Q&A Hero

Q: The birthrate among adolescent women today is _____ in previous eras. A. impossible to compare to what it was B. considerably lower than it was C. higher than it was D. the same as it was

Q: Which country has the highest rate of teen pregnancy? A. Sweden B. the United States C. England D. Israel

Q: Although the rate of sexual activity among adolescents in the United States does not differ much from that reported by other industrialized countries, the rate of teenage pregnancy in the United States is: A. in the top third of all industrialized countries. B. in the bottom third of all industrialized countries. C. the highest in the world among industrialized countries. D. average as compared to other industrialized countries.

Q: According to the textbook, international disparities in rates of teenage childbearing are associated with: A. income equality and educational attainment. B. average income and educational attainment. C. the amount of independence a culture allows adolescents to have. D. the influence of the mass media.

Q: Who is the least likely adolescent to bear her first child while married? A. Maria, a Mexican American B. Alisha, a Black adolescent C. Francine, an Asian American D. Sylvia, a White American

Q: Alice, a 16-year-old, gave birth to a baby boy last year. How will this affect the likelihood that her 13-year-old sister, Marie, will have a baby? A. It will increase. B. It will increase only if Marie is already sexually active. C. It will be unaffected. D. It will decrease.

Q: Who is the most likely, after becoming pregnant, to have an abortion? A. Jamie, a White female living in the suburbs B. Kimberly, a White female who dropped out of high school C. Dotty, a Black female who dropped out of high school D. Tara, a Black female living in poverty

Q: Which of the following statements about abortion and teen pregnancy is not true? A. There are no long-term differences between pregnant teenagers who do and do not seek abortion. B. Unplanned pregnancies are much more likely to be terminated by abortion among young women who are academically successfully and ambitious. C. Approximately one-third of teenage pregnancies result in abortion. D. Young women who terminate their pregnancy by abortion are less likely over the next two years to experience a subsequent pregnancy and more likely to practice contraception than those who do not abort their pregnancy.

Q: According to the textbook, which adolescent is most likely to use contraception? A. Nancy, who had an abortion a year ago B. Geraldine, who had a baby a year ago C. Annie, who is not doing well in school D. Melanie, who lives in a state that requires parental notification for abortions

Q: Greg, a 17-year-old, has gotten his girlfriend pregnant. If he is typical of other males who impregnate adolescent women, we would expect him to experience all of the following, except: A. low self-esteem. B. school or work problems. C. an increased sense of responsibility and optimism about the future. D. problems with alcohol and other drugs.

Q: Research on teenage mothers indicates that: A. their infants are at heightened risk for school problems and other behavior problems in childhood. B. most of them unconsciously "wanted" to have a baby. C. within 2 to 3 years, their lives are similar to those of their peers who did not bear a child. D. they are better off psychologically than teenagers who had aborted their pregnancy.

Q: Recent research on promoting safe-sex behaviors among adolescents has suggested all of the following, except: A. it is more effective to focus on adolescents' motives and social relationships, rather than their knowledge about safe sex. B. adolescents are often unaware that their partners may be having sex with others as well. C. being aware of the risk of STDs is sufficient to ensure safe sex practices among adolescents. D. it may be important to use different strategies for sexually active and inexperienced adolescents.

Q: Which of the following messages was not part of the large-scale media campaign targeted at reducing risky safe and the prevalence of STDs among Black youth? A. "using condoms would make sex worry-free and therefore more enjoyable" B. "waiting to have sex is a way of showing respect for your partner" C. "STDs are painful" D. "having a steady partner is a safe partner"

Q: What percentage of American adolescents who become pregnant get an abortion? A. fewer than 2% B. 15% C. 33% D. 70%

Q: Sexual activity in the United States is _____ in other industrialized countries, and the rate of pregnancy is _____. A. higher than; higher B. lower than; the same C. comparable; the same D. comparable; higher

Q: Which of the following sexually transmitted diseases is caused by a virus? A. gonorrhea B. herpes C. chlamydia D. trichomoniasis

Q: Which of the following sexually transmitted diseases is caused by a parasite? A. gonorrhea B. herpes C. chlamydia D. trichomoniasis

Q: Both _____________ are cause by a bacterium, whereas ____________ are caused by a virus. A. chlamydia and herpes; gonorrhea and human papilloma virus B. gonorrhea and herpes; chlamydia and human papilloma virus C. human papilloma virus and gonorrhea; chlamydia and herpes D. gonorrhea and chlamydia; herpes and human papilloma virus

Q: AIDS is transmitted through: A. casual contact. B. bodily fluids. C. kissing. D. mosquito bites.

