Deck 9: Physical and Cognitive Development in Adolescence

Question 1

Peter Benson and his colleagues would like to see the fragmented social policy for youth in the United States include a greater focus on:

A) a strength-based, positive approach to development.
B) health-compromising behaviors.
C) drug use and delinquency.
D) the role of the school system in youth development.

Answer 1

a strength-based, positive approach to development.

Question 2

In the United States, the average age of menarche has _____ since the mid-nineteenth century.

A) increased marginally
B) declined significantly
C) increased significantly
D) not changed

Answer 2

declined significantly

Question 3

Terry has fraternal twins, Nathan and Natalie. Even though they are the same age, he knows that Nathan will enter a growth spurt about _____ than Natalie.

A) two years earlier
B) one year earlier
C) two years later
D) one year later

Answer 3

two years later

Question 4

The endocrine system's role in puberty involves the interaction of the:

A) hypothalamus, amygdala, and pituitary gland.
B) hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and gonads.
C) pituitary gland, prefrontal cortex, and hypothalamus.
D) amygdala, prefrontal cortex, and gonads.

Question 5

Sandra is shopping for school clothes with her daughter. Even though all the girls in her class wanted to start wearing bras, Sandra is noticing that her daughter actually needs one now. Having just read about sexual development, Sandra knows the next step is not _____.

A) breasts enlarge
B) pubic hair appears
C) hair growsin armpits
D) menarche

Question 6

Which of the following statements is TRUE?

A) Boys go through growth spurts earlier than girls do.
B) Both boys and girls who are shorter than their peers before puberty often surpass their peers during adolescence.
C) By the end of adolescence, most girls will be taller than boys.
D) Marked weight gains coincide with the onset of puberty for both boys and girls.

Question 7

A girl's first menstruation is called _____ and usually comes _____ in the process of puberty.

A) gonadarche; early
B) gonadarche; late
C) menarche; early
D) menarch; late

Question 8

Which of the following is FALSE regarding puberty?

A) Among the noticeable changes during puberty are signs of sexual maturity.
B) Among the noticeable changes during puberty is an increase in height and weight.
C) Puberty is a process, not a single event.
D) We can pinpoint the beginning of puberty but not when it is over.

Question 9

Brian's mom was watching him play basketball and noticed, for the first time, that he has significant hair in his armpits now. She knows this means Brian is:

A) about to begin puberty.
B) has just started puberty.
C) is almost finished with puberty.
D) has completed puberty.

Question 10

Which of the following monitors eating and sex?

A) Amygdala
B) Hypothalamus
C) Pituitary gland
D) Gonads

Question 11

Jennifer's children have always been short when compared to their classmates. One day her son blurted out, "I can't wait until I'm in college because I'll be really tall by then!" Her daughter chimed in with, "Me, too!" Jennifer knew she needed to tell them that after puberty:

A) her son is likely to grow taller than his peers but her daughter will probably remain shorter.
B) her daughter is likely to grow taller than her peers but her son will probably remain shorter.
C) both of them are likely to be taller than their peers.
D) both of them are likely to be shorter than their peers.

Question 12

While both testosterone and estradiol are present in both boys and girls, _____ dominates female pubertal development and _____ dominates male pubertal development.

A) testosterone, estradiol
B) estradiol, testosterone
C) estrogen, follicle stimulating hormone
D) follicle stimulating hormone, estrogen

Question 13

When Daniel Offer and his colleagues studied the self-images of adolescents in a number of countries, at least _____ of the adolescents displayed a healthy self-image.

A) 25%
B) 48%
C) 60%
D) 73%

Question 14

Which of the following is typically the last male pubertal characteristic to occur?

A) The first ejaculation
B) Mild voice changes
C) Increased penis and testicle size
D) Maximum growth in height and weight

Question 15

Which of the following is typically the last male pubertal characteristic to occur?

A) The first ejaculation
B) Growth of facial hair
C) Increased penis and testicle size
D) Growth of armpit hair

Question 16

The mean age at the beginning of the growth spurt in girls is _____, peaking at age _____.

A) 9; 11.5
B) 9; 13.5
C) 11; 14
D) 11; 16.5

Question 17

Which of the following characteristics is the last to develop during puberty for girls?

A) Breasts enlarge
B) Pubic hair appears
C) Hair growth in armpits
D) Hips grow wider than shoulders

Question 18

Ms. Chang is trying to prepare her health class students for the onset of puberty. What should she tell the boys that they are likely to experience first?

