Deck 9: Language and Thinking

Question 1

In every language,there are rules that determine how phonemes can be combined to create morphemes.These rules are called:

A)mental representations
B)semantics
C)syntax
D)motherese

Answer 1

syntax

Question 2

The prefix "un" in the word "unusual" is an example of a:

A)surface structure.
B)phoneme.
C)linguistic heuristic.
D)morpheme.

Answer 2

morpheme.

Question 3

A morpheme is considered to be the smallest unit of _____________ in a language.

A)distinguishable sound
B)meaning
C)surface structure
D)syntax

Answer 3

meaning

Question 4

In terms of the properties of languages,displacement is to symbolic as infinite is to ______________.

A)structure
B)propositional
C)representational
D)generative

Question 5

While playing one afternoon,a group of children decided to develop a special language only they would know.Jordan started working on the new symbols for their thoughts and behaviours.After writing quite an elaborate letter using his new symbols he gave it to the other children to try to decipher the message.To their dismay,the same symbols were used in very different ways and different symbols often represented the same idea.Jordan had violated one of the three critical properties of language because his language:

A)was able to produce an infinite number of messages
B)was generative
C)was not symbolically linked
D)did not have a rule-governed structure

Question 6

Consider the statement,"Last night,I shot an elephant in my pyjamas." Since this sentence has at least two different interpretations (the pyjamas could be worn by the man OR they could be worn by the elephant),this means that this sentence has:

A)two different deep structures and one surface structure.
B)two different surface structures and one deep structure.
C)two different surface structures and two different deep structures.
D)one surface structure and one deep structure.

Question 7

The following two sentences: "The cat was chased by the dog" and "The dog chased the cat,"

A)are both correct but have different surface structures
B)are both correct but have different deep structures
C)have different semantics
D)disobey the laws of syntax

Question 8

One of the arguments for the biological basis of language is that despite their differences at the phonemic level,all languages seem to have a common underlying ____________.

A)deep structure
B)surface structure
C)linguistic heuristic
D)syntax

Question 9

The surface structure of a language refers to the ways that symbols are combined within that language,while the underlying meaning of these combined symbols is considered _____________________.

A)syntax
B)semantics
C)deep structure
D)displacement

Question 10

A friend is trying to solve a problem and you have an idea about how to solve it.You translate your idea into words and tell the person your idea for solving the problem.You have transferred your idea from your mind to your friend's mind.In this example,your idea is considered an example of:

A)a proposition.
B)a mental representation.
C)a schema.
D)a heuristic.

Question 11

Prior to 6 months of age,infants around the world are able to vocalize the phonemes of all languages,but at about 6 months of age they begin vocalizing _____________.

A)approximately only 5 to 10 phonemes associated with their native language
B)only the phonemes not associated with their native language
C)approximately only 2 to 4 phonemes associated with their native language
D)only the phonemes associated with their native language

Question 12

All of the following were mentioned by the text as examples of mental representations EXCEPT:

A)an image
B)an idea
C)the sound "th"
D)a principle

Question 13

That fact that language-deprived children are generally unable to acquire normal language skills when they are found past puberty was presented as evidence of:

A)how brain damage can impact language acquisition.
B)a sensitive period in development of language.
C)how fluid intelligence is more important than crystallized intelligence.
D)how experiences have little impact on language development.

Question 14

The fact that children in all cultures are able to master the rules of language relatively early in life without formal instruction was discussed as evidence indicating that:

A)children use deductive reasoning to learn language.
B)the triarchic theory of intelligence adequately explains language acquisition.
C)language acquisition may have a biological basis.
D)the learning of language is largely shaped by the environment.

Question 15

The term syntax refers to the rules that govern the organization of the surface structure of a language,while the rules that determine how symbols are connected to what they represent are referred to as _______________.

A)heuristics
B)semantics
C)morphemes
D)phonemes

Question 16

Identify the deep structure in the statement,"That's like finding a needle in a haystack."

A)The task referred to is very difficult.
B)It's hard to find a needle in a haystack.
C)The actual symbols used in the statement are the deep structure.
D)The syntax of the statement are the deep structure.

Question 17

The three essential properties that define this ability are that it is symbolic,it has structure,and it is generative.This ability is:

A)language
B)hearing
C)intelligence
D)touch

Question 18

The smallest unit of sound that can be distinctly recognized in a language is known as a:

A)morpheme.
B)semantic unit.
C)proposition.
D)phoneme.

Question 19

You can readily use language to describe the features of a person that you know.This use of language demonstrates how language is symbolic and illustrates the linguistic feature of _____________.

