Deck 7: Cognition: Thinking, Intelligence, and Language

Question 1

Researchers have found that __________ influenced by culture.

A) neither language nor thought is
B) language, but not thought, is
C) thought, but not language, is
D) both language and thought are

Answer 1

both language and thought are

Question 2

All parents think their little kids are geniuses. However, to be classified as a genius, the IQ score must be above __________.

A) 120-125
B) 130-135
C) 140-145
D) 150-155

Answer 2

140-145

Question 3

The tendency to perceive and approach problems in the same ways that have worked in the past is called __________.

A) mental set
B) means-end analysis
C) noncompensatory modeling
D) prototypical idealization

Answer 3

mental set

Question 4

What problem-solving strategies don't guarantee solutions but make efficient use of time?

A) heuristics
B) algorithms
C) mnemonic devices
D) cognitive shortcuts

Question 5

The term Terman's Termites refers to __________.

A) a set of developmentally delayed students whom Terman studied intensively
B) a group of army soldiers who, on the basis of their IQ, were followed through their military career
C) a sample of gifted children who were studied and followed into adulthood
D) the graduate students who worked with Lewis Terman on the development of the Stanford-Binet test

Question 6

What are the smallest units of meaning in a language?

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

Question 7

In Kosslyn's "imaginary island" study, researchers found that it does take longer to view a mental image that __________.

A) is larger or covers more distance than one that is smaller and more compact
B) has more items in it
C) has more colors in it
D) contains living things as compared to nonliving items

Question 8

A male has a defect in the X chromosome of the 23rd pair. As children, people with this syndrome, known as __________, experience symptoms that can range from mild to severe or even profound intellectual disability.

A) fragile X syndrome
B) Down syndrome
C) fetal alcohol syndrome
D) familial intellectual disability

Question 9

If intelligence is determined primarily by heredity, which pair should show the highest correlation between IQ scores?

A) fraternal twins
B) identical twins
C) brothers and sisters
D) parents and children

Question 10

What type of thinking could be described as taking different directions in search of a variety of answers to a question?

A) decisive
B) convergent
C) heuristic
D) divergent

Question 11

At the current time, which statement is TRUE about our knowledge of whether animals can use humanlike language?

A) It has been clearly shown that animals cannot use humanlike language.
B) All animal communication is instinctual and, thus, is not language.
C) Only primates, like monkey and chimps, show any sign of language-like behavior.
D) It is still unclear if animals can use humanlike language at any level of development.

Question 12

The ability to learn from one's experiences, acquire knowledge, and use resources effectively when faced with challenges or problems is the psychologist's working definition of __________.

A) divergent problem solving
B) creative thinking
C) heuristic usage
D) intelligence

Question 13

What do we call the hypothesis that language influences what we think?

A) dynamic hypothesis
B) language reaction hypothesis
C) linguistic relativity hypothesis
D) cognitive linguistic hypothesis

Question 14

A person starts from one point and comes up with many different ideas or possibilities based on that point. The person is engaging in __________ thinking.

A) functional
B) circular
C) convergent
D) divergent

Question 15

__________ intelligence has been suggested by Goleman to be a more powerful influence in life than more traditional views of intelligence, even though this claim has not been fully supported by extensive research.

A) Analytical
B) Creative
C) Emotional
D) Existential

Question 16

Alfred Binet designed the first __________ test.

A) aptitude
B) performance-based
C) perception
D) intelligence

Question 17

What are mental categories representing activities, objects, qualities, or situations that share some common characteristics?

A) classes
B) concepts
C) attributes
D) classifications

Question 18

Language is based on basic sound units called __________.

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

Question 19

A seemingly arbitrary flash "out of the blue," through which the solution to a problem suddenly becomes apparent to you, but you do not consciously know how you "figured it out," is called __________.

A) brainstorming
B) priming
C) insight
D) a mental set

Question 20

A psychological test that measures what we intend it to measure is said to be __________.

A) valid
B) normed
C) reliable
D) standardized

Question 21

In Kosslyn's "imaginary island" study, researchers found that it does take longer to view a mental image that __________.

A) is larger or covers more distance than one that is smaller and more compact
B) has more items in it
C) has more colors in it
D) contains living things as compared to nonliving items

Question 22

Kosslyn asked subjects if frogs have lips and a stubby tail. What did the subjects report?

