Deck 15: Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood

Question 1

Lester is approaching age 50. He can anticipate an accumulation of fat in which areas of his body?

A) face and legs
B) lower abdomen and face
C) waist and upper arms
D) back and upper abdomen

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Experimental evidence involving random assignment of individuals to calorie-restricted and nonrestricted conditions reveals that __________.

A) nonrestricted participants show a reduction in incidence of death due to cancer
B) nonrestricted participants show a reduction in cardiovascular disease
C) restricted participants display improved cardiovascular and other health indicators
D) restricted participants show none of the same health improvements as nonhuman primates

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The ability to see in dim light __________.

A) does not decline during middle adulthood
B) declines at twice the rate of daylight vision
C) declines at half the rate of daylight vision
D) improves slightly during middle adulthood

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which sign of aging of the skin usually occurs first?

A) the appearance of "crow's feet" around the eyes
B) the appearance of numerous "age spots"
C) development of lines on the forehead
D) an increase in visible blood vessels

Question 5

Although some hearing conditions run in families, Dawn, age 61, is experiencing an age-related hearing condition. Dawn has __________.

A) presbyopia
B) presbycusis
C) tinnitus
D) sensorineural hearing loss

Question 6

Glaucoma __________.

A) literally means "old eyes"
B) involves changes in the vitreous of the eye
C) typically progresses without noticeable symptoms
D) is caused by neural changes in the visual system

Question 7

The __________ consists of connective tissue that gives the skin elasticity.

A) epidermis
B) dermis
C) hypodermis
D) protodermis

Question 8

Saul, age 62, has an eye condition. Its name literally means "old eyes." Saul has __________.

A) glaucoma
B) presbycusis
C) macular degeneration
D) presbyopia

Question 9

Which statement is true about age-related hearing loss?

A) African tribal peoples display little age-related hearing loss.
B) Women's hearing declines earlier and more rapidly than men's.
C) The first sign of hearing loss is a sharp loss at low frequencies.
D) Few middle-aged adults with hearing difficulties benefit from hearing aids.

Question 10

Malcolm is a 45-year-old man and Flora is a 45-year-old woman. Which statement is the most likely to be true?

A) Malcolm is less active than Flora.
B) Flora is experiencing a more rapid age-related decline in muscle mass than Malcolm.
C) Flora, but not Malcolm, is experiencing an increase in body fat and loss of lean body mass.
D) Malcolm, but not Flora, would benefit from weight-bearing exercise.

Question 11

__________ declines very gradually in the forties and fifties.

A) Muscle mass
B) Weight
C) Body fat
D) Abdominal fat

Question 12

Which statement is true about loss of bone strength in middle adulthood?

A) Loss in bone density usually begins in the early twenties and accelerates in the thirties.
B) Environmental factors do little to slow bone loss in postmenopausal women.
C) Loss of bone strength causes the disks of the spinal column to collapse.
D) By the end of middle adulthood, women have lost 70 percent of their bone density.

Question 13

Women who __________ tend to reach menopause earlier.

A) have had two or more children
B) do not smoke
C) have not borne children
D) have borne twins

Question 14

Yolanda is 48. It is likely she __________.

A) feels physically stronger and more robust than she felt in early adulthood
B) has not begun to experience life-threatening health episodes-in herself, her partner, or her friends
C) has experienced a shift in subjective time orientation from "time since birth" to "time left to live"
D) has revised her physical self-image, emphasizing hoped-for gains rather than feared declines

Question 15

As we age, __________.

A) fibers in the dermis thicken
B) fat in the hypodermis increases
C) the epidermis becomes more firmly attached to the dermis
D) cells in both the epidermis and dermis decline in water content

Question 16

Which statement is true about the aging skeleton?

A) Bones become more porous with age.
B) Bones narrow with age, as new cells accumulate.
C) With age, the mineral content of bones increases.
D) Men's reserve of bone minerals is lower than women's.

Question 17

Research shows that dietary calorie restriction in nonhuman primates __________.

A) increases blood glucose and insulin levels
B) reduces the incidence of age-related diseases
C) decreases bone density and muscle mass
D) increases accumulation of body fat

Question 18

Jeanine is 49. According to her doctor, she has reached the midlife transition in which fertility declines. Jeanine has reached __________.

A) HRT
B) the climacteric
C) senescence
D) menarche

Question 19

The changes involved in women's fertility decline occur gradually over a 10-year period, during which __________.