A) The first ejaculation
B) Voice changes
C) Increased penis and testicle size
D) Growth of facial hair

Question 19

_____ is a brain-neuroendocrine process occurring primarily in early adolescence that provides stimulation for the rapid physical changes that occur in this period of development.

A) Puberty
B) Menarche
C) Myelination
D) Estrogen

Question 20

The textbook author would agree with all of the following statements about adolescents except that:

A) adolescents are facing decisions regarding sexual activity at increasingly early ages.
B) adolescents are facing decisions regarding drug use at increasingly early ages.
C) acting out and boundary testing are ways adolescents move toward accepting their parents' values.
D) too many adolescents are lacking opportunities to become competent adults.

Question 21

Which of the following statements about the timing and variations in puberty is TRUE?

A) Children in European countries mature up to a year earlier than their American counterparts.
B) For girls, menarche is considered within the normal range if it appears between the ages of 9 and 15.
C) Genes have little to do with when and how puberty develops.
D) In China, girls in rural areas started puberty earlier than girls in urban areas.

Question 22

In a U.S. national survey conducted in 2013, _____ of twelfth-graders reported that they had experienced sexual intercourse, compared with _____ of ninth-graders.

A) 20%; 10%
B) 64%; 30%
C) 77%; 90%
D) 60%; 52%

Question 23

Who is MOST likely to have sexual experiences, quit high school before graduating, cohabit, and marry earlier?

A) Early-maturing girls
B) Late-maturing girls
C) Late-maturing boys
D) Early-maturing boys

Question 24

According to a U.S. national survey conducted in 2013, the increases in the percentages of high school students who say they are currently sexual active starts with ninth-graders at 20%, and increases roughly _____ with each grade.

A) 5%
B) 10%
C) 15%
D) 20%

Question 25

In the Berkeley Longitudinal Study some years ago, early-maturing boys perceived themselves _____ than did their late-maturing counterparts. When the late-maturing boys were in their thirties, however, they had developed a _____ than the early-maturing boys had.

A) as more of an anomaly; stronger feeling of inadequacy
B) more positively; stronger sense of identity
C) as misfits more; more negative self-image
D) more negatively; deeper sense of regret

Question 26

Leslie, now 30 years old, reflects back on her journey as a lesbian, and realizes her story is typical. She:

A) thought she was asexual and worried she had a disorder.
B) had exclusively boyfriends until after high school.
C) was bisexual in adolescence before settling into her lifestyle.
D) was never attracted to men.

Question 27

Which is TRUE regarding the development of sexual identity in gay and lesbian youth?

A) Gay and lesbian youth do not follow a predictable pattern in developing their sexual identity.
B) Most gay and lesbian youth never experience bisexual attractions and relationships.
C) Lesbian youth generally realize their sexual orientation early in adolescence and avoid other-sex intimate relationships.
D) Gay male youth generally realize their sexual orientation early in adolescence and avoid other-sex intimate relationships.

Question 28

Gary is starting to have sexual feelings and, although a little overwhelmed by it, he is curious about masturbation and drawn to anything sexual. As he manages his desire for stimulation, while keeping it all private from anyone else, he is working on his:

A) sexual identity.
B) gender identity.
C) sexual independence.
D) gender independence.

Question 29

Which of the following brain linkages would be the last to reach maturity?

A) Sensation seeking
B) Planning
C) Sensory
D) Appetitive

Question 30

Leading researcher Charles Nelson proposed the view that, although adolescents are capable of very strong emotions, their prefrontal cortex has not adequately developed to the point at which they can control these passions. His view reflects the rapidly emerging field of _____, which involves connections between development, the brain, and socioemotional processes.

A) socioemotional neuroscience
B) biosocial neuroscience
C) psychosocial neuroscience
D) developmental social neuroscience

Question 31

_____ are more likely to engage in sexual behaviors early than those in other ethnic groups.

A) Latinos
B) African Americans
C) Non-Latino whites
D) Asian Americans

Question 32

The _____, where fibers connect the brain's left and right hemispheres, thickens in adolescence, and this improves adolescents' ability to process information.

A) amygdala
B) corpus callosum
C) parietal lobe
D) temporal lobe

Question 33

Which statement is TRUE of adolescents, gender differences, and body image?

A) Both boys and girls become more positive about their bodies as they move through puberty.
B) Early maturing boys have a more negative body image than later maturing boys.
C) Both boys and girls are obsessed with their bodies and physical development during puberty.
D) Girls are happier with their bodies during puberty.

