Q&A Hero

Q: Describe how each of the following environmental factors influences cognitive abilities: home, parenting behavior, schooling. What does research suggest about the potential effectiveness of early intervention preschool programs?

Q: Third-graders who are successful readers should be able to: A. understand how genres differ and write examples of each. B. figure out unfamiliar words with word analysis skills including phonics and context cues. C. both of these D. neither of these

Q: Discuss either racial/cultural/ethnic or gender differences in intelligence or achievement. Your discussion should include possible explanations for the differences in performance, as well as suggestions for how schools can help minimize or eliminate them.

Q: Mr. Anderson, a reading teacher, instructs his students on how to decode and comprehend words. He teaches these strategies in isolation from the actual reading of stories. Mr. Anderson uses the ______ approach to the teaching of reading. A. holistic B. skills-based C. metalinguistic D. integrated

Q: The emergent literacy approach includes all of the following except: A. emphasizing a set of skills children need to master before formal reading instruction. B. a focus on literacy skills from birth to age 5 or 6 years. C. a belief that children who have discovered the purposes for print are preparing for literacy. D. researching links between early literacy experiences and later reading and writing achievement.

Q: Another name for the holistic approach to reading instruction is: A. whole language. B. direct instruction. C. balanced instruction. D. integrated instruction.

Q: ______ is an example of an ideographic system of language. A. English B. Chinese C. Both English and Chinese D. Neither English nor Chinese

Q: Which of the following statements regarding reading for learning among older children and adolescents is false? A. The percentage of children who read for fun regularly decreases from age 9 to 17. B. Researchers have found it is more important for older children and adolescents to focus more on reading material relevant to their schoolwork and spend less time reading self-selected materials. C. Students who are higher in intrinsic motivation tend to read more than students who are low in motivation. D. Older children and adolescents continue to need assistance and instruction in comprehension strategies.

Q: Henri is 20 months old and is able to say just a few words. What are his future language abilities likely to be? A. It is too early to tell, since the rate of early language development is an unreliable predictor of a childs ultimate level of language skills . B. Henri is likely to be diagnosed with a language disorder. C. Henri will have difficulty learning to read. D. Henris vocabulary will probably never be as large as those of most other children his age.

Q: You are a first-grade teacher, and your students are working on writing in their journals. Which is the least effective strategy for you to take in helping them develop their writing skills? A. Focus on gently correcting all of their invented spelling mistakes. B. Focus on the meaning of what the students write in their journals. C. Make journal writing a regular practice in your classroom. D. Read to the children daily, exposing them to new and different words.

Q: Elizabeth is a gifted student in mathematics, visual arts, and music. Based on research presented in the textbook, Elizabeth is relatively likely to: A. be right-handed. B. have atypical brain organization. C. have been exposed to atypical amounts of estrogen prenatally. D. all of these

Q: For his gifted education, Benny is offered additional experiences like field trips and extra assignments. This type of gifted education is called: A. enrichment. B. acceleration. C. inclusion. D. self-instruction.

Q: As a special education teacher, you have been assigned to work with children who have a mild level of mental retardation. What range of IQ score would you expect these children to have? A. below 35 B. 35-50 C. 50-70 D. 70-85

Q: Evan is a child who has severe retardation. Using Piagets terminology, what level of cognitive functioning would be typical for Evan? A. sensorimotor B. preoperational C. formal operational D. concrete operational

Q: Reuben, who has Down Syndrome, receives special training at his high school. His training involves balancing a checkbook, planning a bus trip, and learning to read traffic and direction signs. These are examples of training in: A. home-living skills. B. functional academics. C. self-care skills. D. communication.

Q: Which of the following statements regarding racial and cultural differences in cognitive abilities is false? A. On average, Anglo-American children score consistently higher on many different measures of cognitive abilities than children from most other ethnic and racial groups. B. Although narrowing, ethnic differences in IQ and achievement scores remain substantial. C. Asian-American students perform better than Anglo-Americans, African-Americans, and Latino-Americans on standardized tests because of genetic factors. D. Most researchers believe that differences in students IQ and achievement test scores are due to social and economic factors.

Q: According to several recent reports, schools shortchange female students by: A. giving boys considerably more attention in the classroom, thereby reinforcing a perception of male dominance and importance. B. overrepresenting masculine interests in curriculum materials, especially in math and science. C. emphasizing competitive over collaborative efforts in the classroom. D. all of these

Q: You are a media specialist in an elementary school responsible for selecting computer software for use in the second- and third-grade classrooms. Based on research, you should select computer programs that: A. use a constructivist approach. B. emphasize higher-order thinking skills. C. emphasize repetition and skill practice. D. use a constructivist approach and emphasize higher-order thinking skills.

