Question 1

Which of the following statements is true about inferences made during reading?

Accepted Answer

A)  We do not store inferences in long term memory. 
B)  We store inferences separately from the statements that actually occurred in the text. 
C)  We always construct and store inferences, even when reading complex scientific texts. 
D)  We often retain the gist or general meaning of a passage, forgetting that we constructed some elements that did not actually appear in the story. 
A)  We do not store inferences in long term memory. 
B)  We store inferences separately from the statements that actually occurred in the text. 
C)  We always construct and store inferences, even when reading complex scientific texts. 
D)  We often retain the gist or general meaning of a passage, forgetting that we constructed some elements that did not actually appear in the story.

Question 2

Which of the following sentences should be easiest to comprehend?

Accepted Answer

A)  My cat Lupin chased the mouse under the sofa. 
B)  The mouse was chased under the sofa by my cat, Lupin. 
C)  The cat that chased the mouse was named Lupin. 
D)  Heather denied that her cat did not chase the mouse. 
A)  My cat Lupin chased the mouse under the sofa. 
B)  The mouse was chased under the sofa by my cat, Lupin. 
C)  The cat that chased the mouse was named Lupin. 
D)  Heather denied that her cat did not chase the mouse.

Question 3

Which of the following students' statements provides the best summary of the information on aphasia?

Accepted Answer

A)  Uma: "People with Broca's aphasia have trouble expressing language; their language comprehension is normal." 
B)  John: "Contrary to popular opinion, Broca's aphasia and Wernicke's aphasia are virtually identical." 
C)  Lata: "People with Wernicke's aphasia produce large quantities of speech, but it often doesn't make sense; they also have trouble understanding speech." 
D)  Suzanne: "People with Wernicke's aphasia can understand instructions that involve a sequence of actions; people with Broca's aphasia cannot understand this kind of message." 
A)  Uma: "People with Broca's aphasia have trouble expressing language; their language comprehension is normal." 
B)  John: "Contrary to popular opinion, Broca's aphasia and Wernicke's aphasia are virtually identical." 
C)  Lata: "People with Wernicke's aphasia produce large quantities of speech, but it often doesn't make sense; they also have trouble understanding speech." 
D)  Suzanne: "People with Wernicke's aphasia can understand instructions that involve a sequence of actions; people with Broca's aphasia cannot understand this kind of message."

Question 4

Suppose that you are walking on your college campus, and a stranger asks you how to get to the library. Before answering, you need to figure out whether this person is familiar with any of the landmarks on the campus. Your concern about background information is most relevant for the aspect of language known as

Accepted Answer

A)  phonemes 
B)  semantics. 
C)  syntax. 
D)  pragmatics. 
A)  phonemes 
B)  semantics. 
C)  syntax. 
D)  pragmatics.

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of a phoneme?

Accepted Answer

A)  Psychology 
B)  "I before E, except after C" 
C)  th 
D)  Dogs bark 
A)  Psychology 
B)  "I before E, except after C" 
C)  th 
D)  Dogs bark

Question 6

When we make an inference during reading, we use our _____ in order to access information that is not explicitly stated in the written text.

Accepted Answer

A)  phonetic knowledge 
B)  syntactic knowledge 
C)  world knowledge 
D)  logical reasoning ability 
A)  phonetic knowledge 
B)  syntactic knowledge 
C)  world knowledge 
D)  logical reasoning ability

Question 7

According to the introductory discussion of the reading process,

Accepted Answer

A)  reading appears to be a modular process. 
B)  the average adult reads at the rate of about 100 words per minute. 
C)  reading is a process that relies on a variety of other cognitive skills. 
D)  most people can introspect accurately about the cognitive processes required when they read an isolated sentence. 
A)  reading appears to be a modular process. 
B)  the average adult reads at the rate of about 100 words per minute. 
C)  reading is a process that relies on a variety of other cognitive skills. 
D)  most people can introspect accurately about the cognitive processes required when they read an isolated sentence.

Question 8

The discussion of reading comprehension emphasized that people draw inferences during reading. For example, when people were reading a passage that contradicted an inference, they usually took longer to read it

Accepted Answer

A)  if the goal sentence was located near the contradictory material, rather than far away. 
B)  only if they were allowed a long processing time between reading the passage and judging it. 
C)  in both the "near" and the "far" conditions. 
D)  if they were novices, rather than experts. 
A)  if the goal sentence was located near the contradictory material, rather than far away. 
B)  only if they were allowed a long processing time between reading the passage and judging it. 
C)  in both the "near" and the "far" conditions. 
D)  if they were novices, rather than experts.

Question 9

________ refers to how we combine morphemes into words, whereas ________ refers to how we organize words into sentences.

Accepted Answer

A)  morphology; syntax 
B)  pragmatics; syntax 
C)  syntax; morphology 
D)  syntax; grammar 
A)  morphology; syntax 
B)  pragmatics; syntax 
C)  syntax; morphology 
D)  syntax; grammar

Question 10

Neurolinguists have demonstrated that _________ is active when people complete a Stroop task, and also when people process syntactically ambiguous sentences.