Question 34

The neurotransmitter associated with risk taking and use of addictive drugs is:

A) testosterone.
B) estradiol.
C) dopamine.
D) norepinephrine.

Question 35

Learning to manage sexual feelings, developing new forms of intimacy, and learning the skills to regulate sexual behavior is part of developing one's:

A) sexual identity.
B) gender identity.
C) sexual independence.
D) gender independence.

Question 36

Over the last two decades, for adolescents age 15 to 19, the frequency of sexual intercourse, being sexually active, and having sexual intercourse with four or more partners has:

A) decreased.
B) increased.
C) remained the same.
D) increased dramatically.

Question 37

Adolescent girls who initiate oral-genital sex first, as opposed to vaginal sex first, are:

A) more likely to get pregnant.
B) less likely to get pregnant.
C) equally likely to get pregnant.
D) unlikely; oral sex is not common among adolescents.

Question 38

Donna is concerned about her adolescent daughter's tendency to flare up at the mildest provocations. Donna says that her daughter refuses to see reason sometimes and seems unable to exercise much self-control. As a specialist in the development of adolescents, you would tell Donna that her daughter's behavior could partly be explained by the biological reason that:

A) the prefrontal cortex-involved in reasoning and self-control-has developed fully by early adolescence.
B) the corpus callosum, where fibers connect the brain's left and right hemispheres, thickens in adolescence.
C) by the end of adolescence, individuals have fewer, less selective, less effective neuronal connections than they did as children.
D) the amygdala-the seat of emotions such as anger-matures earlier than the prefrontal cortex in adolescents.

Question 39

Chandra and Roberto are worried about their daughter. She started puberty earlier than most of her friends, and because of her body shape she looks older than she really is. One of their greatest worries is that she will:

A) graduate from high school too early.
B) have younger friends.
C) be less popular with males.
D) drink, smoke, and/or have an eating disorder.

Question 40

Which of the following statements about the timing and variations in puberty is FALSE?

A) In the United States, the average age of menarche has declined significantly over the last 100 years.
B) Obesity is linked to a later onset of puberty.
C) Living in an urban environment has been linked to an earlier onset of puberty.
D) Family stress has been linked to the time of onset of puberty.

Question 41

In a single act of unprotected sex with an infected partner, a teenage girl has a ______ risk of contracting gonorrhea.

A) 20%
B) 30%
C) 40%
D) 50%

Question 42

Which is true of adolescent pregnancy?

A) African American adolescent girls who have a child are more likely to have a second child that non-Latina white adolescent girls.
B) Latina adolescent girls who have a child are more likely to have a second child that non-Latina white adolescent girls.
C) Daughters of teenage mothers are at increased risk for becoming a teenage mother.
D) African American adolescents are more likely to have a child than Latino adolescents.

Question 43

In terms of sex education, most experts agree:

A) that abstinence-only programs are the most effective.
B) that sex education programs promote sexual intercourse.
C) that sex education programs reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections.
D) that abstinence-only programs reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections, but increase sexual activity among their participants.

Question 44

Carla and Patricia are both mothers of middle-school girls who are well into puberty. Carla said, "I wish there was something I could do to keep her from becoming sexually active before she's really ready." Patricia said, "I just read an article about a study that showed that _____ acted like a protective factor. That's what we need to focus on."

A) for males, playing sports
B) living in an inner city
C) associating with deviant peers
D) academic achievement

Question 45

In a single act of unprotected sex with an infected partner, a teenage girl has a _____ risk of getting genital herpes.

A) 3%
B) 10%
C) 30%
D) 50%

Question 46

Which of the following was found to offer a protective factor against early sexual intercourse?

A) For males, playing sports
B) Living in an inner city
C) Associating with deviant peers
D) Academic achievement

Question 47

In 1991, the U.S. birth rate for 15- to 19-year-olds was _____ births per 1,000 females; in 2013, the rate was _____ births per 1,000 females.

A) 26; 13
B) 43; 22
C) 62; 27
D) 77; 13

Question 48

Myron is concerned that his son is not getting enough exercise, particularly for a teenager. After some research, Myron finds that the U.S. federal government's exercise recommendations for adolescents are a:

A) minimum of 15 minutes of mild exercise per day.
B) maximum of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per day.
C) minimum of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per day.
D) maximum of 15 minutes of mild exercise per day.

Question 49

A recent national study revealed that _____ of U.S. adolescents follow the federal government's exercise recommendations.