Q: A standard deviation is: A. an average amount of intelligence. B. a measure of the average amount scores vary from the mean. C. the midpoint between the highest and lowest score on an IQ test. D. the mean, or average, of all the scores earned on an IQ test.

Q: Describe the developmental changes in attention, memory, and metacognition in early childhood, middle childhood, and adolescence. What are the implications for teaching based on childrens abilities in each age group?

Q: According to the text, IQ scores are best thought of as indicators of: A. creativity. B. innate abilities. C. how well a child will do in school. D. complex reasoning skills.

Q: Using the age group you are planning on teaching, describe four strategies that you could use to help your students improve their memory, attention, metacognition, or self-regulated learning. Be sure to include a brief discussion of research that supports your choice of a particular strategy.

Q: Which of the following statements regarding the stability of IQ scores is true? A. The stability of IQ scores increases as children develop. B. By middle childhood, IQ scores are reasonably good predictors of adult IQ. C. IQ scores can fluctuate by as much as 30 points from early childhood to adolescence. D. All of these statements are true.

Q: Compare and contrast the single-factor and multiple-factor approaches to defining and measuring intelligence. What are some of the benefits and disadvantages of each approach?

Q: The tendency to choose an environment that complements our heredity is called: A. heritability. B. niche-picking. C. practical intelligence. D. standard deviation.

Q: Baby Huey is a happy baby. Because he is always cheerful and positive, people tend to give him positive responses and lots of attention. This, in turn, reinforces his pleasant disposition. According to Sandra Scarr, this is an example of a(n) ______ gene-environment effect. A. evocative B. passive C. active D. proactive

Q: Which of the following statements regarding the effect of environment on intelligence is false? A. Parents can positively affect their childrens cognitive development by being warm, supportive, and responsive. B. Early interventions, like Project Head Start, can help offset the negative effects of a poor home environment. C. There have been many studies on the role of fathers in facilitating the cognitive development of children. D. On average, children who start school earlier and remain in school longer have higher IQ scores than those who do not.

Q: Lewis was a participant in the High/Scope Perry Preschool Project. Compared to children who did not participate, Lewis: A. had a lower chance of being a chronic juvenile offender. B. had a lower chance of dropping out of school. C. is likely to have higher monthly earnings and more likely to own a home. D. all of these

Q: Hillary has been identified as a gifted student. Which statement probably describes Hillary? A. Her IQ score is over 130. B. Her academic performance is above average. C. both statements D. neither statement

Q: Chad has excellent word fluency, vocabulary, and verbal comprehension. These skills are called: A. crystallized intelligence. B. fluid intelligence. C. practical intelligence. D. multiple intelligences.

Q: According to Sternbergs model, ______ intelligence involves the ability to cope with new situations in an effective, efficient, and insightful manner. A. practical B. experiential C. contextual D. componential

Q: One of the problems with Sternbergs triarchic model of intelligence is that: A. he proposes too many categories of intelligence. B. the theory emphasizes the single-factor model of intelligence. C. there are few standardized tests to measure his components of intelligence. D. the tests he has developed to measure practical intelligence are biased against females and minorities.

Q: Research from expert-versus-novice studies suggests that advances in childrens thinking processes are explained by: A. quantitative changes in knowledge. B. qualitative changes in how knowledge is organized. C. both quantitative and qualitative changes in knowledge. D. neither quantitative nor qualitative changes in knowledge.

Q: Geoffrey has an uncanny ability to sense other peoples moods, desires, and motivations. He uses this knowledge to effectively respond to others and is generally considered a people person. What type of multiple intelligence does Geoffrey possess? A. intrapersonal B. bodily-kinesthetic C. naturalistic D. interpersonal

Q: Compared to older elementary schoolchildren, younger schoolchildren are more likely to: A. say that relearning something is easier than learning it for the first time. B. believe their memory capabilities are better than they actually are. C. have more metacognitive knowledge. D. understand that the longer one studies something the longer it will be remembered.

Q: Jane was very athletic in school. She also studied dance for many years and has now become a professional dancer and choreographer. Howard Gardner would suggest that Jane has ______ intelligence. A. spatial B. musical C. bodily-kinesthetic D. linguistic

Q: Twelve-year-old Jack knows how to apply different metacognitive strategies in his learning. Jack is using his ______ knowledge. A. declarative B. conditional C. self-regulated D. procedural

Q: Gardners theory of multiple intelligences suggests all but which of the following? A. All of the intelligences use the same form of perception, memory, and learning. B. Each intelligence may be governed by a distinct region of the brain. C. A student may show strength in more than one area of intelligence. D. Teachers can learn that there is more than one way of being smart.

