Question 1

Erico adores giving dinner parties, but he worries about how age will affect his skills. Which ability is most likely to IMPROVE as the years pass?

Accepted Answer

As people age, they tend to accumulate more life experiences and knowledge, which can make them better conversationalists and help them discuss a wider range of topics with their guests. This is especially true if they make an effort to stay informed and engaged with the world around them. In contrast, abilities like multi-tasking and following complicated recipes may decline with age due to changes in cognitive function. Therefore, preparing a meal while simultaneously talking to guests and following complicated recipes are less likely to improve with age. Cooking dishes that must be ready at different times may improve with experience, but it is not as directly linked to aging as the ability to be a good conversationalist.

Question 2

John is a 50-year-old manager who enjoys playing basketball with his teenage sons. At work, he finds that he is better able to solve problems; but on the court, he notices that he is not as good at keeping track of the ball. John's experience is:

Accepted Answer

John's experience is typical for his age. As people age, they may experience cognitive decline in processing speed and working memory, which can affect their ability to track objects, like a basketball. However, they may also develop expertise in their areas of work, allowing them to solve problems more efficiently. These changes are common and expected with aging.

Question 3

In describing intelligence during the fifties, statistically speaking, what is the LEAST appropriate comment?

Accepted Answer

The statement that people decline in every skill is not appropriate because it is not supported by statistical evidence from the fifties. In fact, studies suggest that vocabulary and other cognitive abilities improve during middle age, and that people generally reach their intellectual peak in their late twenties to early thirties. The ability to master unfamiliar material may decline somewhat with age, but this is not true for all individuals and depends on many factors such as education and experience.

Question 4

Fluid intelligence tends to _____.

Accepted Answer

Fluid intelligence tends to peak in a person's twenties and then gradually decline throughout adulthood.

Question 5

Haru is age 30 and Bettini is 60. All things being equal, if both adults are contestants on Jeopardy we might expect that:

Accepted Answer

As people age, their reaction time tends to slow down. Therefore, we might expect Haru to be faster at pressing the buzzer, as it requires quick reflexes. It's also possible that Bettini may have accumulated more knowledge over her lifetime, but this can vary greatly depending on the individuals' experiences and education. Phrases and happiness are not directly related to age or Jeopardy performance.

Question 6

Which ability is MOST likely to improve well into the late fifties?

Accepted Answer

Vocabulary is an ability that can continue to improve with age as individuals continue to learn new words and expand their language skills. The other options involve physical or cognitive abilities that are more likely to decline with age.

Question 7

Fluid intelligence involves _____.

Accepted Answer

Fluid intelligence is the ability to reason quickly and think abstractly when faced with unfamiliar tasks or situations. It does not involve social skills or vocabulary recall. Changing opinions quickly may be related to cognitive flexibility, but this is not the same thing as fluid intelligence.

Question 8

A teacher is MOST likely to reach a professional peak in her _____.

Accepted Answer

According to research, many teachers reach their professional peak in their fifties. At this stage, they have accumulated significant experience, developed advanced skills, and achieved a level of mastery that allows them to make a significant impact on students' lives. Additionally, many teachers in their fifties are able to balance their teaching responsibilities with other leadership roles or mentoring positions, allowing them to leverage their expertise to benefit the broader education community.

Question 9

Who is MOST likely to see her skills improve as she moves through middle age?

Accepted Answer

Dinora, a CEO, is most likely to see her skills improve as she moves through middle age because leadership and executive management skills often continue to develop and improve with experience over time. Unlike physical or highly stressful jobs, which might see a decline due to physical aging or stress, the skills required for a CEO, such as decision-making, strategic thinking, and people management, can improve with age and experience.

Question 10

Adaora is 20 years old; her mother is 50 years old. All things being equal, Adaora should outperform her mother at:

Accepted Answer

While age can provide life experience and knowledge, it does not necessarily increase one's ability to put together puzzles quickly. This type of task is more related to cognitive function and agility, which tends to be stronger in younger individuals like Adaora. The other options (knowing historical facts, solving crossword puzzles, and tests of world knowledge) may be more influenced by accumulated knowledge and experience, which her mother may have an advantage in.

Question 11

If Ray is in his fifties, he should do better than his 20-year-old son on tests of _____ intelligence.

Accepted Answer

Crystallized intelligence refers to accumulated knowledge and experience, which typically increases with age. Therefore, Ray should do better than his 20-year-old son, who has had less time to accumulate knowledge and experience. The other options (editorial, fluid, and general intelligence) are not necessarily dependent on age or life experience, and do not necessarily predict superior performance in someone in their fifties versus someone in their twenties.

Question 12

According to the Seattle Longitudinal Study, people can expect to reach their intellectual peak in their _____.

Accepted Answer

The Seattle Longitudinal Study found that people typically reach their intellectual peak in their late forties or fifties. This peak includes abilities such as verbal comprehension, spatial orientation, and inductive reasoning, among others. However, it is important to note that individual cognitive abilities may peak at different times and may decline at different rates, and other factors such as education, lifestyle, and genetics also play a role in cognitive aging.

Question 13

In a teacher, which talent is MOST likely to decline during middle age?

Accepted Answer

As individuals age, they may experience a decline in fine motor skills and ability to multitask. Writing on the board while monitoring student behavior requires both of these skills, making it the talent most likely to decline during middle age.

Question 14

Which ability is MOST likely to start declining by a person's thirties?

Accepted Answer

By a person's thirties, their processing speed and ability to quickly perform complex new tasks is most likely to start declining. This is due to changes in the brain's structure and function that occur with age. Vocabulary and knowledge of history are less likely to decline significantly during this decade.

Question 15

In describing intelligence during middle age, which is the LEAST accurate comment?

Accepted Answer

While some skills may decline with age during middle age, not every skill declines. Crystallized skills, which involve knowledge and expertise gained from experience, tend to improve during middle age. Additionally, people do not necessarily reach an intellectual peak during middle age, as this can vary depending on individual factors and experiences.

Question 16

Who is MOST likely to see his abilities rise during middle age?

Accepted Answer

Abilities that rely more on experience, knowledge, and expertise are more likely to increase during middle age. Textbook writing requires extensive knowledge and expertise which can continue to develop and improve with age.

Question 17

Which intellectual ability is MOST likely to improve with age?

Accepted Answer

Vocabulary is a skill that can improve with age as people gain more experience and exposure to new words and concepts. On the other hand, B, C, and D are not necessarily related to age and can vary depending on individual factors.

Question 18

Which talent is MOST apt to increase as a nurse moves through middle age?

Accepted Answer

As nurses gain more experience, they develop greater emotional intelligence and empathy, which helps them understand how to deal with patients of varying needs and personalities. This skill is likely to improve as the nurse gets older and has more opportunities to work with different patients.

Question 19

Which intellectual ability is MOST likely to decline fast with age?

Accepted Answer

The ability to learn new tasks, especially those that are complex and unfamiliar such as learning a new computer game, tends to decline with age more rapidly than vocabulary, knowledge of the world, or interpersonal skills. This is due to changes in cognitive processing speed and flexibility.

Question 20

Crystallized intelligence involves _____.

Accepted Answer

Crystallized intelligence refers to the accumulation of knowledge, facts, and information over time through experience and education. It involves the ability to use that knowledge to solve problems and make decisions.

Quiz 12: Midlife