Q: Approximately what percent of sexually active women between the ages of 14 and 19 have at least one of the following infections: HPV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, or trichomoniasis? A. 5% B. 20% C. 40% D. 80%

Q: What is not a risk factor for contracting HIV? A. using drugs B. having unprotected sex C. having many sexual partners D. being male

Q: Professor Bertrande understands that most adolescents she talks to are not likely to engage in abstinence. Her research has demonstrated that the next best way for adolescents to protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases is: A. effective condom use during sex. B. use of the withdrawal method. C. use of the rhythm method. D. taking antiviral drugs before and after having sex.

Q: Which of the following statements about sexual abuse during adolescence is false? A. Histories of individuals who commit dating violence suggest the perpetrators are likely to have been exposed to physical punishment and abuse at home. B. Younger children are more likely than adolescents to be abused and neglected. C. Adolescent victims of sexual abuse are disproportionately female and poor. D. Both perpetrators and victims of sexual assaults are often reluctant to admit the assault occurred.

Q: Which is not a risk factor for sexual abuse? A. living apart from one's parents B. living in a major city, compared to living in a rural area C. being raised in poverty D. having parents who abuse alcohol or other drugs

Q: Fourteen-year-old Sarah began "acting out" behaviors that her teacher had never observed in her before, such as a decline in self-esteem, sexual promiscuity, and risky behavior. Sarah's teacher suspects that Sarah is: A. pregnant. B. fighting with her boyfriend. C. a victim of sexual abuse. D. questioning her sexual orientation.

Q: Suzanne has just found out that her 13-year-old daughter had been sexually abused by her piano teacher. According to research presented in the textbook, what type of problems is Suzanne's daughter most likely to face? A. dissociative disorders B. psychopathic disorders C. academic difficulties D. infertility

Q: What is the most common method of birth control among sexually active adolescents? A. condoms B. birth control pills C. withdrawal D. the rhythm method

Q: Research has indicated that many young people do not use contraception regularly for all of the following reasons, except: A. using contraception would indicate that they are planfully and willingly sexually active. B. they unconsciously desire to become pregnant. C. contraceptives may be difficult for them to obtain. D. their egocentric thinking leads them to believe that they are immune from getting pregnant or contracting sexually transmitted diseases.

Q: Which adolescent is most likely to use contraception effectively while engaging in sex? A. Vanessa, who feels guilty about having sex with her boyfriend B. Lynn, who belongs to a conservative religious faith C. Vesta, who had previously pledged to remain a virgin D. Tasha, who is sexually active and relatively conventional

Q: The textbook suggests all of the following as ways to increase use of contraceptives among adolescents, except: A. ensure the availability of contraceptive devices to adolescents. B. offer sex education that teaches the fundamentals of contraceptive use once adolescents become sexually active. C. ensure open lines of communication so adolescents feel free to talk to adults about their sexual issues and concerns. D. portray sex in the media more responsibly, showing contraception use along with sexual activity.

Q: Because Andrea is a lesbian, she is more likely to exhibit what types of behaviors? A. feminine behaviors B. masculine behaviors C. androgynous behaviors D. There is no connection between sex-role behavior and sexual preference.

Q: Amy is a "straight" 16-year-old adolescent. Kelly, also 16, has discovered that she has homosexual interests. Which girl is most confused about her gender identity because of her sexual orientation? A. Amy B. Kelly C. Amy and Kelly are likely to be equally confused because gender identity is separate from sexual orientation. D. Neither Amy nor Kelly will be confused about their gender, because they understand their sexual orientations.

Q: Studies suggest which of the following are antecedents of homosexuality? A. biological factors B. social factors C. the interaction between biological and social factors D. All of the above.

