Question 1

Which one of the following students most resembles the "typical" student who receives special education services?
A)Joe is a high school student with a physical disability.
B)Lisa is an elementary school student with intellectual disabilities.
C)Edna is a middle school student with a learning disability.
D)Sam is an elementary school student with a learning disability.

Accepted Answer

According to national statistics, the most common disability category for students receiving special education services is a learning disability, and the majority of these students are served in elementary schools. Therefore, Sam, an elementary student with a learning disability, most resembles the "typical" student who receives special education services.

Question 2

The majority of students who receive special education services fall within which age range?
A)3-12
B)6-17
C)9-18
D)12-21

Accepted Answer

The age range of students who receive special education services is typically from 6-17 years old. This is because the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandates that all children with disabilities have a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) from the age of 6 until they graduate high school or reach the age of 21, whichever comes first. While some students may receive special education services starting at a younger age, the majority fall within this age range.

Question 3

Which one of the following provides the best definition of special education?
A)Special education uses special equipment and materials.
B)Special education meets individual needs of exceptional students.
C)Special education is delivered by a certified special education teacher.
D)Special education provides greater structure and smaller classes.

Accepted Answer

Special education is a type of education that is designed to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities or exceptionalities. This may involve adapting the curriculum, providing specialized equipment or materials, or delivering instruction in smaller classes. However, the core concept of special education is always to address the unique needs of each student, rather than expecting them to fit into a one-size-fits-all educational model.

Question 4

Annette is a high school student who reads at the level of a typical third grader.She wants to get her driver's license,but is unable to read the driver's manual or the questions on the driving test.For purposes of driver training,Annette would be considered to have
A)a disability.
B)a handicap.
C)a disability and a handicap.
D)neither a disability nor a handicap.

Accepted Answer

Annette's inability to read at the level required for the driver's manual and test is a disability, and it becomes a handicap in the context of obtaining a driver's license.

Question 5

By federal law,an exceptional student is eligible for special education when
A)a teacher recommends it.
B)careful assessment indicates he or she is unable to make satisfactory progress in the regular school program.
C)a parent requests it.
D)a teacher has recorded observations of behavior and assessment of academic performance for at least two months.

Accepted Answer

According to federal law, an exceptional student is eligible for special education only after careful assessment indicates that he or she is unable to make satisfactory progress in the regular school program. It is not dependent on a teacher recommendation, a parent request, or a teacher's recorded observations.

Question 6

Which one of the following descriptions distinguishes best between a disability and a handicap?
A)Disabilities are functional impairments,while handicaps are disadvantages imposed on an individual.
B)Disabilities are more severe than handicaps.
C)Handicaps are caused by disabilities.
D)There is no real difference between the two;the terms are interchangeable.

Accepted Answer

A disability refers to a physical or mental impairment that affects a person's ability to perform certain tasks or activities, while a handicap refers to the disadvantage or barriers that result from that disability. In other words, disablement is a state of being while a handicap is a disadvantage. Therefore, disabilities are functional impairments, while handicaps are disadvantages imposed on an individual.

Question 7

When special education works as it should,the outcome for students is
A)the ability to hide their disabilities.
B)the eradication of their disabilities.
C)instruction in a special class.
D)improved achievement and behavior.

Accepted Answer

The goal of special education is not to eradicate disabilities, but rather to support students with disabilities in achieving their full potential. When special education works as it should, students receive individualized instruction and support that helps them succeed academically, socially, and behaviorally. This can lead to improved achievement and behavior, which are important outcomes for any student, including those with disabilities. Option A is incorrect because the ability to hide disabilities is not a desirable outcome of special education. Option C is also incorrect because while some students might receive instruction in a separate classroom or setting, this is not the only way that special education services can be provided.

Question 8

Most exceptional learners
A)have physical limitations.
B)are more different than they are like nondisabled peers.
C)are average in more ways than they are not.
D)have more problems in motivation than in learning.

Accepted Answer

The statement "are average in more ways than they are not" means that they have many similarities with their nondisabled peers and are not significantly different in most aspects. This contradicts options A and B, which imply that exceptional learners have physical limitations or are vastly different from their peers. Option D suggests that exceptional learners struggle primarily with motivation, but this is not necessarily true for all exceptional learners.

Question 9

At present,about how many students in the United States receive special education?
A)about 1 million
B)about 3 million
C)about 4 million
D)over 6 million

Accepted Answer

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in the 2018-2019 school year, 7.1 million students ages 3-21 received special education services in the United States. Therefore, over 6 million is the best choice.

Question 10

The number of students identified as having a learning disability
A)has more than doubled since the mid-1970s.
B)now makes up about one-third of the number of students receiving special education.
C)has remained fairly stable during the past 30 years.
D)is impossible to estimate.

Accepted Answer

According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, the number of students identified as having a learning disability has more than doubled since the mid-1970s, indicating a significant increase.

Question 11

Although no two students are alike,to be legally considered "exceptional" for purposes of their school program,students must
A)have a disability related to their academic progress.
B)be handicapped.
C)require special educational services to achieve.
D)have a history of school failure.