Accepted Answer

A)  Wernicke's area 
B)  Broca's area 
C)  the right temporal lobe 
D)  the right frontal lobe 
A)  Wernicke's area 
B)  Broca's area 
C)  the right temporal lobe 
D)  the right frontal lobe

Question 11

When a sentence in a written passage contains an ambiguous word,

Accepted Answer

A)  people typically do not notice the ambiguity until they have finished reading the entire sentence. 
B)  people apparently access only the best-known meaning of that word. 
C)  people are highly unlikely to notice that the word may be ambiguous. 
D)  people typically pause while they process the ambiguous word. 
A)  people typically do not notice the ambiguity until they have finished reading the entire sentence. 
B)  people apparently access only the best-known meaning of that word. 
C)  people are highly unlikely to notice that the word may be ambiguous. 
D)  people typically pause while they process the ambiguous word.

Question 12

The constructionist view of discourse comprehension is most likely to emphasize

Accepted Answer

A)  a character's emotions and motivations. 
B)  the meaning of each sentence, rather than inferences. 
C)  the phonemes represented in the text. 
D)  the fact that readers typically use a shallow level of processing. 
A)  a character's emotions and motivations. 
B)  the meaning of each sentence, rather than inferences. 
C)  the phonemes represented in the text. 
D)  the fact that readers typically use a shallow level of processing.

Question 13

Leslie is participating in an experiment in which she presses the spacebar on a computer keyboard in order to see one word of a sentence at a time. Her reaction time to process each individual word is measured. This procedure is an example of a

Accepted Answer

A)  self-paced reading task. 
B)  off-line language processing task. 
C)  lexical masking task. 
D)  syntactic processing task. 
A)  self-paced reading task. 
B)  off-line language processing task. 
C)  lexical masking task. 
D)  syntactic processing task.

Question 14

According to the discussion of neurolinguistics,

Accepted Answer

A)  for most people-but not all-language is primarily localized in the left hemisphere of the brain. 
B)  for most people-but not all-language is primarily localized in the right hemisphere of the brain. 
C)  for most right-handers, language is localized in the right hemisphere of the brain. 
D)  for most people, language is processed almost identically by both hemispheres. 
A)  for most people-but not all-language is primarily localized in the left hemisphere of the brain. 
B)  for most people-but not all-language is primarily localized in the right hemisphere of the brain. 
C)  for most right-handers, language is localized in the right hemisphere of the brain. 
D)  for most people, language is processed almost identically by both hemispheres.

Question 15

Eye tracking studies such as the experiment by Tanenhaus and colleagues suggest that our interpretation of the grammar of a sentence

Accepted Answer

A)  depends primarily on our level of experience with the language's syntax. 
B)  depends on the linguistic context of the sentence within a paragraph or story. 
C)  can be influenced by nonlinguistic context such as the visual environment. 
D)  cannot be influenced by nonlinguistic environments unless one's knowledge of the language is weak. 
A)  depends primarily on our level of experience with the language's syntax. 
B)  depends on the linguistic context of the sentence within a paragraph or story. 
C)  can be influenced by nonlinguistic context such as the visual environment. 
D)  cannot be influenced by nonlinguistic environments unless one's knowledge of the language is weak.

Question 16

According to the introduction on language comprehension (Chapter 9),

Accepted Answer

A)  language requires very little active processing of information; language comprehension is primarily automatic. 
B)  language can be described in terms of a relatively small number of specific tasks. 
C)  language is not closely related to other cognitive tasks. 
D)  we consult our background knowledge, which is related to language, so we can understand complex ideas. 
A)  language requires very little active processing of information; language comprehension is primarily automatic. 
B)  language can be described in terms of a relatively small number of specific tasks. 
C)  language is not closely related to other cognitive tasks. 
D)  we consult our background knowledge, which is related to language, so we can understand complex ideas.

Question 17

The fact that a "bat" could be a flying mammal or a necessary tool to play baseball is an example of

Accepted Answer

A)  syntactic ambiguity. 
B)  lexical ambiguity. 
C)  the lack of proper rules in the English language 
D)  pragmatics. 
A)  syntactic ambiguity. 
B)  lexical ambiguity. 
C)  the lack of proper rules in the English language 
D)  pragmatics.

Question 18

The basic units of meaning in a language are known as

Accepted Answer

A)  words. 
B)  phonemes. 
C)  morphemes. 
D)  syntax. 
A)  words. 
B)  phonemes. 
C)  morphemes. 
D)  syntax.

Question 19

Which of the following topics would be most relevant for a psychologist who favors the cognitive-functional approach to language?

