Q&A Hero

Q: Female puberty usually begins with A)menarche. B)the budding of breasts. C)the start of her growth spurt. D)the appearance of pubic hair.

Q: Primary sexual characteristics A)are visible on the outside of the body. B)involve the reproductive organs directly. C)are unrelated to sexual functioning. D)do not develop in a standard sequence.

Q: Which of the following fosters high physical self-efficacy during adolescence? A)internalizing the cultural ideal of physical attractiveness B)early maturation relative to the peer group C)maintaining a healthy, nutritious diet D)sweating and breathing heavily, during exercise

Q: Which of the following athletes is especially likely to continue her activity into adulthood? A)Ellen, a softball player B)Gerda, a volleyball player C)Justine, a basketball player D)Alena, a cross-country runner

Q: Researchers who followed a large, representative sample of U.S. youths from ages 9 to 17 found that A)daily free-time physical activity declined with age, more so for girls than boys. B)at every age, a majority of participants engaged in regular exercise outside of school hours. C)daily free-time physical activity increased for both sexes until age 13, then declined. D)throughout adolescence, girls exceeded boys in regular daily exercise.

Q: Gregor, a high school senior, has begun taking creatine to enhance his performance on the basketball court. Which of the following side effects are possible? A)diabetes B)brain seizures C)damage to the reproductive organs D)a loss in muscle power

Q: Twins, Jake and Molly, age 15, are both athletic. Which of the following is probably true? A)Jake's gains in gross-motor performance are slow and gradual. B)Molly is experiencing a dramatic spurt in strength, speed, and endurance. C)By midadolescence, Jake will run faster and throw farther than Molly. D)By late adolescence, Molly will jump farther than Jake.

Q: In adolescence, the number of red blood cells __________ in __________. A)increases; both girls and boys B)increases; boys, but not in girls C)increases; girls, but not in boys D)decreases; both girls and boys

Q: Which of the following statements about muscle-fat makeup in adolescence is true? A)Although both sexes gain in muscle, the increase is 150 percent greater in boys. B)Arm and leg fat decreases in adolescent girls. C)Altogether, girls gain far more muscle strength than boys. D)Around age 8, boys start to add more fat than girls on their arms, legs, and trunk.

Q: Which of the following statements about body proportions during puberty is true? A)Boys' hips broaden relative to the waist. B)Girls' shoulders broaden relative to the hips. C)Girls' hips broaden relative to the shoulders. D)Girls' legs become longer in relation to the rest of the body.

Q: During puberty, the hands, legs, and feet accelerate first, followed by the torso. This is a reversal of the __________ trend. A)cephalocaudal B)proximodistal C)secular D)biological

Q: Fourteen-year-old Phil experiences muscle growth and notices the growth of body and facial hair. Which of the following hormones is responsible for this change? A)estrogens B)testosterone C)adrenal androgens D)thyroxine

Q: Which of the following statements about sex hormones is true? A)Boys have only male hormones called androgens. B)Girls have only female hormones called estrogens. C)Neither androgens nor estrogens are present in the average boy. D)Both androgens and estrogens are present in boys and girls.

Q: Sexual maturation is controlled by __________ and __________. A)androgens; estrogens B)estrogens; insulin C)adrenal androgens; melatonin D)testosterone; cortisol

Q: Hormonal changes during puberty are initiated and regulated by the __________, a structure located near the __________. A)thyroid; pituitary gland B)pituitary gland; cerebral cortex C)hypothalamus; adrenal glands D)hypothalamus; pituitary gland

Q: Secretions of __________ and __________ increase during puberty, leading to tremendous gains in body size and to attainment of skeletal maturity. A)estrogens; adrenal androgens B)epinephrine; adrenal androgens C)growth hormone (GH); thyroxine D)melatonin; growth hormone (GH)

Q: Natalie and James are fraternal twins. Their parents should expect that James will reach puberty __________ Natalie. A)at the same time as B)slightly later than C)two years later than D)two years earlier than

Q: Brooke has been experiencing a period of rapid pubertal change. Brooke is in which phase of adolescence? A)early adolescence B)middle adolescence C)late adolescence D)emerging adulthood

Q: In most tribal and village societies, A)adolescence is extended into three phases: early, middle, and late adolescence. B)young people face postponement of sexual gratification while they prepare for a productive work roles. C)adolescence is only a brief intervening phase between childhood and full assumption of adult roles. D)adolescence is extended because young people face prolonged dependence on parents.

