Deck 1: Biological Transitions

Question 1

The average girl in the United States reaches ________, the time of her first menstrual period, sometime between the ages of 12 and 14.

A) sexual maturity
B) menarche
C) puberty
D) adrenarche

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The physical developments of puberty are influenced by which of the following?

A) environmental factors
B) an identity crisis
C) psychological factors
D) falling in love

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The physical transformation from child to adult is called

A) puberty.
B) early adolescence.
C) middle adolescence.
D) late adolescence.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following is part of the feedback loop in the endocrine system?

A) adrenal gland
B) melatonin
C) pituitary gland
D) thyroid hormones

Question 5

Physically, puberty involves a rapid increase in growth, development of primary sex characteristics, and

A) an increase in psychological stress.
B) a series of public initiation rites.
C) development of secondary sex characteristics.
D) increases in intellectual functioning.

Question 6

At the time of peak height velocity, adolescents grow at about the same rate as

A) newborns.
B) infants.
C) toddlers.
D) elementary schoolchildren.

Question 7

Which of the following statements about prenatal development is true?

A) Up until about eight weeks after conception, all human brains are masculine.
B) Puberty is part of a gradual process that begins at conception.
C) Sex hormones do not appear in the brain during fetal development.
D) Fetal exposure to cortisol is directly linked to the timing of puberty.

Question 8

The first ejaculation of seminal fluid that occurs is

A) biologically predetermined.
B) genetically inherited.
C) often determined culturally.
D) two years after accelerated penis growth.

Question 9

Adrenarche contributes to the development of ________, signaling the beginning of sexual maturation to others.

A) body hair
B) body odor
C) sex characteristics
D) gonads

Question 10

The hormonally induced increase in the rate of growth in height and weight is referred to as

A) the adolescent growth spurt.
B) peak height velocity.
C) epiphysis.
D) somatic development.

Question 11

Which of the following sex characteristics is the first to develop in boys?

A) production of sperm
B) appearance of facial hair
C) growth of testes and scrotum
D) growth of penis

Question 12

Which of the following statements about the production of hormones at puberty is true?

A) The body begins to produce several hormones that have not been present until this time.
B) There is an increase in the production of certain hormones.
C) Boys' bodies produce more estrogens, and girls' bodies produce more androgens.
D) The feedback loop regulating the endocrine system becomes increasingly less important.

Question 13

The adolescent growth spurt

A) generally begins two years earlier for girls than for boys.
B) generally begins two years earlier for boys than for girls.
C) increases around age 15 for boys and girls.
D) proceeds along a smooth and rapid course over the teen years.

Question 14

When levels of androgens and estrogens fall below the set points, the ________ stops inhibiting the pituitary gland, thus permitting it to stimulate the release of sex hormones by the gonads.

A) thyroid
B) adrenal gland
C) hypothalamus
D) feedback loop

Question 15

The simultaneous release of growth hormones, thyroid hormones, and ________ stimulates rapid acceleration in height and weight during puberty.

A) leptin
B) estrogens
C) androgens
D) testosterone

Question 16

As Yu Yan's breasts are beginning to develop, she will most likely experience concurrent

A) menarche.
B) ovulation.
C) growth of pubic hair.
D) growth in height.

Question 17

Which of the following statements about changes in skeletal structure during puberty is true?

A) One marker that indicates the termination in growth in height is epiphysis.
B) Bones become more porous and more likely to break.
C) Nearly half an individual's adult height is gained during puberty.
D) Growth begins with the torso and shoulders, proceeds to the arms and legs, then to the extremities.

Question 18

Professor Radon is studying the ________ system, which produces, circulates, and regulates levels of hormones in the body.

A) adrenal
B) circulatory
C) respiratory
D) endocrine

Question 19

The term puberty refers to the period during which an individual

A) is between the ages of 12 and 15.
B) creates new hormones via the endocrine system.
C) becomes capable of sexual reproduction.
D) stops growing in height.