A)syntax
B)displacement
C)semantics
D)standardization

Question 20

Language can be used to create an infinite number of messages that can have novel or new meanings.This is quality of language is referred to as:

A)symbolic
B)propositional
C)structural
D)generative

Question 21

Rosch studied the Dani people from New Guinea who had only two words for colour: one for bright colours and one for dark colours.Her results revealed that the Dani were capable of distinguishing the difference between a wide assortment of colours,providing evidence that contradicted _____________.

A)comparative theory of language
B)triarchic theory of language
C)linguistic determinism
D)linguistic relativity hypothesis

Question 22

Typical and familiar members of a particular class by which many of our concepts are defined:

A)prototypes
B)propositions
C)mental sets
D)heuristics

Question 23

The generally high-pitched tone of voice that people often use to speak to infants,babies,toddlers,and even some small pets is technically called:

A)baby talk.
B)telegraphic speech.
C)motherese.
D)child-speak.

Question 24

The position that language not only influences but determines what we are capable of thinking is known as the:

A)linguistic relativity hypothesis.
B)triarchic theory of language.
C)comparative theory of language.
D)theory of linguistic determinism.

Question 25

Recent brain imaging studies examining sex differences during a language task indicate that:

A)the left hemisphere is equally activated for men and women
B)the left hemisphere is more active for men and the right hemisphere is more active for women
C)the left hemisphere is more active for men but both left and right hemispheres are active for women
D)the left hemisphere is more active for women,but both left and right hemispheres are active for men

Question 26

Suppose there was a language that had only two words for precipitation,and that one of those words was for rain and the other for snow.If it was found that people who spoke only that language had difficulty discriminating among mist,drizzle,rain,freezing rain,hail,ice pellets,snow,and other forms of precipitation,then that finding would support the:

A)sensitive period hypothesis.
B)divergent thinking hypothesis.
C)functional fixedness hypothesis.
D)linguistic relativity hypothesis.

Question 27

In his research on bilingual speakers,Lambert found that:

A)bilingual speakers scored at least as well as monolinguals on performance tests.
B)having to learn two vocabularies and grammars put bilingual speakers at a disadvantage on performance tests relative to monolinguals.
C)people who learned a second language as adults showed superior cognitive processing compared to monolinguals matched on other variables.
D)people cannot master the grammar of a second language if they begin to learn it after about age seven.

Question 28

While at the park,19-month-old Suzy points to the swing set and says,"Push swing!" After she has had enough and wants to leave,she turns to her father and says,"Go car." Phrases such as these are called:

A)baby talk.
B)telegraphic speech.
C)motherese.
D)child-speak.

Question 29

In their most basic form,these statements express facts and consist of concepts that are combined in a particular way.These statements are called:

A)heuristics
B)belief biases
C)propositions
D)mental representations

Question 30

The basic units of semantic memory that form the mental categories into which we place objects,activities,and abstractions are called:

A)phonemes
B)concepts
C)prototypes
D)morphemes

Question 31

The thought,"I need to study for my psychology exam" enters your head.This thought is best considered as an example of:

A)a proposition.
B)a heuristic.
C)inductive reasoning.
D)a prototype.

Question 32

The fact that at 6 months of age,young children begin only making the sounds of phonemes of their native language and discard the sounds of other phonemes that they were previously able to make,is best considered as an example of how:

A)learning interacts with biology during language acquisition.
B)childhood language development can be viewed as a special case of the representativeness heuristic.
C)language skills develop in parallel with motor skills.
D)the formation of mental representations influences language development.

Question 33

An American family with two children (a boy and a girl)moves to Germany where both of the children must learn a new language.The girl is 6 years old while the boy is 13 years old.Based on the results on the acquisition of a second language,we would expect that:

A)both children would be able to master the grammar of German about as well as the grammar of English.
B)the girl,but not the boy,would eventually master the grammar of German about as well as the grammar of English.
C)the boy,but not the girl,would eventually master the grammar of German about as well as the grammar of English.
D)neither child would be able to master the grammar of German about as well as the grammar of English.

Question 34

Which of the following would be best considered an example of the imaginal mode of thought?

A)your mental representation of yourself sitting on a beach with the waves slowly lapping in
B)your mental representation of the muscle movements needed to swim at the beach
C)your conclusions about what will happen if you stay on the beach too long in the sun
D)your declarative thoughts about the proper technique for swimming

Question 35

Today,most linguists do not agree with Benjamin Lee Whorf's linguistic relativity hypothesis and argue that language merely reflects the basic aspects of.