A) 22%
B) 49%
C) 67%
D) 83%

Question 50

Bonita, a school psychologist, is attending a school board meeting to hear the discussion on sex education courses. One audience member, arguing for an abstinence program, says, "Well, there's one way to make sure there is more sex and that's to talk about it in school every day." Bonita came prepared to share research which shows that sex education programs:

A) are less likely to reduce the risk of adolescent pregnancy than abstinence-only programs.
B) do not increase the incidence of sexual intercourse.
C) are no more likely to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections than abstinence-only programs.
D) result in an increase in the incidence of sexual intercourse.

Question 51

A number of leading experts on adolescent sexuality conclude that abstinence-only programs:

A) are less effective at reducing the risk of adolescent pregnancy than sex education programs.
B) prevent adolescent pregnancies better than sex-education programs emphasizing contraceptive knowledge.
C) are more effective at reducing the risk of sexually transmitted infections than sex education programs.
D) provide useful knowledge about safe sex to sexually active adolescents.

Question 52

National data indicate that the percentage of overweight U.S. 12- to 19-year-olds increased from _____ to _____, from the early 1990s to 2011 -2012.

A) 60%; 80%
B) 39%; 48%
C) 11%; 21%
D) 20%; 25%

Question 53

All of the following are proposed reasons for the decline in teen pregnancies over the last two decades EXCEPT:

A) decreased emphasis on sex in the media.
B) school and community health classes.
C) increased contraceptive use.
D) fear of AIDS.

Question 54

Which of the following is FALSE regarding adolescent sexuality?

A) An adolescent who has unprotected sex with someone with gonorrhea has a 50% of contracting it.
B) In a comparison of 21 countries, the United States had the highest adolescent pregnancy rate.
C) Less than half of the high school students who are sexually active use condoms.
D) About 25% of the sexually experienced adolescents in the United States acquire a sexually transmitted infection.

Question 55

A national study of U.S. adolescents revealed all of the following except that:

A) Latino girls exercised less than non-Latino white girls.
B) non-Latino white boys exercised more than African American boys.
C) individuals become less active as they reach and move through adolescence.
D) girls were more likely to report they had 60 minutes of vigorous exercise than boys.

Question 56

Research has shown that adolescent mothers are more likely to:

A) have healthy, full-term babies.
B) catch up with their classmates economically and educationally later.
C) have depression.
D) stay in school.

Question 57

Research has shown that infants born to adolescent mothers are more likely to have:

A) high birth weight.
B) anger problems.
C) childhood illnesses.
D) psychological problems.

Question 58

Stella is reluctant to have her daughter in sex education class, so she is visiting with the school nurse who will teach the class. While looking over the materials Stella is surprised to see information on oral sex. "I don't see why this is necessary," Stella said. The nurse replied, "Research shows that girls who initiate oral-genital sex first, as opposed to vaginal sex first, are:

A) more likely to get pregnant.
B) less likely to get pregnant.
C) equally likely to get pregnant.
D) less likely to get a sexually transmitted infection.

Question 59

While the rate of current sexual activity is the same in the United States and the Netherlands, the U.S. adolescent pregnancy rate is _____ times as high as in the Netherlands.

A) ten
B) three
C) five
D) eight

Question 60

Wayne is attending a parents' meeting to discuss funding the purchase of gym equipment for the high school. Most people think it's too expensive. Those who are in favor of getting students on a treadmill or similar machine argue that daily exercise is related to all of the following positive outcomes in adolescence, EXCEPT:

A) a lower incidence of type I diabetes.
B) reduced triglyceride levels.
C) lower blood pressure.
D) normal weight status.

Question 61

The National Sleep Foundation survey of adolescents found that inadequate sleep on school nights was related to all of the following EXCEPT:

A) feeling cranky and irritable.
B) eating more.
C) feeling tired.
D) falling asleep at school.

Question 62

Mary Carskadon and her colleagues' research on adolescent sleep patterns found that:

A) when given the opportunity, adolescents will sleep an average of 9 hours and 25 minutes a night.
B) adolescents' biological clocks undergo a shift as they get older, so that older adolescents start to feel sleepy an hour earlier than younger adolescents.
C) younger adolescents tend to be sleepier during the day than older adolescents.
D) increased sleepiness in adolescents during the day was primarily due to academic work or social pressures.

Question 63

Beverly is conducting a workshop for young parents from disadvantaged backgrounds. She advises taking a _____ approach, setting high expectations while helping children meet such expectations, and discussing discipline and the reasons for house rules. "For those with alcohol issues in the family, this parenting style is linked to lower alcohol consumption in adolescence."

