Question 1

People tend to inaccurately estimate that more deaths occur as a result of tornadoes than from asthma because of a tendency to do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A) underestimate the improbable 
B) underestimate the probable 
C) overestimate the improbable 
D) overestimate the probable 
A) underestimate the improbable 
B) underestimate the probable 
C) overestimate the improbable 
D) overestimate the probable

Question 2

Which of the following provides evidence that our decisions about preferences are often based on information that should be irrelevant?

Accepted Answer

A) People have difficulty waiting for a reward, and prefer immediate ones. 
B) People rate identical wines differently, depending on the price tags. 
C) People prefer a guaranteed $5 rather than a 50/50 chance at $10. 
D) People can learn to enjoy things that they thought they wouldn't like. 
A) People have difficulty waiting for a reward, and prefer immediate ones. 
B) People rate identical wines differently, depending on the price tags. 
C) People prefer a guaranteed $5 rather than a 50/50 chance at $10. 
D) People can learn to enjoy things that they thought they wouldn't like.

Question 3

According to Simon's theory of bounded rationality, why do humans tend to make irrational decisions?

Accepted Answer

A) We make decisions more difficult than they need to be. 
B) We use simple strategies and focus on limited information. 
C) We have logic systems that are only useful in natural environments. 
D) We are too guided by our emotions. 
A) We make decisions more difficult than they need to be. 
B) We use simple strategies and focus on limited information. 
C) We have logic systems that are only useful in natural environments. 
D) We are too guided by our emotions.

Question 4

What is the term for incorrectly estimating that the odds of two uncertain events happening together are greater than the odds of either event happening alone?

Accepted Answer

A) base rate fallacy 
B) alternative outcome effect 
C) conjunction fallacy 
D) gambler's fallacy 
A) base rate fallacy 
B) alternative outcome effect 
C) conjunction fallacy 
D) gambler's fallacy

Question 5

Tak and Kun are both learning to speak English. Tak spends one year on intensive English-language lessons with an excellent instructor in Korea, who is fluent in both English and Korean. Kun moves to Edmonton, gets a job, and makes friends with people who speak English. Which of the following is most likely to be correct?

Accepted Answer

A) Kun will learn English faster because he is more acculturated. 
B) Kun will learn English faster because his friends have a better grasp of the language than Tak's instructor. 
C) Tak will learn English faster, because he is not distracted by the stressors of living in a new environment. 
D) Tak will learn English faster because he has a specific instructor. 
A) Kun will learn English faster because he is more acculturated. 
B) Kun will learn English faster because his friends have a better grasp of the language than Tak's instructor. 
C) Tak will learn English faster, because he is not distracted by the stressors of living in a new environment. 
D) Tak will learn English faster because he has a specific instructor.

Question 6

Which of the following best describes the discrimination ability of three-month-old infants?

Accepted Answer

A) They distinguish all the phonemes in their native language. 
B) They distinguish all the morphemes in their native language. 
C) They distinguish all the morphemes in all the world's languages. 
D) They distinguish all the phonemes in all the world's languages. 
A) They distinguish all the phonemes in their native language. 
B) They distinguish all the morphemes in their native language. 
C) They distinguish all the morphemes in all the world's languages. 
D) They distinguish all the phonemes in all the world's languages.

Question 7

Why was cognition, as a topic of study in psychology, somewhat ignored for many years?

Accepted Answer

A) It can't be studied in animals, so few researchers were interested. 
B) The equipment that is necessary to image the brain was not developed yet. 
C) Interest in psychodynamic theory dominated the field. 
D) It is incredibly difficult to study thoughts, in a controlled manner. 
A) It can't be studied in animals, so few researchers were interested. 
B) The equipment that is necessary to image the brain was not developed yet. 
C) Interest in psychodynamic theory dominated the field. 
D) It is incredibly difficult to study thoughts, in a controlled manner.

Question 8

Arguing from an evolutionary perspective, what do Leda Cosmides and John Tooby suggest that human reasoning depends on?

Accepted Answer

A) complex heuristics based on lifelong learning 
B) inferential heuristics 
C) 'dumb and dumber' heuristics 
D) specialized cognitive mechanisms for natural problems 
A) complex heuristics based on lifelong learning 
B) inferential heuristics 
C) 'dumb and dumber' heuristics 
D) specialized cognitive mechanisms for natural problems

Question 9

Which of the following theorists suggested that children are equipped with a language acquisition device (LAD) that allows them to acquire language?

