Question 1

Dr. Cruz is an inner-city pediatrician in an older city. Many of the children she sees are growing up in homes that still contain lead-based paint. The prevalence of lead-based paint in the area suggests that Dr. Cruz will see many instances of __________ among her patients.

Accepted Answer

Lead-based paint can cause mental retardation in children.

Question 2

The rooting reflex is concerned with __________.

Accepted Answer

The rooting reflex is a reflexive movement of the head and mouth in response to touch on or near the lips, which helps a newborn locate the nipple for feeding.

Question 3

Mrs. Allen is pregnant. Her baby's major organs have begun to form, as have its facial features. In addition, the neural tube is beginning to develop. The baby is in the __________ stage of prenatal development.

Accepted Answer

The embryonic stage of prenatal development is characterized by the formation of major organs and facial features, as well as the development of the neural tube. This stage typically lasts from the 3rd week to the end of the 8th week of pregnancy.

Question 4

You and a friend are watching a family of kittens play in a neighbor's yard. Your friend asks why human childhood is so much longer than kittenhood, puppyhood, and so on. Recalling the Development chapter in your psychology text, you answer:

Accepted Answer

Among the given options, choice D is the most accurate explanation for why human childhood is much longer than that of other species. Humans are born with fewer innate abilities than other animals, and human environments are much more diverse and complex. Hence, an extended developmental period enables humans to acquire the cognitive, social, and physical skills necessary for survival and adaptation.

Question 5

Which of the following sequences accurately reflects the order of the stages of prenatal development, ordered from conception to birth?

Accepted Answer

Prenatal development begins with the zygotic stage, which is when the sperm fertilizes the egg. This is followed by the embryonic stage and then the fetal stage. Therefore, option D, which lists the stages as zygotic, embryonic, and fetal in that order, is the correct choice.

Question 6

Which of the following phrases BEST describes the pattern of prenatal cortical development?

Accepted Answer

The pattern of prenatal cortical development is known as "inside-out," which means that the earliest-developed layers of the cortex are located deepest within the brain and the later-developed layers are located closer to the surface.

Question 7

Prenatally, the decrease in the number of neurons in the brain is most dramatic __________.

Accepted Answer

The most significant decrease in the number of neurons in the brain occurs between 4 to 6 months after conception due to the process of apoptosis, where excess neurons are pruned to refine neural circuits.

Question 8

Your text describes a study in which pregnant mothers read aloud to their unborn infants from one of two Dr. Seuss books. Later, as newborns, the babies could hear the story they had been read by sucking on a pacifier in a particular manner. By sucking on the pacifier in a different way, they could hear an unfamiliar story. What is the dependent variable in this study? What did the researchers find?

Accepted Answer

The dependent variable is the way the infants sucked on the pacifier, as this behavior was measured to determine their preference. The researchers found that infants preferred the story to which they had been exposed prenatally, indicating they recognized and showed a preference for the familiar story.

Question 9

The rooting reflex causes the infant to do what when his cheek is lightly touched?

Accepted Answer

The rooting reflex causes the infant to turn his head and open his mouth when his cheek is lightly touched. This reflex is important for finding and latching onto the nipple when breastfeeding. Choices B, C, and D do not accurately describe the rooting reflex.

Question 10

Which of the following is TRUE regarding prenatal development of the nervous system?

Accepted Answer

During prenatal development, a significant amount of neuronal pruning occurs where between 20 and 80% of the neurons die as the brain develops. This process is essential for the healthy development of the nervous system, allowing for the strengthening of necessary connections and the elimination of excess neurons.

Question 11

Lead paint was banned for use in U.S. residences in __________.

Accepted Answer

Lead paint was banned for use in U.S. residences in 1978 under the Consumer Product Safety Act.

Question 12

Barney's mother drank heavily during her pregnancy. Barney is short. He has learning disorders and displays some facial abnormality. Barney is a case of __________.

Accepted Answer

Barney's mother drinking heavily during pregnancy has led to fetal alcohol syndrome, resulting in physical abnormalities, learning disorders, and short stature. Williams syndrome, phenylketonuria, and Down syndrome have different causes and symptoms.

Question 13

Genetic "wiring diagrams" for the brain's circuits are called __________.

Accepted Answer

Protoplans are referred to as genetic "wiring diagrams" for the brain's circuits, indicating a foundational or preliminary mapping of neural connections and their genetic determinants.

Question 14

A fertilized egg, or zygote, contains __________ chromosomes.

Accepted Answer

A fertilized egg, or zygote, contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, totaling 46 chromosomes. This is because it receives 23 chromosomes from each parent, combining to form pairs.

Question 15

The Development chapter in your text suggests that knowledge and behavior are products of __________.

Accepted Answer

The Development chapter suggests that knowledge and behavior are products of an interaction between genetics and the environment. Both genetics and the environment play a role in shaping a person's development and behavior, and the interaction between the two is important in determining outcomes.

Question 16

From 2 months after conception to birth, the developing fertilized egg is called __________.

Accepted Answer

From 2 months after conception until birth, the developing fertilized egg is referred to as a fetus. Prior to this stage, it is called an embryo.

Question 17

Two weeks after conception, the developing fertilized egg is called __________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Two weeks after conception, the developing fertilized...

Question 18

The long period of dependency in human development __________.

Accepted Answer

The long period of dependency in human development seems well suited to learning and cultural transmission of knowledge. This is because during this period, children learn from their parents and other adults in their community, and this knowledge is passed down from generation to generation. Additionally, the extended period allows for the development of complex cognitive, linguistic, and social skills.

Question 19

A teratogen is __________.

Accepted Answer

A teratogen is any environmental agent that can cause damage to the developing fetus or embryo during pregnancy. This includes things like drugs, chemicals, infections, and radiation. It is not related to genetic defects or physical defects in the unborn child.

Question 20

The number of neural interconnections __________.

Accepted Answer

The number of neural interconnections in the brain increases dramatically after birth as the brain undergoes rapid development and growth. It is estimated that the brain triples in size within the first two years of life.

Quiz 14: Development