A)culture and ethnicity
B)perception and thought
C)sensitive periods
D)gendered stereotypes

Question 36

Adjectives for the major modes of thought are:

A)structural and deep.
B)crystallized and fluid.
C)propositional,imaginal,and motoric.
D)inductive and deductive.

Question 37

Anna and her family moved to Germany when Anna was thirteen years old and her brother Andrew was four.Even after many years of speaking and reading the German language,Anna still struggled with the language compared to Andrew who easily switches between English and German when necessary.The fact that Andrew was able to master this second language faster and better than Anna is evidence for:

A)a language acquisition device
B)gender differences in language acquisition
C)social learning processes in children
D)a sensitive period for language acquisition

Question 38

Greater thinking flexibility and higher performance on IQ tests were specifically mentioned as benefits of:

A)convergent thinking.
B)effectively using prototypes and heuristics.
C)being bilingual.
D)mental representations.

Question 39

According to research,a person at what age would have the easiest time learning and effectively mastering a second language?

A)a 20-year-old
B)a 15-year-old
C)a 10-year-old
D)a 5-year-old

Question 40

Which of the following would be best considered an example of the motoric mode of thought?

A)your declarative thoughts about the proper technique involved in throwing a baseball
B)your mental image of a pitcher throwing a baseball
C)your predictions about what will happen if you throw a baseball to someone
D)your mental representation of the muscle movements needed to throw a baseball

Question 41

Assume that you have a drawer that contains 19 black socks and 13 blue socks.What is the minimum number of socks that you must take from the drawer to insure that you have a matching pair? The answer is 3 socks.Most people have difficulty determining the answer because:

A)they are distracted by irrelevant information.
B)of the belief bias.
C)they fail to apply deductive rules to new situations.
D)of a conflict with the availability heuristic.

Question 42

Words such as "tree," "water skiing," and "assertive" are considered to be the fundamental units of semantic memory and are all examples of:

A)morphemes
B)phonemes
C)prototypes
D)concepts

Question 43

Which of the following statements about science is most accurate?

A)Science rarely utilizes either deductive or inductive reasoning.
B)Science exclusively utilizes deductive reasoning because it is considered to be stronger than inductive reasoning.
C)Science exclusively utilizes inductive reasoning because it is considered to be stronger than deductive reasoning.
D)Science may utilize both inductive and deductive reasoning at various points in the scientific process.

Question 44

Charlotte had seen many beautiful diamonds before but she had never seen a purple diamond.Therefore Charlotte reasoned that purple diamonds do not exist.Charlotte's reasoning may be in error because it leads to a likelihood rather than a certainty.This is called ______________ reasoning.

A)inductive
B)deductive
C)divergent
D)convergent

Question 45

Based on research in communication,which of the following is evidence disputing the position that animals exhibit true language?

A)The chimp Washoe would sometimes combine signs in novel ways.
B)The chimp Kanzi appeared to comprehend language at the level of a toddler.
C)The chimp Kanzi appeared to understand the importance of syntax.
D)The chimp Nim Chimpsky appeared to often imitate his trainer's previous signs.

Question 46

A psychologist has a theory that a certain mood disorder is largely due to a deficiency of the neurotransmitter ACS2.The psychologist believes that if the theory is correct then increasing the levels of ACS2 in people with that mood disorder will reduce their symptoms of the mood disorder.To test that hypothesis,the psychologist conducts a well-designed experiment.This example best represents:

A)means-ends analysis.
B)inductive reasoning.
C)deductive reasoning.
D)propositional thought.

Question 47

Before they ran any actual experiments,Darley and Latané based the development of their theory of diffusion of responsibility on the highly publicized murder of Kitty Genovese and a few other similar instances.This would represent an instance where science is utilizing __________ reasoning.

A)propositional
B)deductive
C)inductive
D)heuristic

Question 48

All of the following were discussed as factors that can interfere with the correct application of deductive reasoning EXCEPT:

A)distraction by irrelevant information.
B)the belief bias.
C)the failure to apply deductive rules to new situations.
D)conflicts with the availability heuristic.

Question 49

A classic problem called,"The Crow and the Trains" requires that you determine the total distance a crow would fly while flying back and forth between two converging trains.If you initially conceptualized it as a distance problem,it was very difficult to solve but if instead you framed the problem in terms of _________,it was relatively easy to arrive at the solution.

A)divergent thinking
B)probability
C)inductive reasoning
D)time

Question 50

Evidence in support of apes' language abilities is strongest in terms of the __________ criterion of language.