A) They visualized a frog, starting with the face ("no lips") and mentally rotating the image to look for the stubby tail.
B) They visualized a frog, starting with the face ("no lips"), had it disappear, and then visualized a completely new frog for a second time with its backside to them.
C) They knew the answer but did not have to generate an image.
D) They felt that the task was impossible to accomplish.

Question 23

You ask a student to describe the path to his dorm room. The most likely way in which he will do this is to ________.

A) recite a rote list of directions he memorized
B) give you the GPS location of his dorm room
C) walk through a mental image of the path and describe it to you as he does it
D) draw you a map and then describe it to you

Question 24

Compared to formal concepts learned in science and math, natural concepts tend to be __________.

A) easier to learn
B) very clear and well-defined
C) fuzzy with unclear boundaries
D) good fits with a rigid classification system

Question 25

What are mental categories representing activities, objects, qualities, or situations that share some common characteristics?

A) classes
B) concepts
C) attributes
D) classifications

Question 26

Before enrolling in an abnormal psychology course, Tod's idea of psychological disorders had been influenced primarily by talk shows. He expected to hear the same kinds of stories he had heard on talk shows. What an eye-opening experience the course turned out to be! How would a cognitive psychologist describe the influence the course had on Tod's idea of psychological disorders?

A) Tod learned the value of algorithms.
B) Tod now uses heuristics.
C) The course increased Tod's ability to use visual imagery.
D) The course altered Tod's concept of psychological disorders.

Question 27

Selena is looking for her cat by methodically searching each room and then closing the door. She is using what type of problem-solving strategy?

A) an algorithm
B) a heuristic
C) a means-end strategy
D) a hunch

Question 28

A kind of schema that involves a familiar sequence of activities, such as how to behave when you go to a restaurant for lunch, is called a(n) __________.

A) heuristic
B) exemplar
C) prototype
D) script

Question 29

The first thing that comes to mind when asked to name an example from a category is called the __________.

A) schema
B) prototype
C) concept marker
D) category marker

Question 30

Concepts are ideas that represent __________.

A) a class or category of objects, events, or activities
B) patterns of behavior
C) higher-order conditioning and secondary reinforcers
D) a process of cognition occurring when a goal must be reached by thinking and behaving in certain ways

Question 31

What problem-solving strategies don't guarantee solutions but make efficient use of time?

A) heuristics
B) algorithms
C) mnemonic devices
D) cognitive shortcuts

Question 32

Jenna is enrolled in a high school geometry course, which she describes as "drawing figures and figuring drawings." In a typical class, students draw geometric figures and use a formula to calculate an aspect of the figure, such as its area. Each time Jenna uses a formula, she is making use of what psychologists call __________.

A) heuristics
B) logarithms
C) algorithms
D) convergence

Question 33

Which example would most people take longest to identify as a fruit (even though it technically is a fruit)?

A) grape
B) apple
C) orange
D) olive

Question 34

PET scans have demonstrated that when a person is creating a mental image, __________.

A) the image is generated by the retinal ganglion cells and sent to the cortex
B) the image is generated by the thalamus and sent to the brain
C) the areas associated with stored knowledge send information to the visual cortex
D) there is no locus in the brain that can be determined for the generation of mental images

Question 35

An advantage of algorithms over heuristics is that algorithms __________.

A) are much faster
B) guarantee a correct answer if one is available
C) are shortcuts
D) use rules of thumb

Question 36

The trial-and-error method of solving problems is also known as the __________.

A) use of a heuristic device
B) use of algorithms
C) mechanical solution
D) A.I. solution

Question 37

Which is the most likely prototype for the concept "vehicle"?

A) glider
B) car
C) scooter
D) bicycle

Question 38

What systematic problem-solving method guarantees a solution, provided that one exists?

A) heuristic method
B) algorithmic method
C) mnemonic device
D) cognitive shortcut

Question 39

Javier tells Ben that he wants to get a new sports car. Ben immediately understands why, because he is familiar with the common characteristics of sports cars and knows what makes them different from family cars. Ben is using mental categories called __________.

A) classes
B) concepts
C) attributes
D) classifications

Question 40

When people are asked to say how many windows they have in their dwelling, the amount of time people take to come up with the answer __________.

A) doesn't depend on the number of windows
B) depends on the number of windows
C) depends on the size of the windows
D) depends on whether the house has one or two stories, not on the number of windows

Question 41

In problem solving, the term rule of thumb refers to __________.