Accepted Answer

A) Benjamin Lee Whorf 
B) Ivan Pavlov 
C) Noam Chomsky 
D) B. F. Skinner 
A) Benjamin Lee Whorf 
B) Ivan Pavlov 
C) Noam Chomsky 
D) B. F. Skinner

Question 10

Which type of psychologists focus on the topics of memory, problem solving, decision making, and language?

Accepted Answer

A) social psychologists 
B) physiological psychologists 
C) cognitive psychologists 
D) clinical psychologists 
A) social psychologists 
B) physiological psychologists 
C) cognitive psychologists 
D) clinical psychologists

Question 11

Based on a past experience that involved temper tantrums, Sue decides not to take her two five-year-old grandsons to the movies at the same time. Which decision-making strategy is Sue using?

Accepted Answer

A) representativeness heuristic 
B) conjunction heuristic 
C) gambler's heuristic 
D) availability heuristic 
A) representativeness heuristic 
B) conjunction heuristic 
C) gambler's heuristic 
D) availability heuristic

Question 12

People often assume that it is necessary to use all the numerical information provided in a problem in order to solve the problem. In reality, numerical information sometimes makes it more difficult to solve a problem. Why?

Accepted Answer

A) The information results in a mental set. 
B) The information may be irrelevant. 
C) The information puts unnecessary constraints on the problem solver. 
D) The information encourages functional fixedness. 
A) The information results in a mental set. 
B) The information may be irrelevant. 
C) The information puts unnecessary constraints on the problem solver. 
D) The information encourages functional fixedness.

Question 13

Which child is exhibiting underextension?

Accepted Answer

A) Britney, who uses the word "car" only when referring to her mother's car 
B) Abby, who uses the word "swing" when referring to all the pieces of playground equipment on the playground 
C) Danielle, who uses the word "puppy" when referring to all dogs, young or old. 
D) Caitlin, who uses the word "doggie" when referring to both her dog Fido and her grandmother's cat Fluffy 
A) Britney, who uses the word "car" only when referring to her mother's car 
B) Abby, who uses the word "swing" when referring to all the pieces of playground equipment on the playground 
C) Danielle, who uses the word "puppy" when referring to all dogs, young or old. 
D) Caitlin, who uses the word "doggie" when referring to both her dog Fido and her grandmother's cat Fluffy

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of the statement that 'language is structured'?

Accepted Answer

A) The phrase 'the dog bit the man' means something different than 'the man bit the dog'. 
B) I can use the word 'dog' to refer to a variety of different individual animals. 
C) I can use the word 'dog' to refer to an animal that isn't currently present. 
D) The word 'dog' can be used in a variety of novel sentences. 
A) The phrase 'the dog bit the man' means something different than 'the man bit the dog'. 
B) I can use the word 'dog' to refer to a variety of different individual animals. 
C) I can use the word 'dog' to refer to an animal that isn't currently present. 
D) The word 'dog' can be used in a variety of novel sentences.

Question 15

Toddlers are immersed in a language-learning environment at all times, whereas adults who are learning a second language often do so on a part-time basis. Which of the following theories of language acquisition is weakened by this confounding variable?

Accepted Answer

A) emergentist theory 
B) interactionist theory 
C) nativist theory 
D) behaviourist theory 
A) emergentist theory 
B) interactionist theory 
C) nativist theory 
D) behaviourist theory

Question 16

When Matthew is taking a multiple choice exam, he uses the rule 'When in doubt, pick C'. Which of the following is illustrated by this example?

Accepted Answer

A) trial and error 
B) forming subgoals 
C) an analogy 
D) a heuristic 
A) trial and error 
B) forming subgoals 
C) an analogy 
D) a heuristic

Question 17

Which of the following statements concerning the ability of animals to acquire language is false?

Accepted Answer

A) The ability to use language-in a very basic, primitive way-may not be entirely unique to humans. 
B) Animals have never shown behaviour that suggests an understanding of grammatical rules. 
C) Questions remain concerning whether the language-like behaviour of animals demonstrates all the critical properties of language. 
D) Some language-like skills have been taught to a number of species. 
A) The ability to use language-in a very basic, primitive way-may not be entirely unique to humans. 
B) Animals have never shown behaviour that suggests an understanding of grammatical rules. 
C) Questions remain concerning whether the language-like behaviour of animals demonstrates all the critical properties of language. 
D) Some language-like skills have been taught to a number of species.

