he participated in a research study in which his DNA as well as the DNA of others with cardiovascular disease was compared to the DNA of those who don't have the disease,in order to pinpoint the region in the human genome connected to the disease.This type of study method is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

This study method is called genome-wide association method, which compares the DNA of those with a disease to those without in order to identify specific genetic variations associated with the disease. Next-generation sequencing involves sequencing a person's entire genome, while linkage analysis is used to map genes in families affected by a disease. The thousand genomes project is a separate initiative to identify common genetic variations in multiple populations.

Question 9

Paul Baltes says that natural selection among humans operates mainly during the _____ of life.

Accepted Answer

Paul Baltes states that natural selection operates mainly during the first half of life, when reproduction and parental investment occur. This is because organisms that are better adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their advantageous traits to their offspring. However, this selective pressure diminishes in the second half of life, as reproduction becomes less important and random events and disease begin to play a greater role in mortality.

Question 10

According to evolutionary developmental psychologists,many evolved psychological mechanisms are _____.That is,the mechanisms apply only to a specific aspect of a person's makeup.

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary developmental psychologists argue that many psychological mechanisms have evolved to handle specific tasks that our ancestors faced, such as mate selection, parental care, and social bonding. These mechanisms are domain-specific, meaning that they only apply to a particular domain or aspect of a person's makeup. For example, the mechanism that governs romantic attraction is different from the mechanism that governs friendships, as they involve different types of social relationships. This view contrasts with the idea that human psychology is a general-purpose system that can handle any cognitive task.

Question 11

Red-feathered and blue-feathered birds occupy the same environment.The birds with the red feathers are better able to survive and avoid predators.This means that the population of red-feathered birds should increase in future generations.This illustrates the process of:

Accepted Answer

This scenario describes the process of natural selection, where individuals with certain advantageous traits are better suited to survive and reproduce. The red-feathered birds, being better adapted to avoid predators, will be more likely to survive to pass on their genes to their offspring. Over time, this should result in an increase in the frequency of the red-feathered trait in the population, as genes for this trait become more common. This process is driven by the environment, rather than by human intervention, which is what distinguishes it from genetic selection or genetic survival.

Question 12

A fertilized human egg cannot grow into a crocodile,duck,or fish specifically because of:

Accepted Answer

The genetic code of a fertilized human egg determines what type of organism it will develop into. The genetic code carries the instructions for the development of a human being and cannot develop into any other specific organism, such as a crocodile, duck, or fish.

Question 13

_____ are the building blocks of cells as well as the regulators that direct the body's processes.

Accepted Answer

While genes and DNA play important roles in cell function and inheritance, it is proteins that serve as both building blocks and regulators of cellular processes. Proteins are made up of amino acids, and their unique sequence and shape determine their specific function within the cell.

Question 14

The food-scarce environment of our ancestors likely led to humans' propensity to gorge when food is available and to crave high-caloric foods-a trait that might lead to an epidemic of obesity when food is plentiful.This illustrates how:

Accepted Answer

This statement discusses how evolutionary mechanisms, which were adaptive in the food-scarce environment of our ancestors, are not necessarily adaptive in contemporary society where food is plentiful. It highlights the challenge of adapting to rapidly-changing environments and the potential consequences of evolved traits that are not beneficial in current conditions.

Question 15

_____,the units of hereditary information,are short segments of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).They direct cells to reproduce themselves and to assemble proteins.

Accepted Answer

Genes are the units of hereditary information that are passed from parents to their offspring. They are short segments of DNA that contain the instructions for building proteins, which are essential for the functioning of cells in the body. Chromosomes are structures made up of tightly packed DNA that contain many genes. RNA is a molecule that is involved in the translation of genetic information into proteins, while ribosomes are organelles that are responsible for the synthesis of proteins.

Question 16

Evolution takes place:

Accepted Answer

Evolution is a slow and gradual process that takes place over the course of many generations. It involves the accumulation of small genetic changes in a population over time, leading to new traits and variations that increase the chances of survival and reproduction. Evolution does not occur suddenly or immediately, nor is it a deliberate or conscious process initiated by a species.

Question 17

_____ is a complex molecule with a double helix shape,like a spiral staircase,and contains genetic information.

Accepted Answer

The description fits the structure of the DNA molecule which has a double helix shape and stores genetic information, making it the correct choice. RNA is a similar molecule but has a single strand structure and is involved in protein synthesis, while chromosomes are made up of DNA and proteins and contain genetic material, but are not themselves molecules. Ribosomes are cellular structures involved in protein synthesis.

Question 18

_____ introduced the theory of evolution by natural selection in 1859.

Accepted Answer

Charles Darwin is known for introducing the theory of evolution by natural selection in his book "On the Origin of Species" published in 1859. Sigmund Freud is known for his work in psychoanalysis, Stephen Hawking is known for his work in theoretical physics, and Wilhelm Wundt is considered the father of psychology and known for founding the first psychology laboratory.

Question 19

As an alternative to "_____ evolutionism" presented in evolutionary psychology,Albert Bandura proposed a _____

Accepted Answer

Albert Bandura proposed a bidirectional model, emphasizing the interaction between individuals and their environment, as opposed to a one-sided or unidirectional approach.

Question 20

Which of the following statements is true about evolutionary developmental psychology?

Accepted Answer

Evolutionary developmental psychology recognizes that many evolved psychological mechanisms apply only to specific aspects of a person's makeup, such as social behavior, emotions, or cognitive processes. This is because different challenges and selection pressures in different environments may have led to the evolution of specific adaptations, rather than general-purpose mechanisms.

Quiz 2: Biological Beginnings