Question 20

The maturation of the adrenal glands is called

A) androgen.
B) estrogen.
C) adrenarche.
D) HPG axis.

Question 21

After about eight weeks of conception, male fetuses are exposed to higher levels of ______, resulting in a more "masculinized" brain.

A) testosterone
B) melatonin
C) estrogen
D) kisspeptin

Question 22

Sex differences in brain organization predetermine

A) sexual behavior during puberty.
B) emotional and behavioral problems.
C) certain patterns of behavior.
D) desire for highly rewarding activities.

Question 23

Which of the following environmental factors affects the onset of puberty?

A) exposure to cold temperatures
B) changing seasons
C) poor air quality
D) amount of light exposure

Question 24

Over the past century, the onset of puberty has been coming at an earlier age. This is referred to as the

A) cross-sectional trend.
B) endocrine trend.
C) menarche trend.
D) secular trend.

Question 25

Which of the following factors can hasten the onset of maturation?

A) peer pressure
B) protein deficiency
C) chronic illness
D) father absence

Question 26

Which of the following female sex characteristics is usually the last to develop?

A) menarche
B) regular ovulation
C) development of the areola
D) growth of pubic hair

Question 27

Lucia, a seventeen-year-old living in a college dormitory, has noticed that her menstrual periods have begun to synchronize with ________, which is compelling evidence that social relationships can affect biological functioning.

A) the time her female roommate menstruates
B) her most stressful days of the month
C) the days she feels most sexually aroused
D) her biological sister living in a different city

Question 28

Who is at the greatest risk of developing body dissatisfaction?

A) Callie, an early-maturing White girl, who compares herself to her friends
B) Miranda, a late-maturing Black girl, who compares herself to media images
C) John, an early-maturing Black male, who compares himself to his friends
D) Mike, a late-maturing White male, who feels he is not muscular enough

Question 29

Which of the following statements accurately describes the role leptin plays in the onset of puberty?

A) Low levels of leptin increase melatonin production, which triggers puberty.
B) Leptin stimulates production of kisspeptin, which triggers puberty.
C) Leptin is inhibited by cortisol, which can delay puberty.
D) High levels of leptin inhibit kisspeptin, thus delaying puberty.

Question 30

Which of the following statements about the timing and tempo of sexual maturation is true?

A) In the United States, and in all other countries, menarche typically occurs around age 12.
B) The duration of puberty varies widely, from 1.5 to 6 years in girls and 2 to 5 years in boys.
C) Adolescents who begin puberty early also complete it early.
D) Adolescents who begin puberty earlier usually grow to be taller adults.

Question 31

While puberty is beginning earlier, it is also taking

A) less time to complete in girls.
B) longer to complete in both sexes.
C) longer to complete in girls.
D) less time to complete in boys.

Question 32

The first sign of puberty in girls is generally

A) growth of breasts.
B) underarm hair.
C) menarche.
D) acne.

Question 33

Which of the following can delay the onset of puberty?

A) stress
B) childhood abuse
C) nutritional deficiencies
D) lack of exercise

Question 34

Osman is a junior high student anticipating puberty. He wants to know when puberty will start and how long it will take until he looks like and is considered an adult. His health teacher tells him that the timing and rate of puberty

A) is highly variable and influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.
B) is highly predictable, beginning around 12 years of age and taking four years to complete.
C) can be accelerated through good nutrition and excessive exercise.
D) is determined more by his environmental and family situation than genetics.

Question 35

Differences in the timing and rate of puberty among individuals growing up in the same general environment are largely caused by which factor?

A) hormones
B) genetics
C) exercise
D) psychology

Question 36

Based on research addressing ethnic differences in the timing and rate of pubertal maturation, which American girl would be expected to mature earliest?