Q: Academic abilities like planning, goal-setting, organizing, self-monitoring, and self-evaluation are called: A. metacognition. B. practical intelligence. C. self-regulated learning. D. multiple intelligences.

Q: Kaitlyns performance on the WISC-III suggests that her IQ is average. Her numerical IQ score would be: A. 50. B. 100. C. 115. D. 150.

Q: As a future teacher, you want to help your students be self-regulated learners. Which of the following strategies would be most effective at helping the students improve their self-regulation? A. using questions, outlines, and visual aids to help cue attention and keep students focused B. encouraging students to monitor and check their comprehension as they read and learn C. reviewing key concepts or information regularly D. using instructional methods and formats that will hold students interest

Q: Your child has recently received a score of 145 on an intelligence test. What might this score suggest? A. Your child has average intelligence. B. Your child has below-average intelligence. C. Your child has very high intelligence. D. Your child is like 95 percent of all other children.

Q: Generalizing from research presented in the textbook, which strategy would youas a new middle school teacherselect to help your students have a deep processing of information? A. providing concept maps and outlines for your students B. having your students develop their own concept maps and outlines C. avoiding the use of concept maps and outlines D. focusing on lecturing to your students

Q: In the community of learners approach, collaboration refers to: A. the design of the classroom to stimulate active exchange of ideas. B. a practice of focusing on a central theme that can sustain in-depth research over a period of time. C. the fact that both teachers and students share in the development and sustenance of the learning community. D. the value placed on analysis and critique.

Q: ______ created the first intelligence test. A. Lewis Terman B. Alfred Binet C. Howard Gardner D. David Wechsler

Q: In Binets measure of intelligence, the ______ is a score that represents the number of test items a child gets correct, compared to the average number of items children of the same age get correct A. IQ B. CA C. MA D. g

Q: Sixteen-year-old Joanns mental age is 20. Using Sterns formula, what is Joanns IQ? A. 80 B. 100 C. 125 D. 300

Q: As a school counselor, you want to obtain a measure of students potential to learn or apply information in new ways. You should choose an: A. achievement test. B. intelligence test. C. both an achievement and an intelligence test. D. neither an achievement nor an intelligence test.

Q: Cindi is a fourth-grade student who is being tested for a gifted program. She is given an intelligence test that contains ten subtests divided into two scales, verbal and performance. Which test is Cindi taking? A. Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale B. Iowa Test of Basic Skills C. Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children D. National Assessment of Educational Progress

Q: Which person is most closely associated with a single-factor conception of intelligence? A. Robert Sternberg B. Howard Gardner C. Lewis Terman D. J. P. Guilford

Q: As a future teacher, you should implement which of the following recommendations if you want to base your teaching practices on Vygotskys work? A. Use guided participation in which students can be apprentices in learning. B. Encourage students to talk themselves through challenging problems. C. Provide opportunities for students to collaborate on learning activities, especially with more skilled peers. D. all of these

Q: As a first-grade teacher, which memory strategy would you expect to appear first in your students? A. elaboration B. rehearsal C. organization D. creativity

Q: Identify the grade/age level that you are planning to teach. Describe the level and nature of cognitive development typical of children in this age group. What are some implications of this cognitive level for your teaching?

Q: Ms. Vickers, a fifth-grade teacher, uses the analogy of a hamburger and its parts to help her students memorize the components of a good paragraph. Ms. Vickers is utilizing the ______ memory strategy. A. organization B. rehearsal C. elaboration D. creativity

Q: Describe Piagets four stages of cognitive development, including the typical ages and achievements of each stage, as well as some of the tests used by Piaget to measure these achievements.

Q: All but which of the following are true regarding childrens memory-retrieval strategies,? A. Older children are more exhaustive in their memory searches than younger children. B. Younger children tend to be more systematic and deliberate in their memory searchers than older children. C. Older children are more likely to recognize on their own when to use particular strategies, while younger children need to be directed to do so. D. Younger children are more likely to give up when they do not recall information.

Q: Compare and contrast Piagets and Vygotskys theories of cognitive development. With which theory do you most identify? Why? List three applications of your preferred theory for your own teaching practice.

Q: Your state has recently approved a lottery, the proceeds from which will fund a statewide preschool program for all four-year-olds. Given what you have learned about cognitive development in this age group, discuss the structure and curriculum you would design for this program.