A) authoritarian
B) authoritative
C) neglectful
D) indulgent

Question 64

Rusty wants to know how he can prevent drug abuse by his adolescent son. You can tell Rusty to notice who is son is hanging out with. Increased substance use is linked to all of the following EXCEPT:

A) having friends with good grades.
B) having friends who get drunk.
C) having friends who provide alcohol.
D) spending evenings out with peers.

Question 65

Diego is worried and afraid every time his daughter leaves in a car with one of her friends. He knows among car accidents, the most prevalent is:

A) intoxication while driving.
B) speeding.
C) tailgating.
D) sleepy while driving.

Question 66

In which of the following groups is death through homicide especially common in adolescence?

A) African American males
B) Latino males
C) Non-Latino white American males
D) Asian American males

Question 67

According to the study by Lloyd Johnston and his colleagues at the Institute of Social Research at the University of Michigan monitoring the drug use of America's high school seniors in a wide range of public and private high schools, the percentage of illicit drug use:

A) has declined since the late 1990s.
B) has increased since the late 1990s.
C) has been at the same level since the late 1990s.
D) has declined since the late 1990s but started to increase again in the last two years.

Question 68

Dave confronted his daughter about the possibility that she has developed anorexia nervosa. His daughter is upset by the accusation, and states that she does not have the disorder because her weight is more than _____ of what is considered normal for her age and height.

A) 25%
B) 60%
C) 85%
D) 60%.

Question 69

Mary Carskadon and her colleagues concluded from their research of the sleep patterns of U.S. adolescents that:

A) schools should start and end earlier to help adolescents to keep to earlier bedtimes.
B) early school starting times may be linked to negative outcomes for adolescents.
C) early school starting times are conducive to the sleep patterns of older adolescents but not to those of younger adolescents.
D) early school starting times are most conducive to the sleep patterns of adolescents.

Question 70

Since the 1950s, the adolescent suicide rate has _____ to the current level where suicide accounts for _____ of the deaths among adolescents 15 to 19 years old.

A) doubled; 6%
B) tripled; 6%
C) doubled; 12%
D) tripled; 12%

Question 71

Screen-based activity is linked to adolescent health in all of the following ways EXCEPT:

A) more depression.
B) better sleep.
C) being overweight.
D) higher stress.

Question 72

Which of the following is NOT a benefit linked to regular exercise in adolescence?

A) Better weight control
B) Better connectivity among brain regions
C) Improved moods
D) Increased popularity at school

Question 73

According to a recent large-scale study of eighth- and tenth-graders, among the various risk factors, which of the following is the strongest predictor of substance abuse?

A) Monitoring in schools
B) Genetic predisposition
C) Ethnicity
D) Peer relations

Question 74

Nazeer is very concerned about his son. He just saw some statistics from the National Center for Health Statistics, published in 2014, that show that _____ is the second-leading cause of death, especially among African American males.

A) motor vehicle accidents
B) suicide
C) homicide
D) chronic diseases

Question 75

Even though Harper's daughter is displaying signs of anorexia nervosa, she didn't think it was possible because only slightly less than _____ of girls in the United States develop anorexia nervosa.

A) 1%
B) 10%
C) 5%
D) 15%

Question 76

Bill wants to know how he can prevent drug abuse by his adolescent son. You would suggest that Bill:

A) have family dinners most nights of the week.
B) discourage his son from making more friends at school.
C) engage in lesser parental monitoring and control.
D) cease to emphasize educational success.

Question 77

Anorexia nervosa is a(n):

A) eating disorder that involves a binge-and-purge sequence on a regular basis.
B) anxiety disorder whose chief symptom is unrealistic fear of food.
C) an obsessive-compulsive disorder involving ritualized, continual eating.
D) eating disorder that involves the relentless pursuit of thinness through starvation.

Question 78

_____ is the illicit drug most widely used in the United States, and its use by adolescents increased from 2008 to 2011.

A) Heroin
B) Cocaine
C) Marijuana
D) MDMA

Question 79

Almost half of all deaths from 15 to 24 years of age are due to:

A) a chronic disease.
B) suicide.
C) homicide.
D) unintentional injuries.

Question 80

Winona purchased a gym membership for herself and her adolescent daughter, vowing that they will exercise every day together. Winona's motivation came from an article she read that detailed research showing that adolescents who exercise improved in all these areas EXCEPT:

A) diet.
B) mood.
C) sleep.
D) brain connectivity.