A) Brandy, a middle-income Black adolescent
B) Miranda, a middle-income Mexican adolescent
C) Emily, a middle-income White adolescent
D) Grace, a middle-income Asian adolescent

Question 37

There is growing evidence that puberty affects the brain in ways that increase adolescents'

A) aggression levels.
B) emotional arousal.
C) desire to rebel.
D) dependency levels.

Question 38

Professor Kendall has been researching adolescent maturation around the world. Which of the following is she likely to determine has the smallest role in determining group differences in pubertal maturation?

A) nutrition
B) sanitation
C) infectious diseases
D) genetics

Question 39

Which of the following statements about puberty in girls is true?

A) Regular ovulation and the ability to carry a baby to term usually follow menarche immediately.
B) The development of the areola and nipple are far better indicators of sexual maturation than is breast size.
C) Menarche occurs very early in the process of sexual development.
D) The changes in the nipple and areola occur earlier in large breasts.

Question 40

Which of the following factors is most important in determining the onset of puberty?

A) the presence of sexually mature partners in the environment
B) whether the individual is healthy enough to begin reproduction
C) information coded in an individual's genes
D) whether there are nutritional resources available to support a pregnancy

Question 41

Which of the following girls will experience the greatest menstrual discomfort?

A) Sarita, who is prepared for the physical changes
B) Alison, who is a late maturer
C) Loryn, who has a negative attitude toward menarche
D) Deepika, who is unpopular among her classmates

Question 42

Mikhail, an early maturer, is more likely to ________ than Devon, a late maturer.

A) socialize with younger boys
B) suffer greater consequences if bullied by peers
C) be closely supervised by his parents
D) have low self-esteem

Question 43

Which of the following characteristics is associated with being an early-maturing boy?

A) fewer problem behaviors
B) more even temperament
C) a more positive self-image
D) more intellectual curiosity

Question 44

When adolescents in the United States begin to experience specific pubertal events, which of the following is most likely to occur?

A) A girl's mother will be the first person the girl tells that she has begun to menstruate.
B) A girl's best friend will be the first person the girl tells that she has begun to menstruate.
C) A girl is likely not to tell anyone that she is menstruating for the first several months.
D) A boy will tell his friends about his first ejaculation soon after it occurs.

Question 45

The main reason for sex differences in the impact of early and late maturation is

A) biological differences between male and female brains.
B) psychological differences between boys and girls.
C) the different rates at which boys and girls mature.
D) different cultural expectations of boys and girls.

Question 46

The impact of early maturation on problem behaviors or depression is worse when adolescents

A) have many stressful life events.
B) are ethnic minorities.
C) are involved in romantic relationships.
D) are unpopular with their peers.

Question 47

Which of the following is probably true for Ashley, an early-maturing girl who was short and stocky as a child?

A) After puberty, she will be shorter and heavier than her late-maturing peers.
B) After puberty, she will be shorter and thinner than her late-maturing peers.
C) After puberty, she will be taller and heavier than her late-maturing peers.
D) After puberty, she will be taller and thinner than her late-maturing peers.

Question 48

Suzanne and Carlos are the first members of their class to begin the pubertal transition. Based on what you know about early-maturing adolescents, Suzanne and Carlos are more likely to

A) become involved in illegal activities.
B) be academically successful in school.
C) be ostracized by their classmates.
D) get along well with their parents.

Question 49

In America, early-maturing girls are more likely than their late-maturing peers to

A) be unpopular with their peers.
B) have a negative self-image.
C) succeed in school.
D) perceive themselves as attractive.

Question 50

Studies have shown that prepubertal girls who expect menstruation to be uncomfortable report

A) milder menstrual symptoms than their peers.
B) more severe menstrual symptoms than their peers.
C) about the same level of menstrual symptoms as their peers.
D) experiencing menarche sooner than their peers.

Question 51

The children who are most likely to think of themselves as being "off schedule" with respect to their physical development are girls who mature ________ and boys who mature ________.