Q: Contemporary research suggests that the storm-and-stress notion of adolescence A)is the most accurate perspective. B)has no basis in fact. C)is greatly understated. D)is greatly exaggerated.

Q: In Freud's genital stage, A)social forces determine the young person's reaction to puberty. B)sexual impulses reawaken, triggering psychological conflict and volatile behavior. C)sexual impulses remain dormant for a short period of time. D)sexual impulses lead to the resolution of the Oedipal conflict.

Q: Anna Freud viewed the teenage years as A)the period of calm after the storm of childhood. B)a cascade of instinctual passions. C)a biologically based, universal "developmental disturbance." D)a period of harmony and predictability of behaviors.

Q: The beginning of adolescence is marked by A)reaching full adult height. B)participation in economic life. C)puberty. D)secretion of growth hormone (GH).

Q: Franca, age 11, recently started contradicting and disagreeing with her parents. She is self-conscious and often goes to her room and closes the door. Franca is a head taller and several pounds heavier than most girls in her sixth-grade class. Franca has probably A)developed an eating disorder. B)entered adolescence. C)reached full maturation. D)developed a social phobia.

Q: Describe some of the consequences of child sexual abuse from early childhood to adulthood.

Q: Discuss blended families, and describe some support options available to them.

Q: Discuss the development of gender identity in middle childhood, including the self-evaluations that affect adjustment.

Q: Describe the features of friendship in middle childhood.

Q: Describe personal and situational factors that affect the extent to which children hold racial and ethnic biases.

Q: What are some ways that schools can prevent learned helplessness and foster a mastery-oriented approach to learning?

Q: How does children's self-esteem change from early to middle childhood?

Q: Programs like 4Rs (Reading, Writing, Respect, and Resolution) recognize that resilience is not __________ but rather __________. A)a preexisting attribute; a capacity that develops B)predetermined; a developmental cascade C)environmental; biological D)a cognitive ability; a social ability

Q: Which of the following resources is known to foster resilience in middle childhood? A)strict parental discipline B)maternal employment C)extracurricular school activities D)teachers who emphasize achievement

Q: Despite facing school difficulties, family transitions, and early maltreatment, Marni is a well-adjusted, easygoing third grader with favorable self-esteem. Marni is a __________ child. A)"stress-resilient" B)self-care C)mastery-oriented D)popular-prosocial

Q: Research indicates that __________ relationship exists between stressful life experiences and psychological disturbance in childhood. A)a very strong B)only a modest C)a very weak D)no

Q: In many sexual abuse cases, the use of anatomically correct dolls or body diagrams A)misleads older children to give false information. B)increases the suggestibility of preschoolers. C)helps very young witnesses sort through confusion. D)helps preschoolers provide more detail.

Q: __________, which improves from early to middle childhood, predicts children's resistance to suggestion in the courtroom. A)Elaboration B)Attention C)Processing speed D)Inhibition

Q: Compared with preschoolers, school-age children who give eyewitness testimony are A)better at correctly inferring other's motives and intentions. B)less resistant to misleading questions. C)less likely to give detailed narrative accounts. D)less able to recall recent events accurately.

Q: Ernie is a perpetrator who sexually abuses children. As a child, Ernie was likely A)a bully. B)the victim of sexual abuse. C)extremely religious. D)learned helpless.

Q: Longitudinal research suggests that rates of __________ are elevated among survivors of child sexual abuse. A)marriage in late life B)spousal abuse C)obesity D)homosexuality

Q: Younger children who are sexually abused frequently react A)with generalized fearfulness. B)by running away. C)by attempting suicide. D)with substance abuse.

Q: Children who __________ are especially vulnerable to child sexual abuse. A)live in economically advantaged homes B)live in homes with a constantly changing cast of characters C)are physically strong and emotionally stable D)are socially popular and have no disabilities

Q: Which of the following statements about child sexual abuse is true? A)Children with disabilities are abused less than their typically developing peers. B)Sexual abuse is committed against children of both sexes, but more often against girls. C)Most cases begin in middle childhood and are not reported until adulthood. D)Typically, the abuser is a nonrelative whom the child does not know very well.