Q: In the last 30 years, ______ theories have become the most common strategy for studying childrens cognitive development. A. information-processing B. intelligence C. psychoanalytic D. behaviorist

Q: Meghan is at a circus, experiencing many sights, sounds, smells, and tastes. Which component of her information processing system stores her initial impressions through these sensory modalities? A. short-term memory B. long-term memory C. semantic memory D. sensory memory

Q: Which of the following statements regarding the sensory memory is false? A. There is a single sensory register for all the senses. B. Information from this system is lost unless it is recognized or interpreted. C. Information is stored in the sensory memory for only a few seconds. D. The sensory memory is the first component in information processing.

Q: Because information is consciously manipulated here, ______ is also referred to as working memory. A. short-term memory B. long-term memory C. semantic memory D. episodic memory

Q: According to Vygotsky, the first stage of language use is ______ speech, in which language is used primarily for communicative functions. A. inner B. private C. egocentric D. social

Q: You want your eighth-grade history students to remember all 50 states, their locations, and their capitals. Based on the level-of-processing theory, you should encourage them to: A. skim over the material and repeat it many times. B. use both their short- and long-term memory. C. divide the material into chunks and then link it to some existing knowledge. D. read the material at least ten times.

Q: The zone of proximal development is the: A. second stage of language use, where speech is used to regulate behavior. B. gap between cognitive activities that children can do on their own and what they do with the assistance of others. C. process of constructing an internal representation of external physical actions or mental operations. D. place where technical and psychological tools are used.

Q: Five-year-old Leigha has just been given the digit-span task by her teacher. If Leigha is like the average child her age, how many digits will she remember? A. 2 B. 4 C. 7 D. 9

Q: The computer is a good example of a ______ that is part of American culture. A. zone of proximal development B. psychological tool C. technical tool D. social tool

Q: Steve has the ability to divide his attention between more than one activity at the same time, and he uses his attention strategically. What age group would you estimate Steve to be in? A. preschool B. early childhood C. middle childhood D. adolescence

Q: Vygotskys theory suggests that private speech plays an _______ role in education, and Piagets theory suggests that private speech plays an _______ role in education. A. important/important B. unimportant/unimportant C. important/unimportant D. unimportant/important

Q: Currently, attention is defined as: A. a general mental capacity. B. a set of behaviors and processes used to extract information from events. C. both of these D. neither of these

Q: ______ involves adults helping children perform some task they could not perform without help, and then gradually withdrawing help as the children become more proficient. A. Guided participation B. Scaffolding C. Seriation D. Internalization

Q: In Anderson and Levins (1976) study of childrens attention to Sesame Street , the researchers found all but which of the following? A. Childrens attention was highly variable, greater in the presence of some program features and lower in the presence of others. B. Childrens attention decreased when attractive toys were placed in the room. C. Children were more attentive to abstract content. D. Attention improved between 1 and 4 years of age.

Q: Which of the following statements would be endorsed by both Piaget and Vygotsky? A. Play is important for the cognitive development of children. B. The teacher is less a transmitter of information than an organizer, guide, and supporter of learning. C. Children drawn on their experiences in the process of actively constructing their own knowledge. D. all of these

Q: The process of focusing attention on relevant information and ignoring irrelevant information is called: A. automaticity. B. metacognition. C. rehearsal. D. selective attention.

Q: The community of learners approach to education is characterized by which of the following? A. grouping large numbers of children by age B. focus on Big Ideas that connect across the curriculum C. attempts to motivate children by grading their performance D. the exclusive use of instructional discourse in the classroom

Q: Chucks Mom asks him to pick up 15 grocery items on his way home from school. In order to remember the list, Chuck categorizes the items into produce, canned goods, dairy items, and freezer foods. Chucks memory strategy is called: A. organization. B. rehearsal. C. elaboration. D. automaticity.

Q: Melody, age 13, understands that the space occupied by an object remains unchanged regardless of a change in shape. Melody has developed which conservation skill? A. length B. volume C. area D. weight

Q: The ability to draw a logical inference based on the relationship between two statements or premises, characteristic of formal operational thought, is called: A. propositional logic. B. hypothetico-deductive reasoning. C. combinatorial reasoning. D. probability logic.

Q: You teach tenth-grade biology. Given your knowledge of the stage of formal operations, you expect your students to generate and test hypotheses in a systematic manner when completing their biology labs. You know that they can do this because they have developed: A. hypothetico-deductive reasoning. B. combinatorial reasoning. C. conservation skills. D. zone of proximal development.

Q: Although Piaget theorized that adolescents and adults are capable of formal operational tasks, research suggests that only about ______ percent actually are capable. A. 20 B. 30 C. 55 D. 75