A) heuristics
B) algorithms
C) mnemonic devices
D) cognitive shortcuts

Question 42

The concept of confirmation bias specifically assumes that we are most likely to believe __________.

A) the scientific method as true
B) information that agrees with our thinking
C) information that refutes our thinking
D) logical thinking

Question 43

Austin has figured out how to unlock his bedroom door with a paper clip. What has he most likely overcome in his new use of the paper clip?

A) functional fixedness
B) the representational problem
C) the representativeness heuristic
D) confirmation bias

Question 44

Hayden is trying to determine the best way to get to his house after work, because his usual route has been blocked by emergency vehicles due to a car accident. He can't "see" a different route, so instead he imagines how he would drive to work from home if he had to take a different route. Hayden is using the __________ heuristic.

A) working backward
B) representativeness
C) availability
D) subgoaling

Question 45

The tendency to perceive and approach problems in the same ways that have worked in the past is called __________.

A) mental set
B) means-end analysis
C) noncompensatory modeling
D) prototypical idealization

Question 46

Laurel wants to save $25,000 to buy a new car. Instead of focusing on saving the whole amount, she works to earn $1,000 at a time. This makes the process seem more manageable to her. Laurel is using the __________ heuristic.

A) availability
B) subgoaling
C) algorithm
D) mechanical

Question 47

Seventy percent of the students in a classroom are women and 30 percent are men. One student is described as ambitious, athletic, and assertive. Why are most people likely to think this description refers to a male student?

A) They are using the availability heuristic.
B) They are using the representativeness heuristic.
C) People seek only confirming information.
D) People tend to make relative comparisons.

Question 48

A person starts from one point and comes up with many different ideas or possibilities based on that point. The person is engaging in __________ thinking.

A) functional
B) circular
C) convergent
D) divergent

Question 49

A block to problem solving that comes from thinking about objects only in terms of their most common or typical use is called __________.

A) mental set
B) means-end analysis
C) noncompensatory modeling
D) functional fixedness

Question 50

What term do psychologists use to describe our tendency to search for evidence that supports our belief and to ignore evidence that might disprove it?

A) confirmation bias
B) convergent thinking
C) availability heuristic
D) representativeness heuristic

Question 51

The ability to solve problems by combining behaviors and ideas in new ways is called __________.

A) creativity
B) insight
C) heuristics
D) latent learning

Question 52

An advantage of using a heuristic over an algorithm is that a heuristic __________.

A) ensures a correct answer
B) takes longer and is more accurate
C) can be quicker
D) always works the same way

Question 53

A seemingly arbitrary flash "out of the blue," through which the solution to a problem suddenly becomes apparent to you, but you do not consciously know how you "figured it out," is called ________.

A) brainstorming
B) priming
C) insight
D) a mental set

Question 54

A loose screw on the visor causes it to drop down while Ramón drives; however, he keeps forgetting to take a screwdriver out to the car to fix it. When he notices the visor drop again, he reaches into his pocket for a dime and uses it to tighten the screw holding the visor. What problem-solving difficulty did Ramón overcome?

A) relative comparison
B) functional fixedness
C) poor problem representation
D) the representativeness heuristic

Question 55

__________ thinking works well for routine problem solving but may be of little use when a more creative solution is needed.

A) Heuristic
B) Divergent
C) Insightful
D) Convergent

Question 56

Agatha Harkness-Smythe is determined to ban guns in the United States. This is a controversial topic and social scientists have debated whether the ownership of guns by citizens increases or decreases crime. Agatha could go to the library and look up studies on the linkage between guns and crime rates. Instead, she just reads the local newspaper and only cuts out articles about robberies in which the "bad guy" used a firearm. Agatha is demonstrating __________.

A) mental set
B) confirmation bias
C) stereotype threat
D) mindlessness

Question 57

Every time he loses his wallet, Hakeem cannot stop checking the back pocket of the pants he is wearing. He knows the wallet is not there, and yet he continues to put his hand in the pocket to check just "one more time." This tendency to try to solve problems in the same way every time is called __________.

A) mental set
B) means-end analysis
C) noncompensatory modeling
D) prototypical idealization

Question 58

Due to the __________, Dylan mistakenly believes that there are more words that begin with the letter "k" than there are with the letter "k" in the third position.

A) representativeness heuristic
B) availability heuristic
C) planning fallacy
D) confirmation bias

Question 59

What type of thinking could be described as taking different directions in search of a variety of answers to a question?