Q: According to the textbook, which adults are most likely to describe their fathers as distant and rejecting? A. bisexual males B. homosexual males C. bisexual and homosexual adolescents D. transgender males

Q: Date rape is when a young person is forced to have sex when he or she does not want to. Sexual coercion and date rape are more likely to occur when: A. a girl plays hard to get with her boyfriend. B. there is a large (3 or more years) age difference between a girl and her partner. C. a stranger attacks and sexually assaults a teenager. D. the teen's parents utilize an authoritarian style of parenting.

Q: Professor Snapes is conducting research on sexual harassment of adolescents. He is likely to learn all of the following, except: A. sexual harassment is widespread within American public schools. B. a significant number of adolescents report having been sexually harassed by their teachers. C. school-based programs aimed at reducing sexual harassment, such as a program called Safe Dates, have had long-term success. D. the majority of adolescents who have been sexually harassed had themselves harassed others.

Q: According to research by Small and Luster, which adolescent is most likely to engage in early sexual activity? A. Chelsea, who lives in a low SES/disadvantaged neighborhood B. Ryan, who has many antisocial peers C. Frank, someone who has completely disengaged from school D. The adolescent most likely to engage in early sexual activity is one that has a combination of the above risk factors.

Q: Research on risk factors for adolescent sexual activity has found all of the following, except: A. lack of parental support is a risk factor for boys but not for girls. B. as the number of risk factors increases, the likelihood of engaging in sexual intercourse increases. C. the same risk factors that predict sexual activity for White adolescents also predict sexual activity among ethnic minority adolescents. D. efforts aimed at predicting adolescent sexual activity must focus on more than one risk factor.

Q: Which of the following statements about boys' first sexual experience is false? A. A boy's first sexual experience is usually through masturbation. B. Boys typically view sex as recreation. C. A boy's first sexual partner is likely to be someone he's in love with. D. Boys are more likely than girls to keep sex and intimacy separate.

Q: Early sexuality for males is tinged with elements of ________, whereas for females it is more linked to feelings of _______________. A. intimacy; recreation B. recreation; intimacy C. enjoyment; guilt D. guilt; enjoyment

Q: Amy, a 15-year-old, lost her virginity to her boyfriend last night. Which of the following is Amy least likely to say? A. "I'm in love!" B. "I'm so worriedwhat if I'm pregnant!" C. "I'm so glad I'm no longer a virgin!" D. "I'm so excited!"

Q: Generalizing from the textbook, Marge is most likely to have her first sexual encounter with a: A. younger partner. B. classmate. C. casual acquaintance. D. steady boyfriend.

Q: Michael and Kayla are concerned because they noticed their 10-year-old son, Tom, engaging in sex play with a male friend. They ask a psychologist what she thinks. What did she probably say? A. "Tom is probably homosexual." B. "It is likely that Tom has been sexually abused." C. "Same-sex play among young adolescents is more common than many would think and nothing to worry about." D. "Tom needs to get counseling as this is a symptom of a larger psychological issue."

Q: Which of the following statements about sexual orientation in adolescence is false? A. Thirteen percent of girls, compared to 6% of boys, report having had same-sex attractions, a non-heterosexual orientation, or engaging in same-sex activity during adolescence. B. Approximately 2 to 5% of adolescents identify themselves as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. C. Researchers have been able to identify consistent predictors for adolescents who will later identify themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender. D. The majority of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender adults engaged in heterosexual activity during adolescence.

Q: Todd would rather date men than women. This refers to Todd's: A. gender identity. B. sexual orientation. C. sex-role behavior. D. homophobia.

Q: Bill is a very feminine man. Based on this sex-role behavior, one would predict that Bill is probably: A. homosexual. B. heterosexual. C. bisexual. D. There is no connection between sex-role behavior and sexual orientation.

Q: An analysis of "virginity pledges" that encourage adolescents to promise to abstain from premarital sex has found that: A. pledging works equally well for adolescents of all ages. B. pledging has a big effect in schools in which few students take the pledge. C. pledging works well in schools in which nearly everyone takes the pledge. D. about 82% of adolescents who take a virginity pledge will deny having done so five years later.