A)generative
B)structured
C)symbolic
D)semantic

Question 51

The four stages of the problem-solving process are:

A)framing the problem,understanding the problem,generating solutions,and testing solutions
B)framing the problem,generating solutions,testing solutions,and evaluating results
C)framing the problem,understanding the problem,testing solutions,and evaluating results
D)framing the problem,generating solutions,creating a mental set,and evaluating results

Question 52

The term "belief bias" specifically refers to our tendency to:

A)over-use habitual algorithms to solve problems.
B)confuse probability with availability.
C)abandon logic in favour of our personal ideas.
D)confuse probability with representativeness.

Question 53

One morning,John decides to have oatmeal for breakfast,and he later performs very well on a math test that he takes that day.He doesn't think too much about this until a few weeks later when he does very well on an English test and recalls that he had oatmeal for breakfast before that test too.He concludes that eating oatmeal in the morning helps him perform better on exams.This example best demonstrates:

A)the use of the representativeness heuristic.
B)the process of inductive reasoning.
C)the use of problem-solving schemas.
D)the process of deductive reasoning.

Question 54

A psychologist designs an experiment to test a specific if-then hypothesis such as,"If the rats are hungry,then they will run the maze more quickly." This process is formally known as the _____________ approach to theory building.

A)hypothetico-inductive
B)hypothetico-deductive
C)scientific problem-solving
D)inductive reasoning

Question 55

Deductive reasoning is considered to be a stronger and more valid form of reasoning than inductive reasoning because:

A)if the premises are true,the conclusion cannot be false.
B)inductive reasoning is more vulnerable to the representativeness heuristic.
C)deductive reasoning is less vulnerable to the availability heuristic.
D)deductive reasoning leads to a high likelihood that the conclusions are true.

Question 56

Many concepts are difficult to describe in words,but we often can define them using typical and familiar members of a particular class called:

A)morphemes
B)propositions
C)prototypes
D)phonemes

Question 57

Gina works for a widget company where her job is to bundle the widgets in packages of 25.Gina figures out a method of bundling the widgets but fails to implement the final stage of problem solving which in the long-run caused her to miss a more efficient method.This final stage was ________________.

A)framing the problem
B)evaluating the solution
C)testing her solution
D)generating solutions

Question 58

When we reason from general principles to a conclusion about a specific case,we are engaging in:

A)heuristic reasoning.
B)factor analysis.
C)deductive reasoning.
D)inductive reasoning.

Question 59

While trying to learn what a "doggie" is,little Johnny looks at every animal he sees and compares it to his new puppy.If the animal is similar enough to his own puppy,then he decides it also is a puppy.Johnny's puppy serves as a _______________ for dogs.

A)proposition
B)heuristic
C)concept
D)prototype

Question 60

When Leslie's Dad gets home before 6:00 p.m.,it means he has finished a job early and is in a good mood.When Dad is in a good mood,he takes Leslie out for ice cream.While finishing her homework today,Leslie hears her father's car pull into the driveway.It is 5:30 p.m.So Leslie reasoned,tonight I get ice cream! Leslie was using ___________________ reasoning.

A)inductive
B)deductive
C)divergent
D)convergent

Question 61

When using means-ends analysis,another heuristic is also often utilized where intermediate steps towards a solution are formulated.This heuristic is called __________.

A)a proposition
B)a subgoal analysis
C)the representativeness heuristic
D)a mental set

Question 62

For a given field,experts differ from novices in that:

A)novices less often than experts have to solve problems in short-term memory.
B)novices are better than experts are at recognizing when to apply a problem-solving schema.
C)novices can more quickly select the cues needed to retrieve the appropriate problem-solving schema from long-term memory than experts.
D)novices are less capable at recognizing when to apply a problem-solving schema.

Question 63

According to the availability heuristic,we often base our probability decisions on:

A)how well something fits a prototype.
B)our tendency to want to prove rather than disprove hypotheses.
C)our tendency to continue using old solutions to problems even though other solutions are more efficient.
D)how easy it is for us to call something up from memory.

Question 64

To infer how closely something fits our prototype for a particular class and the likelihood that it belongs to that class,we use ___________.

A)the probability heuristic
B)means-ends analysis
C)the representativeness heuristic
D)the availability heuristic

Question 65

As an expert chef,Ben knows exactly how to make the best dish using whatever ingredients are available to him.Ben has a vast storage of knowledge that he has organized in his memory that enables him to quickly solve any cooking dilemma he might be faced with.This knowledge is organized in _________________.