A) decisive thinking
B) convergent thinking
C) heuristic thinking
D) divergent thinking

Question 60

Köhler demonstrated "aha!" or insight behavior with __________.

A) birds
B) dogs
C) cats
D) chimpanzees

Question 61

The ability to learn from one's experiences, acquire knowledge, and use resources effectively when faced with challenges or problems is the psychologist's working definition of __________.

A) divergent problem solving
B) creative thinking
C) heuristic usage
D) intelligence

Question 62

According to Robert Sternberg, __________ intelligence is best described as "street smarts," or the ability to use information to get along in life. People who have it know how to be tactful, how to manipulate situations to their advantage, and how to use inside information to increase their odds of success.

A) analytical
B) creative
C) practical
D) naturalistic

Question 63

A person who comes up with as many different uses of a brick as possible, such as using them for doorstops, is a __________ thinker.

A) disordered
B) divergent
C) associative
D) convergent

Question 64

According to Robert Sternberg, __________ intelligence is the ability to deal with new and different concepts and to come up with new ways of solving problems (divergent thinking, in other words).

A) analytical
B) creative
C) practical
D) existential

Question 65

Sternberg has found that __________ intelligence is a good predictor of success in life but has a low relationship to __________ intelligence.

A) practical; analytical
B) practical; creative
C) analytical; practical
D) academic; creative

Question 66

The divergent thinking technique of writing down everything that comes to mind about a topic without revising or proofreading until all of the information is recorded, and then organizing it later, is known as __________.

A) brainstorming
B) keeping a journal
C) freewriting
D) mind or subject mapping

Question 67

What three types of intelligence constitute Sternberg's triarchic theory of intelligence?

A) global, intuitive, and special
B) general, global, and specific
C) analytical, creative, and practical
D) mathematical, reasoning, and verbal

Question 68

Which of the following questions would be more likely to produce divergent thinking?

A) "What is a stapler?"
B) "How do you spell stapler?"
C) "How many uses can you think of for a stapler?"
D) "What does a stapler look like?"

Question 69

The divergent thinking technique of starting with a central idea and drawing a "map" with lines from the center to other related ideas and then forming a mental image of the concepts and their connections is known as __________.

A) brainstorming
B) keeping a journal
C) free writing
D) mind or subject mapping

Question 70

Which of these is one of Howard Gardner's multiple intelligences?

A) poetic
B) digital
C) creative
D) naturalist

Question 71

Which of the following is a criticism of Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences?

A) The theory relies too heavily on
B) There are no concerns regarding Gardner's theory.
C) The theory appears to describe only those with brain damage.
D) These "abilities" are not necessarily the same thing as what is meant by intelligence.

Question 72

Gardner and his associates are known for proposing the __________.

A) generalized theory of intelligence
B) triarchic theory of intelligence
C) theory of multiple intelligences
D) theory of emotional intelligence

Question 73

Which intelligence theorist suggested that intelligence is made up of a g factor (general intelligence), and also acknowledged the existence of task-specific abilities, labeled s factor (specific intelligence)?

A) Gardner
B) Spearman
C) Thurstone
D) Sternberg

Question 74

Researchers typically stress that a key aspect of intelligence is __________.

A) the ability to speak different languages
B) the Y chromosome
C) the ability to adapt to new situations
D) only accurate for males

Question 75

A group of businesspeople meet in order to solve the problem of decreased sales of their company's products. One of them suggests that they generate as many ideas as they can in a short period of time without being critical of any of them. This technique of stimulating divergent thinking is called __________.

A) brainstorming
B) keeping a journal
C) freewriting
D) mind or subject mapping

Question 76

Charles Spearman believed that intelligence is composed of two specific abilities-__________.

A) verbal and mathematical abilities
B) crystallized and visual-motor abilities
C) general intelligence and specific intelligence
D) analytical-creative intelligence and practical intelligence

Question 77

A theory of intelligence with nine components was postulated by __________.

A) Gardner
B) Spearman
C) Sternberg
D) Terman

Question 78

Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences divides intelligence into __________ independent abilities.

A) three
B) five
C) seven
D) nine

Question 79

Asking an individual to come up with a diverse and creative set of solutions to a very specific problem is encouraging that person to engage in __________ thinking.

A) functional
B) circular
C) convergent
D) divergent

Question 80

Which type of thinking is most closely related to creativity?

A) heuristic
B) divergent
C) insightful
D) convergent