Q: The sexual ______ of males and females may be similar, but the sexual _____ of males and females is quite different. A. behavior; socialization B. socialization; behavior C. attitudes; experiences D. experiences; attitudes

Q: In contrast to delinquent individuals who engage in sex in a romantic relationship, at least one research study found that delinquent adolescents who engage in casual sex: A. are more depressed and have more psychological issues. B. tend to have very similar genetic and psychological profiles to individuals who abstain from sex. C. may have genes that influence both the propensity to engage in delinquency and the tendency to seek opportunities to have sex "just for fun," which is consistent with other research on the genetic basis of traits like sensation seeking and impulsivity. D. tend to have parents that have very conservative attitudes toward sexuality.

Q: Research assessing parent-adolescent communication about sex has found all of the following, except: A. although parents may indicate that they talked to their adolescents about a topic, such as sexually transmitted diseases, their adolescents are likely to say they have not. B. parents believe that if they express their disapproval of sexual activity, their adolescents will not be sexually active. C. parent-adolescent communication about sex significantly lowers adolescents' likelihood of being sexually active. D. parent-adolescent communication about contraception lowers the rate of risky sex.

Q: Generalizing from the textbook, if Nicky's parents want to slow down her sexual involvement, which of her parents should talk to her about sex? A. her mother B. her father C. Both of her parents should talk to her at the same time. D. Neither of her parents should talk to her about sex.

Q: Which of the following statements about parent-adolescent communication about sex is not true? A. Adolescents are more receptive to having one "big talk" about sex than having multiple conversations over a period of time. B. Sexually active adolescents underestimate their parents' disapproval of sexual activity. C. Parents assume that if they disapprove of sexual activity, their adolescent is not likely to be sexually active. D. There seems to be a gap between what parents say they have discussed with their adolescent child and what adolescents say they have discussed with their parents.

Q: Which aspect of parent-adolescent communication about sex is likely to have a meaningful effect on the adolescent's behavior? A. parent-child communication specifically focused on the topic of contraception lowers the rate of risky sex B. parent-child discussion about whether the adolescent should have sex at all C. parent-child communication that involves an authoritarian approach with specific, rigid rules with respect to sexual activity D. parent-child communication that directly cautions their teenager against sex but avoids implying that sex is a moral or religious issue

Q: Which of the following is not a good predictor of whether adolescents will engage in sexual activity? A. the adolescent's opportunity to have sex B. parent-adolescent communication C. having sexually active friends D. use of alcohol and other drugs

Q: What do researchers believe explains why some individuals who engage in precocious, promiscuous, or unprotected sex are also highly likely to engage in other types of delinquent behavior? A. It is likely that risky sexual behavior causes other types of risky and delinquent behaviors. B. It is likely that risky and delinquent behaviors cause risky sexual activity. C. It is likely that risky sexual behavior and other types of risky behavior are both symptoms of a certain personality profile which makes individuals more likely to behave risky in general. D. These two behaviors are likely spuriously related by a third, unrelated (and unmeasured) variable.

Q: What family factor appears to predict adolescent sexual involvement, especially among girls? A. household composition B. mother's employment C. number of siblings D. parenting styles

Q: According to research presented in the textbook, who is more likely to be sexually active: Ingrid, who lives in a single-parent home, or Leanne, who lives in a two-parent home? A. Ingrid B. Leanne C. Ingrid, but only immediately following her parents' divorce. D. Both girls are equally likely to be sexually active.

Q: Which of the following is least likely to explain why growing up in a single-parent home affects girls' sexual behavior more than boys' sexual behavior? A. Social influences on sexual behavior are weaker for girls than for boys, thereby leading to fewer restraints on girls' sexual activities. B. Single mothers may be dating, thereby inadvertently acting as role models of sexual activity for their adolescent daughters. C. Girls are more likely than boys to look outside the family for warmth and support. D. There may be a genetic link inherited from the girls' fathers that increases daughters' sexual behavior.

Q: In addition to parental supervision, what else might help decrease the probability of adolescent sexual activity? A. insisting that adolescents come home right after school B. having adolescents participate in after-school programs C. having their fathers talk to them about the dangers of sexual involvement D. providing them with books on the risks of sexual involvement

Q: Boys' and girls' initial interest in sex is influenced primarily by the surge in levels of: A. progesterone. B. estrogen. C. ACTH. D. testosterone.