A)schemas
B)mental sets
C)mnemonics
D)heuristics

Question 66

are considered to be examples of algorithms,while problem-solving techniques such as means-ends analysis are considered to be ___________.

A)mental sets
B)propositions
C)heuristics
D)schema

Question 67

To consistently solve a certain type of problem correctly,it is advantageous to use a(n)_____________.

A)heuristic
B)means-ends analysis
C)mental set
D)algorithm

Question 68

Mental blueprints or step-by-step scripts for selecting information and solving specialized classes of problems are called:

A)norms.
B)hypothetico-deductive reasoning.
C)problem-solving schemas.
D)mental sets.

Question 69

In Luchin's water jar problems,participants are asked to use three jars of differing volumes (A,B,and C)to create various final amounts of water.After the first few trials,participants learn that the same formula (B-A-2C)will provide the answer for each of the first few problems.However,Luchin noticed that people had the tendency to continue using this formula on other problems,even when these problems had simpler solutions (such as A-C).This particular problem-solving block is called:

A)inadequate framing of the problem.
B)flawed inductive reasoning.
C)a belief bias.
D)a mental set.

Question 70

Researchers have found that to guide problem solving in their fields,experts in many different areas all rely heavily on the use of __________.

A)the availability heuristic
B)schemas
C)mental sets
D)the representativeness heuristic

Question 71

The problem-solving pitfall of a mental set was demonstrated most clearly in:

A)Luchin's water jar problem.
B)the Tower of Hanoi problem.
C)the "Linda the feminist bank teller" example.
D)the Crow and the Trains problem.

Question 72

The errors in logic that occurred in response to the "Linda the feminist bank teller" problem are best explained and interpreted by the _____________________.

A)representativeness heuristic
B)concept of belief bias
C)concept of a mental set
D)availability heuristic

Question 73

If you identify differences between the present situation and the desired goal state and then make changes to reduce these differences it is indicative of using ____________ to solve a problem.

A)means-ends analysis
B)the availability heuristic
C)a mental set
D)the representativeness heuristic

Question 74

General problem-solving strategies that often involve short-cuts and may or may not generate the correct answer are called:

A)propositions
B)heuristics
C)algorithms
D)mental sets

Question 75

According to Tversky and Kanhneman,the errors in logic that occured in response to the "Linda the feminist bank teller" problem (where participants think it is more likely that Linda is a feminist bank teller than simply a bank teller)are due to the fact that they confused:

A)representativeness with availability.
B)representativeness with probability.
C)availability with confirmation bias.
D)availability with probability.

Question 76

Stan and Samantha are the proud parents of three little girls.They decide to have one more child because it seems like they are due to have a boy.Stan and Samantha think that most families have both boys and girls therefore they figure the probability the next child will be a boy is high.Stan and Samantha:

A)are correct,since the odds of each sex are 50-50,they are due for a boy
B)have confused representativeness with probability
C)have confused availability with probability
D)are generating an algorithm to solve their problem to have a boy

Question 77

Experts tend to rely on schemas to solve their specialized problems,and thus when solving a problem they make use of long-term memory where these schemas reside.In contrast,novices who don't have such schemas are forced to solve problems in their limited __________ memory.

A)context-dependent
B)declarative
C)short-term
D)sensory

Question 78

Gary has a beautiful house on the beach in Vancouver.When Gary drives to the office each morning he follows the coastline as he knows his office is directly south of his home and is also on the waterfront.He also uses the coast road to get to the dentist,the grocery store,and the post office.When his teenage son starts driving he immediately points out to Gary that he is driving an extra 6 miles a day when he takes the coast road to the post office.Gary missed the more efficient route due to his _______________.

A)mental set
B)inductive reasoning
C)lack of framing the problem
D)availability heuristic

Question 79

What problem-solving pitfall was demonstrated by Luchin's water jars in which the tendency to stick to solutions that have worked in the past results in less effective problem-solving.

A)shortcomings of the availability heuristic
B)failure to frame a problem correctly
C)blinding by a mental set
D)shortcomings of the representativeness heuristic

Question 80

You are hungry and would like something to eat.You decide to look through the pantry and you see a box of macaroni and cheese that looks good.Without really thinking about it,you know how to do all the various steps involved in making this meal,such as filling a pot with water,boiling the water,cooking the pasta,mixing in the cheese sauce,and finding a plate on which to put the finished meal.This type of specialized knowledge is best considered to be an example of:

A)a problem-solving schema.
B)a mental set.
C)deductive reasoning.
D)a norm.