Accepted Answer

To be considered "exceptional," students must require special educational services to achieve success. This does not necessarily mean that they have a disability or a history of school failure, but it does mean that they need additional support beyond what is typically offered in a general education classroom. The term "handicapped" is no longer commonly used in education and has been replaced by the term "students with disabilities."

Question 12

Doug Landis,an artist who is paralyzed from the neck down,uses a pencil attached to a mouth stick to draw.This illustrates how the focus on persons with disabilities should be
A)on what they can do.
B)on how they are limited.
C)on their miraculous achievements.
D)on what others can do to help them.

Accepted Answer

The example of Doug Landis shows that persons with disabilities can still have talents and abilities, even if they require adaptive equipment or support. The focus should be on their capabilities, rather than on their limitations.

Question 13

Prevalence refers to
A)the number of individuals having a particular exceptionality.
B)the probability of having a child with a particular exceptionality.
C)the percentage of a population having a particular exceptionality.
D)the distribution of exceptionalities across different segments of the population.

Accepted Answer

Prevalence refers to the percentage of a population having a particular exceptionality. It is different from the number of individuals having a particular exceptionality (option A) and the probability of having a child with a particular exceptionality (option B). Option D is also unrelated to prevalence as it refers to the distribution of exceptionalities across different segments of the population. Therefore, option C is the best choice.

Question 14

A six-month-old child who cannot walk or talk would best be described as having an)
A)disability.
B)age-appropriate disability.
C)age-appropriate inability.
D)instructional inability.

Accepted Answer

A six-month-old child's inability to walk or talk is considered age-appropriate because these skills typically develop later in a child's growth. This is a normal stage of development, not a disability or inability that requires instruction.

Question 15

Dramatic increases in prevalence figures since 1995 have been recorded for children identified as having
A)learning disabilities.
B)mental retardation.
C)physical disabilities.
D)autism or traumatic brain injury.

Accepted Answer

According to the statement, there have been dramatic increases in prevalence figures since 1995 for children identified as having autism or traumatic brain injury.

Question 16

"Mental retardation" is now called
A)intellectual disorder.
B)disordered reasoning.
C)intellectual disability.
D)functional disability.

Accepted Answer

"Mental retardation" is an outdated and stigmatizing term. The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) now uses "intellectual disability" as an umbrella term to describe individuals with significant limitations in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. This term emphasizes the individual's abilities and potential for growth.

Question 17

In the video of Lauralee,who has Down syndrome,she
A)complains about the bullying she has had to endure.
B)talks about her disappointing quest to find a job she likes.
C)talks about how,in many ways,she is similar to people without disabilities.
D)talks about how the Special Olympics have helped her become more sociable and to find friends.

Accepted Answer

In the video, Lauralee talks about how she is similar to people without disabilities, stating examples like how she likes to go shopping and watch movies. She does not mention bullying or her job search. While she does mention the Special Olympics, she talks more about how it helped her make friends and become more sociable rather than the main focus of the video.

Question 18

Compared to the general population,exceptional children are
A)a more homogeneous group.
B)more likely to be from wealthy families.
C)more diverse with respect to a number of characteristics.
D)more likely to be female.

Accepted Answer

Exceptional children are a more diverse group with respect to a number of characteristics such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and disability status. They may come from a variety of backgrounds and have different needs and abilities. Therefore, choice C is the correct answer. Choices A, B, and D are not supported by research and are therefore incorrect.

Question 19

In comparison to typical students,students who are exceptional
A)have both similarities and differences.
B)are similar in almost every way.
C)are different in almost every way.

Accepted Answer

Exceptional students may have certain differences, such as having unique strengths or challenges, but they also have similarities to typical students in areas such as social, emotional, and cognitive development.

Question 20

At least ________ % of school-age children in the U.S.are considered "exceptional" in that they are identified for special education services.
A)25
B)20
C)15
D)10

Accepted Answer

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the percentage of school-age children in the U.S. who were identified as receiving special education services in the 2018-2019 school year is approximately 10%.

Quiz 1: Exceptionality and Special Education

Which one of the following students most resembles the "typical" student who receives special education services?

The majority of students who receive special education services fall within which age range?

Which one of the following provides the best definition of special education?

Annette is a high school student who reads at the level of a typical third grader.She wants to get her driver's license,but is unable to read the driver's manual or the questions on the driving test.For purposes of driver training,Annette would be considered to have

By federal law,an exceptional student is eligible for special education when

Which one of the following descriptions distinguishes best between a disability and a handicap?

When special education works as it should,the outcome for students is

Most exceptional learners

At present,about how many students in the United States receive special education?

The number of students identified as having a learning disability

Although no two students are alike,to be legally considered "exceptional" for purposes of their school program,students must

Doug Landis,an artist who is paralyzed from the neck down,uses a pencil attached to a mouth stick to draw.This illustrates how the focus on persons with disabilities should be

Prevalence refers to

A six-month-old child who cannot walk or talk would best be described as having an)

Dramatic increases in prevalence figures since 1995 have been recorded for children identified as having

"Mental retardation" is now called

In the video of Lauralee,who has Down syndrome,she

Compared to the general population,exceptional children are

In comparison to typical students,students who are exceptional

At least ________ % of school-age children in the U.S.are considered "exceptional" in that they are identified for special education services.