Accepted Answer

A)  What kind of cues do listeners pick up on when determining whether a speaker is very enthusiastic about an idea, rather than just mildly enthusiastic? 
B)  What kinds of rules do people use when they want to determine the deep structure of an ambiguous sentence? 
C)  What is the function of each of the language areas of the brain, with respect to reading a question and formulating an answer? 
D)  When do listeners take a modular approach to language, and when do they integrate language with other cognitive processes (e.g., memory and problem solving)? 
A)  What kind of cues do listeners pick up on when determining whether a speaker is very enthusiastic about an idea, rather than just mildly enthusiastic? 
B)  What kinds of rules do people use when they want to determine the deep structure of an ambiguous sentence? 
C)  What is the function of each of the language areas of the brain, with respect to reading a question and formulating an answer? 
D)  When do listeners take a modular approach to language, and when do they integrate language with other cognitive processes (e.g., memory and problem solving)?

Question 20

According to Chomsky's approach, the relationship between "The dog chased the cat" and "The cat was chased by the dog" can be described as

Accepted Answer

A)  one deep structure with two surface structures 
B)  two deep structures with one surface structure 
C)  two deep structures and two surface structures 
D)  two deep structures linked by a transformational rule 
A)  one deep structure with two surface structures 
B)  two deep structures with one surface structure 
C)  two deep structures and two surface structures 
D)  two deep structures linked by a transformational rule

Which of the following statements is true about inferences made during reading?

Which of the following sentences should be easiest to comprehend?

Which of the following students' statements provides the best summary of the information on aphasia?

Which of the following is an example of a phoneme?

When we make an inference during reading, we use our _____ in order to access information that is not explicitly stated in the written text.

According to the introductory discussion of the reading process,

The discussion of reading comprehension emphasized that people draw inferences during reading. For example, when people were reading a passage that contradicted an inference, they usually took longer to read it

refers to how we combine morphemes into words, whereas refers to how we organize words into sentences.

Neurolinguists have demonstrated that _________ is active when people complete a Stroop task, and also when people process syntactically ambiguous sentences.

When a sentence in a written passage contains an ambiguous word,

The constructionist view of discourse comprehension is most likely to emphasize

Leslie is participating in an experiment in which she presses the spacebar on a computer keyboard in order to see one word of a sentence at a time. Her reaction time to process each individual word is measured. This procedure is an example of a

According to the discussion of neurolinguistics,

Eye tracking studies such as the experiment by Tanenhaus and colleagues suggest that our interpretation of the grammar of a sentence

According to the introduction on language comprehension (Chapter 9),

The fact that a "bat" could be a flying mammal or a necessary tool to play baseball is an example of

The basic units of meaning in a language are known as

Which of the following topics would be most relevant for a psychologist who favors the cognitive-functional approach to language?

According to Chomsky's approach, the relationship between "The dog chased the cat" and "The cat was chased by the dog" can be described as

An Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

Visual and Auditory Recognition

Attention and Consciousness

Working Memory

Long-Term Memory

Memory Strategies and Metacognition

Mental Imagery and Cognitive Maps

General Knowledge

Language II: Language Production and Bilingualism

Problem Solving and Creativity

Deductive Reasoning and Decision Making

Cognitive Development Throughout the Lifespan

Filters

Exam 9: Language I: Introduction to Language and Language Comprehension

Which of the following statements is true about inferences made during reading?

Which of the following sentences should be easiest to comprehend?

Which of the following students' statements provides the best summary of the information on aphasia?

Which of the following is an example of a phoneme?

When we make an inference during reading, we use our _____ in order to access information that is not explicitly stated in the written text.

According to the introductory discussion of the reading process,

The discussion of reading comprehension emphasized that people draw inferences during reading. For example, when people were reading a passage that contradicted an inference, they usually took longer to read it

________ refers to how we combine morphemes into words, whereas ________ refers to how we organize words into sentences.

Neurolinguists have demonstrated that _________ is active when people complete a Stroop task, and also when people process syntactically ambiguous sentences.

When a sentence in a written passage contains an ambiguous word,

The constructionist view of discourse comprehension is most likely to emphasize

Leslie is participating in an experiment in which she presses the spacebar on a computer keyboard in order to see one word of a sentence at a time. Her reaction time to process each individual word is measured. This procedure is an example of a

According to the discussion of neurolinguistics,

Eye tracking studies such as the experiment by Tanenhaus and colleagues suggest that our interpretation of the grammar of a sentence

According to the introduction on language comprehension (Chapter 9),

The fact that a "bat" could be a flying mammal or a necessary tool to play baseball is an example of

The basic units of meaning in a language are known as

Which of the following topics would be most relevant for a psychologist who favors the cognitive-functional approach to language?

According to Chomsky's approach, the relationship between "The dog chased the cat" and "The cat was chased by the dog" can be described as

An Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

Visual and Auditory Recognition

Attention and Consciousness

Working Memory

Long-Term Memory

Memory Strategies and Metacognition

Mental Imagery and Cognitive Maps

General Knowledge

Language II: Language Production and Bilingualism

Problem Solving and Creativity

Deductive Reasoning and Decision Making

Cognitive Development Throughout the Lifespan

Filters

refers to how we combine morphemes into words, whereas refers to how we organize words into sentences.