A) late; early
B) early; late
C) late; late
D) early; early

Question 52

Avram is a late-maturing boy. A year after pubertal onset, we would expect Avram to show which advantage over his early-maturing peers?

A) greater athletic ability
B) more popularity with the opposite sex
C) lower chance of being bullied
D) higher levels of social initiative

Question 53

When compared to their less mature peers, adolescents who are physically mature are

A) less likely to have problems with their parents.
B) more likely to be involved in cross-sex activities such as dating.
C) more likely to have platonic relationships with opposite sex peers.
D) less likely to be depressed.

Question 54

Early-maturing boys

A) are more likely to have low self-esteem.
B) may have higher rates of depression.
C) are better prepared to deal with changes of adolescence.
D) act more childish than their later-maturing peers.

Question 55

During puberty, individuals who mature early are likely to exhibit which of the following?

A) more intellectual curiosity
B) less frequent temper tantrums
C) less depression and anxiety
D) problem behavior, such as drug use

Question 56

Which of the following statements about hormonal changes of puberty is true?

A) Hormonal changes affect the brain in ways that increase adolescents' desire for sensation-seeking activities.
B) Hormonal changes of puberty make adolescents more risk averse.
C) Hormonal changes of puberty make adolescents more introverted.
D) Hormonal changes affect the brain in ways that decrease adolescents' desire for rewarding activities.

Question 57

Which of the following conditions is most likely to produce the most favorable and easiest adjustment to menarche?

A) The girl's mother prepares her by describing the unpleasant aspects of menarche.
B) The girl reaches menarche earlier than her peers.
C) Menarche occurs before the girl has learned about the physical changes that will happen.
D) The girl knows the facts about the physical changes her body will undergo.

Question 58

Follow-up studies of Swedish women who had been early maturers found that as adults they were

A) unable to develop coping skills.
B) less likely to continue their education beyond high school.
C) more likely to continue their education beyond high school.
D) indistinguishable from those who had been late maturers.

Question 59

Which of the following characteristics is typically associated with being an early-maturing girl?

A) feelings of awkwardness and self-consciousness
B) being less popular, especially with boys
C) a more positive body image
D) better physical health in adulthood

Question 60

Nadia is an early-maturing girl. Compared to her late-maturing peers, which of the following statements is most likely to be true for Nadia?

A) Nadia is less likely to suffer from social anxiety.
B) Nadia is less likely to be popular with girls.
C) Nadia is more likely to be popular with the boys.
D) Nadia is less likely to be the victim of rumors and gossip.

Question 61

The rapid increase in body fat that adolescent girls experience

A) leads to a majority of adolescent girls dieting unnecessarily.
B) leads to an increase in healthy eating patterns among adolescent girls.
C) increases feelings of body dissatisfaction among Black adolescent girls.
D) is a major risk factor for obesity among adolescent girls.

Question 62

The biological changes that take place during puberty can indirectly cause changes in adolescents' behavior in which of the following ways?

A) The biological changes cause the adolescent to feel moodier as he or she matures.
B) The biological changes affect the adolescent's self-image.
C) The biological changes cause the adolescent's sleep cycle to shift earlier.
D) The biological changes cause increased emotional distance from parents in all ethnic groups.

Question 63

A research design in which subjects of different ages are assessed simultaneously is called a ________.

Question 64

Which of the following statements accurately describes melatonin activity during adolescence?

A) The cycle of melatonin secretion is shifted earlier at puberty.
B) The cycle of melatonin secretion is shifted later at puberty.
C) Melatonin levels are not affected by puberty.
D) Melatonin levels change only after puberty is complete.

Question 65

The delayed phase preference suggests that school should

A) be held in the afternoon and evening.
B) be held year-round.
C) begin later in the morning.
D) begin earlier in the morning.

Question 66

Dr. Davis is interested in how puberty affects adjustment. He studies a group of 100 junior high school students over the course of three years. He is conducting what kind of study?