Q: Which of the following is the best protection against lasting problems for children living in chronic danger? A)education and high-quality child care B)individual and family therapy C)parental affection and reassurance D)drawing and writing about traumatic experiences

Q: When war and social crises are temporary, most children A)cannot be comforted. B)do not show long-term emotional difficulties. C)lose their sense of safety. D)build a pessimistic view of the future.

Q: Children who live in the midst of constant danger, chaos, and deprivation, A)gain flexible problem-solving skills which, in turn, leads to better coping. B)have fewer anxieties than children with school phobias. C)are at risk for long-term emotional distress and behavior problems. D)have some short-term, but few long-term, emotional problems.

Q: Hymie has developed a school phobia. Hymie's parents should A)tell him to be braver and send him to school anyway. B)insist that he return to school as well as provide training in how to cope. C)arrange a shortened school day for him. D)give him tangible rewards for each day he attends school without complaining.

Q: Seven-year-old Jane feels severe apprehension about attending school. She often gets dizzy or nauseous and complains of stomachaches. Jane's real fear is most likely A)failure to achieve. B)maternal separation. C)her teacher. D)an aggressive older sibling.

Q: Which of the following children is at greatest risk for developing a phobia? A)Yolanda, who is a self-care girl B)Jeremy, who has low self-esteem C)Jill, who has an inhibited temperament D)Gligor, whose parents are divorced

Q: In middle childhood, children's anxieties are directed toward new concerns, such as a fear of A)the dark. B)supernatural beings. C)thunder and lightning. D)the possibility of dying.

Q: Which of the following children is most likely to be enrolled in good after-care? A)Gigi, an ethnic minority girl B)Trenton, a middle-class boy C)Alana, a recently immigrated girl D)Jayden, an African-American boy

Q: Alicia, a fourth grader, regularly looks after herself for two to three hours after she gets home from school and before her mother gets home from work. Alicia is a(n) A)home-based child. B)neglected child. C)self-care child. D)average child.

Q: Which of the following statements about maternal employment is true? A)Maternal employment often leads fathers to take on greater child-rearing responsibilities. B)Employed mothers who value their parenting role are more likely to use authoritarian child rearing. C)Children in dual-earner households devote less daily hours to doing homework. D)Part-time employment is associated with poor child adjustment.

Q: The Fishers are a dual-earner family. The Fisher children probably __________ than their friends in single-earner households. A)participate in fewer household chores B)have more rigid views of gender roles C)have more behavioral and academic problems D)devote more daily hours to doing homework under parental guidance

Q: Employed mothers who value their parenting role A)have increased rates of marital discord and divorce. B)often prevent fathers from becoming fully involved in parenting. C)are more likely to use authoritative child rearing and coregulation. D)tend to experience stress and anxiety due to role overload.

Q: Seven-year-old Matthew and 14-year-old Molly have been living with their father since their parents' divorce two years ago. If their father remarries, you would expect __________ to react negatively to the remarriage. A)neither Matthew nor Molly B)both Matthew and Molly C)Molly, but not Matthew, D)Matthew, but not Molly,

Q: Which of the following statements about mother-stepfather families is true? A)Boys often react with sulky, resistant behavior to their custodial mother's remarriage. B)Mothers' friction with sons tends to increase. C)It is the most common form of blended family. D)Older school-age children display a marked decrease in acting-out behavior.

Q: Which of the following parents is most likely to pay child support regularly? A)Betty, a noncustodial mother who sees her son only occasionally B)George, a noncustodial father who has supervised visitation with his son C)Frank, a noncustodial father who sees his daughter often D)Willa, a noncustodial mother who has no visitation rights

Q: Cheryl and Saul are getting a divorce. They are meeting together with a trained professional in order to reduce family conflict, including legal battles over property division and child custody. Cheryl and Saul are participating in A)marriage counseling. B)joint custody. C)divorce mediation. D)family arbitration.

Q: Research shows that outcomes for sons are better when the A)mother is the sole custodian. B)parents equally split parenting time. C)father has limited visitation. D)father is the custodial parent.

Q: The overriding factor in positive adjustment after divorce is A)the gender of the child. B)effective parenting. C)the custody arrangements. D)the temperament of the child.