Question 18

When your classmate Sam says, "I never thought I'd say this, but I really enjoyed taking that psychology exam," which property of language does his statement best illustrate?

Accepted Answer

A) Language is structured. 
B) Language is practical. 
C) Language is generative. 
D) Language is symbolic. 
A) Language is structured. 
B) Language is practical. 
C) Language is generative. 
D) Language is symbolic.

Question 19

Which hypothesis is supported if a culture that has no word for the colour pink cannot quickly perceive the difference between pink and another colour?

Accepted Answer

A) metalinguistic awareness hypothesis 
B) interactionist hypothesis 
C) nativist hypothesis 
D) linguistic relativity hypothesis 
A) metalinguistic awareness hypothesis 
B) interactionist hypothesis 
C) nativist hypothesis 
D) linguistic relativity hypothesis

Question 20

Rules exist that govern how words may be combined into phrases and sentences. What property of language is reflected by such rules?

Accepted Answer

A) Language is generative. 
B) Language is semantic. 
C) Language is structured. 
D) Language is symbolic. 
A) Language is generative. 
B) Language is semantic. 
C) Language is structured. 
D) Language is symbolic.

Exam 8: B: Language and Thought

People tend to inaccurately estimate that more deaths occur as a result of tornadoes than from asthma because of a tendency to do which of the following?

Which of the following provides evidence that our decisions about preferences are often based on information that should be irrelevant?

According to Simon's theory of bounded rationality, why do humans tend to make irrational decisions?

What is the term for incorrectly estimating that the odds of two uncertain events happening together are greater than the odds of either event happening alone?

Which of the following best describes the discrimination ability of three-month-old infants?

Why was cognition, as a topic of study in psychology, somewhat ignored for many years?

Arguing from an evolutionary perspective, what do Leda Cosmides and John Tooby suggest that human reasoning depends on?

Which of the following theorists suggested that children are equipped with a language acquisition device (LAD) that allows them to acquire language?

Which type of psychologists focus on the topics of memory, problem solving, decision making, and language?

Based on a past experience that involved temper tantrums, Sue decides not to take her two five-year-old grandsons to the movies at the same time. Which decision-making strategy is Sue using?

People often assume that it is necessary to use all the numerical information provided in a problem in order to solve the problem. In reality, numerical information sometimes makes it more difficult to solve a problem. Why?

Which child is exhibiting underextension?

Which of the following is an example of the statement that 'language is structured'?

Toddlers are immersed in a language-learning environment at all times, whereas adults who are learning a second language often do so on a part-time basis. Which of the following theories of language acquisition is weakened by this confounding variable?

When Matthew is taking a multiple choice exam, he uses the rule 'When in doubt, pick C'. Which of the following is illustrated by this example?

Which of the following statements concerning the ability of animals to acquire language is false?

When your classmate Sam says, "I never thought I'd say this, but I really enjoyed taking that psychology exam," which property of language does his statement best illustrate?

Which hypothesis is supported if a culture that has no word for the colour pink cannot quickly perceive the difference between pink and another colour?

Rules exist that govern how words may be combined into phrases and sentences. What property of language is reflected by such rules?

A: The Evolution of Psychology

B: The Evolution of Psychology

A: The Research Enterprise in Psychology

B: The Research Enterprise in Psychology

A:The Biological Bases of Behaviour

B: The Biological Bases of Behaviour

A: Sensation and Perception

B: Sensation and Perception

A: Variations in Consciousness

B: Variations in Consciousness

A: Learning

B: Learning

A: Human Memory

B: Human Memory

A: Language and Thought

A: Intelligence and Psychological Testing

B: Intelligence and Psychological Testing

A: Motivation and Emotion

B: Motivation and Emotion

A: Human Development Across the Life Span

B: Human Development Across the Life Span

A: Personality: Theory, Research, and Assessment

B: Personality: Theory, Research, and Assessment

A: Stress, Coping, and Health

B: Stress, Coping, and Health

A: Psychological Disorders

B: Psychological Disorders

A: Treatment of Psychological Disorders

B: Treatment of Psychological Disorders

A: Social Behaviour

B: Social Behaviour

Appendix B: Statistical Methods

Appendix C: Industrialorganizational Psychology

Appendix D: Evaluating the Quality of Web-Based Resources

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