A) longitudinal
B) cross-sectional
C) case study
D) correlational

Question 67

Brianna, an adolescent girl, is more susceptible to feelings of body dissatisfaction if she compares herself to

A) Keegan, her twin brother.
B) Keira, her older sister.
C) Barbara, her mother.
D) Ayomi, her best friend.

Question 68

One reason for the sex difference in athletic performance during early adolescence is the difference in

A) timing of the growth spurt.
B) levels of body satisfaction.
C) the size of the hypothalamus.
D) the amount of body fat.

Question 69

Which of the following students is most at risk of developing depression?

A) Johan, a teenage boy who stays up until 12 a.m. every night reading books and begins school at 10 a.m.
B) Sofia, a teenage girl who stays up until 12 a.m. using her smartphone and begins school at 8 a.m.
C) Afua, a teenage girl who goes to bed at 10 p.m. and begins school at 8 a.m.
D) Hinata, a teenage boy who stays up until 1 a.m. watching television and begins school at 10 a.m.

Question 70

Dr. Achikeh is studying how low self-esteem during puberty affects individuals over time. As she recruits candidates for her study, she finds that adolescents with a negative body image are more likely to come from which group?

A) Black females
B) Black males
C) White females
D) Hispanic males

Question 71

Which of the following statements about puberty's impact on family relationships is true?

A) Puberty appears to increase distance between parents and children.
B) Other species do not experience distance during the pubertal transition.
C) The distancing effect of puberty on families occurs regardless of ethnicity.
D) Puberty is more likely to disrupt family relationships if it happens early.

Question 72

Studies show that adolescent mood swings are most closely related to changes in

A) hormone levels.
B) seasons.
C) nutrition.
D) activities.

Question 73

There is strong pressure on girls to be thin in which parts of the world?

A) America, Europe, and Asia
B) Africa and the Middle East
C) the Southern Hemisphere
D) the Eastern Hemisphere

Question 74

Which of the following plays the greatest role in the development of depression?

A) rapid increases in hormones
B) early maturation
C) stressful life events
D) the delayed phase preference

Question 75

Which of the following statements about body image is true?

A) Adolescents tend to have negative feelings about their bodies when they begin puberty.
B) Adolescents' feelings about their bodies when they begin puberty change little over time.
C) Adolescents' feelings about their bodies depend on how their peers view them.
D) Adolescents tend to have positive feelings about their bodies when puberty is complete.

Question 76

Which of the following statements about adolescent mood swings is true?

A) The effect of hormones on adolescent mood swings is strongest towards the end of puberty.
B) Adolescents' moods fluctuate during the course of the day more than the moods of adults do.
C) Adolescent girls are more prone to mood swings than their male peers.
D) Pubertal hormones make adolescents less responsive to their social environment.

Question 77

Maia has an erratic sleep schedule. On weekdays she stays up past midnight and gets up early for school. On weekends she stays up even later and sleeps in until noon. The best way for Maia to improve her sleep is to

A) go to bed early on weekdays and stay up late only on weekends.
B) go to bed early on weekends to make up for lost sleep during the week.
C) get up at the same time on both weekdays and weekends.
D) get up whenever she feels most awake on weekends.

Question 78

Although both sexes experience changes in muscle tissue and body fat, the ratio of muscle to body fat is

A) greater in boys than girls.
B) greater in girls than boys.
C) about the same in both genders.
D) greater in early-maturing girls than in late-maturing boys.

Question 79

Taneka, an early maturing Black girl who is not yet dating, is more likely to ________ than her friends who are romantically involved.

A) have a positive body image
B) be depressed
C) diet unnecessarily
D) feel pressure to be thin

Question 80

Given a choice, Darrell would prefer to stay up until 1:00 a.m. and sleep until 10:00 a.m. This pattern is called the

A) secular trend.
B) delayed phase preference.
C) longitudinal design.
D) Tanner stages.