Q: Which of the following children has the highest risk for serious adjustment problems? A)Zane, a boy who lives with his divorced mother B)Logan, a boy who lives with his divorced father C)Madisyn, a girl who lives with her divorced mother D)Kennedy, a girl who lives with her divorced father

Q: When their parents divorce, preschoolers and young school-age children A)often fear that both parents may abandon them. B)experience depressed mood and become unruly. C)are less likely to display angry, defiant reactions than older children. D)typically display few changes in behavior.

Q: Trent's parents are divorced, and he resides with his mother. Trent's father sees him only occasionally. His father's parenting style is likely to be A)uninvolved, but loving. B)harsh, but consistent. C)authoritative and warm. D)permissive and indulgent.

Q: Samantha has recently divorced. She and her 2-year-old are likely to experience which of the following in the initial period after the divorce? A)remaining in the family home B)an increase in income due to child support payments C)a sharp drop in income D)a stronger relationship

Q: The United States has experienced a(n) __________ in divorces over the past fifteen years, largely due to __________. A)increase; increases in family size B)increase; heightened economic stress C)decline; improved economic stability D)decline; a rise in the age at first marriage

Q: Marcia, a never-married African-American woman, is raising a new baby. Marcia will probably A)receive child-rearing support from extended family. B)live with the child's father outside of marriage. C)receive financial help from the child's father. D)not have any further children while unmarried.

Q: Lilly's parents are gay. Research shows that she is likely to A)be confused about her gender identity. B)suffer from poor mental health. C)have inadequate peer relations. D)identify as heterosexual.

Q: The most common way gay men and lesbians become parents is through A)previous heterosexual marriages. B)surrogacy. C)reproductive technologies. D)adoption.

Q: Bao, an only child, lives in China. Which of the following is probably true? A)Bao's development is not as favorable as only children in the United States. B)Bao tends to feel emotionally insecure and lonely. C)Bao differs from agemates with siblings in social skills. D)Bao does not differ from agemates with siblings in peer acceptance.

Q: Only children __________ than children with siblings. A)do poorer in school B)are somewhat closer to their parents C)have lower achievement motivation D)have fewer close, high-quality friends

Q: Brothers Alan and James are very different in personality and temperament. What should their parents do to help facilitate their sibling relationship? A)They should maintain a "hands-off" approach and allow the boys to work independently on the relationship. B)They should use mediation techniques to increase the boys' awareness of each other's perspectives and reduce animosity. C)They should give Alan, the older brother, authority over James, the younger brother, especially in joint decision making. D)They should insist that the brothers rely on each other for companionship by limiting their outside friendships.

Q: Which of the following statements about sibling rivalry is true? A)Sibling rivalry tends to decrease in middle childhood. B)Jealousy over attention from fathers predicts sibling conflict. C)To reduce rivalry, siblings often strive to be more like one another. D)Parental comparisons are more frequent for opposite-sex siblings who are close in age.

Q: Which of the following statements about the parent-child relationship in middle childhood is true? A)Both parents tend to devote more time to children of their own sex. B)Mothers tend to focus on achievement-related pursuits and chores. C)Fathers tend to focus on ensuring that children meet responsibilities for homework. D)When both parents are present, mothers engage in more caregiving than fathers.

Q: Jalesa's parents exercise general oversight of her activities while letting Jalesa take charge of moment-by-moment decision making. Jalesa and her parents are engaging in A)supervisory parenting. B)authoritarian parenting. C)mediation. D)coregulation.

Q: Dr. Schulz is conducting a study of the degree to which children feel comfortable with their gender assignment. Dr. Schulz is examining gender A)typicality. B)contentedness. C)roles. D)stereotypes.

Q: From third to sixth grade, A)boys' identification with their "masculine" personality traits declines. B)girls' identification with their "masculine" personality traits declines. C)boys' identification with their "feminine" personality traits increases. D)girls' identification with their "feminine" personality traits declines.

Q: By the end of the school years, most children A)dismiss most gender stereotypes. B)regard gender typing as socially rather than biologically influenced. C)are open-minded about violations of all gender roles. D)are rigid in their view of what females can do.

Q: Which of the following subjects are children most likely to regard as more for girls? A)mathematics B)physical education C)language arts D)science

Q: Parents A)more often praise girls for knowledge and boys for obedience. B)behave in more mastery-oriented ways with daughters than with sons. C)less often encourage girls to make their own decisions. D)set higher standards for girls than for boys when helping a child with a task.