Q: For adolescent boys, which of the following is the most important factor in determining the onset of sexual intercourse? A. increased levels of androgens B. availability of birth control C. the attitudes of friends toward sexual activity D. receiving sex education in school

Q: For adolescent girls, which of the following is the most important factor in determining the onset of sexual intercourse? A. increased levels of androgens B. availability of birth control C. the attitudes of friends toward sexual activity D. receiving sex education in school

Q: The greatest increase in the prevalence of premarital intercourse has been among which group? A. males B. females C. minority males D. females from higher socioeconomic backgrounds

Q: Experts who accept that sex is part of life for the average American teenager believe that all of the following create difficulties for our society, except: A. providing inadequate sex education. B. beginning sex education too early. C. limiting access to effective contraception. D. not dealing with the issue directly.

Q: Jeannette, a 17-year-old, has decided to engage in sexual intercourse with her boyfriend. Tammy, also 17, has decided to abstain from sex until she is older. Which adolescent is more likely to experience psychological disturbances? A. Jeannette B. Tammy C. Neither Tammy nor Jeannette, because they have made mature decisions. D. Normative sexual activity during late adolescence is not associated with psychological disturbance.

Q: Tim and Carol are upset because they recently discovered that their 13-year-old daughter has already engaged in sexual intercourse. What other types of problems is their daughter likely to have? A. drug and alcohol problems B. low interest in academics C. tolerance of deviant behavior D. All of the above.

Q: Boys' initial interest in sex is motivated by ________ hormones, whereas girls' initial interest in sex is motivated by _______. A. testosterone; estrogen B. androgen; estrogen C. androgen; androgens and estrogen D. estrogen; testosterone

Q: Which of the following is the most likely scenario for adolescent sexual activity? A. It takes place in the boy's home on a weekday after school. B. It takes place in the back of the boy's car on a weekend evening. C. It takes place in the girl's home on a weekend evening. D. It takes place at a friend's home on a weekday after school.

Q: Which of the following is not associated with risky sex behavior? A. having parents who engage in low parental monitoring B. having delinquent peers who are sexually active C. having a stronger orientation toward independence D. being exposed to pornography

Q: Compared with studies conducted in the mid-1990s: A. the adolescents who choose to engage in sexual intercourse are doing so at an earlier age. B. fewer adolescents today are engaging in sexual intercourse. C. regional and ethnic variations make it difficult to generalize about an average age for sexual intercourse for American adolescents. D. All of the above.

Q: According to national surveys, sexual activity among adolescents is occurring ______ it has in past decades. A. later than B. earlier than C. at the same time as D. earlier for boys but later for girls than

Q: Current research suggests that sexual intercourse during the high school years: A. has been slowly but steadily decreasing over the past decade. B. is part of the normative experience of adolescence in America. C. is higher among adolescents in the United States than in other industrialized countries. D. is more likely among girls than for boys.

Q: Approximately what percentage of American adolescents have had sexual intercourse before the end of their sophomore year of high school? A. 40% B. 60% C. 10% D. 75%

Q: Which adolescent is most likely to engage in sexual intercourse at the youngest age? A. Laurence, a Black adolescent B. Michael, an Asian American adolescent C. Danny, a European American adolescent D. Jesse, a Hispanic adolescent

Q: Ann, a 17-year-old, is still a virgin. If you had to guess, what race/ethnicity is Ann likely to be? A. Black B. Asian American C. Native American D. White

Q: As compared with females whose first intercourse occurs after age 18, those who engage in sexual intercourse at a younger age are likely to report that: A. they were sexually curious. B. they were in love with their partner. C. their first sexual experience was involuntary. D. their sex partner was approximately the same age.

Q: ______ is the peak month for adolescents in a serious relationship to have their first intercourse. A. January B. March C. September D. December

Q: The most common reasons that 14- to 15-year-olds give for abstaining from sex are: A. fear of disease and fear of pregnancy. B. parental and religious restrictions. C. concerns about their reputation and parental disapproval. D. negative attitudes about the physical aspects of sexual intercourse.

Q: Researchers have found that with respect to reporting their sexual activity: A. if they are assured of confidentiality, it is unlikely that adolescents will give misinformation. B. males tend to overstate their level of activity. C. females tend to overstate their level of activity. D. males and females both tend to understate their level of activity.

Q: What is the best way to conceptualize adolescent sexual development? A. as gradual stages of increasing intimacy B. with the first event being intercourse C. as an isolated behavior D. there are no systematic patterns to adolescent sexual development