A) the production of estrogen drops and menstrual cycles become irregular
B) the production of estrogen increases and menstrual cycles become irregular
C) monthly cycles gradually increase in length until menstruation stops altogether
D) menstrual cycles become irregular and the reproductive organs increase in size

Question 20

Women's skin typically ages more quickly than men's because __________.

A) women are less likely to protect their skin from sun exposure
B) the dermis of women is not as thick as that of men
C) women spend less time outdoors than men do
D) estrogen loss accelerates the thickening of the skin

Question 21

Thomas, age 45, has been married for 20 years. When asked about his sex life, Thomas will probably say that sex is __________ than it was in his early married life.

A) less important
B) more dysfunctional
C) less intense
D) more frequent

Question 22

Which statement is true about illness and disability in middle adulthood?

A) Unintentional injuries more than double from early to middle adulthood.
B) Men are more vulnerable than women to most health problems in midlife.
C) Falls resulting in bone fractures and death occur at a lower rate than in early adulthood.
D) Economic disadvantage is a weak predictor of poor health and premature death in midlife.

Question 23

Tony, age 77, married Nichole, age 24. They are not using birth control because of Tony's advanced age. You can advise them that __________.

A) Tony probably stopped producing semen around age 70
B) Tony produces less semen and sperm, but he can probably still father children
C) while Tony still produces semen, he probably stopped producing sperm around age 60
D) Tony cannot maintain a sufficient erection to father a child at his age

Question 24

Among middle-aged __________, cancer __________.

A) women; is by far the leading cause of death
B) men; deaths are exceeded by cardiovascular disease deaths
C) women; deaths are exceeded by cardiovascular disease deaths
D) men; is by far the leading cause of death

Question 25

Hormone therapy __________.

A) decreases the risks of breast and lung cancer
B) reduces the physical discomforts of menopause
C) has few, if any, negative consequences
D) decreases the risks of heart attack and stroke

Question 26

The leading causes of death in middle age are __________ and __________.

A) motor vehicle collisions; cancer
B) falls; motor vehicle collisions
C) cancer; cardiovascular disease
D) falls; cardiovascular disease

Question 27

Which woman is likely to report fewer menopausal complaints?

A) Laura, an American woman
B) Esmée, a European woman
C) Nia, an African woman
D) Noriko, an Asian woman

Question 28

__________ cancer causes more deaths than any other type of cancer.

A) Lung
B) Colon
C) Prostate
D) Breast

Question 29

Our understanding of health in middle to late adulthood is __________.

A) limited by insufficient research on women and ethnic minorities
B) mostly drawn from studies carried out on menopausal women
C) based on information from studies carried out prior to World War II
D) limited by insufficient research on North American men

Question 30

Middle-aged adults usually attribute health complaints to __________.

A) temporary infections
B) recurring infections
C) chronic diseases
D) disabling conditions

Question 31

Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) __________.

A) is for women who have had hysterectomies
B) combines estrogen and progesterone
C) lessens the risk of cancer of the endometrium
D) has little effect on improving vaginal dryness

Question 32

Cancer death rates increase sharply as __________ decreases.

A) age
B) SES
C) stress
D) toxin exposure

Question 33

When women were asked their feelings about no longer menstruating, most said they __________.

A) were relieved
B) were depressed
C) felt really old
D) felt less feminine

Question 34

Which group of women is more likely to have a favorable attitude toward menopause?

A) European-American women
B) African-American women
C) women with little or no college education
D) women born between 1925 and 1945

Question 35

From early to middle adulthood, the death rate due to __________ multiplies tenfold.

A) falls
B) cancer
C) motor vehicle accidents
D) cardiovascular disease

Question 36

Which statement is true about sexuality in middle adulthood?

A) Frequency of sexual activity among couples tends to increase in midlife.
B) Dramatic changes in sexual activity among couples are very common in midlife.
C) Couples who have sex often in early adulthood tend to see a dramatic drop in midlife.
D) The best predictor of sexual frequency in midlife is relationship satisfaction.

Question 37

Which statement is true about menopause?

A) During menopause, complaints about sexual functioning decrease.
B) Hot flashes and night sweats affect only about 1 in 12 women.
C) Frequent hot flashes are associated with repeated night wakings and poor sleep.
D) With the final menstrual period, as hormone levels stabilize, the incidence of depression increases.

Question 38

Which statement is true about the incidence of lung cancer in the United States?

A) It is the most common cause of cancer deaths for men, while breast cancer tops the list for women.
B) Over the past 25 years, the incidence of lung cancer has steadily increased in men.
C) Lung cancer has recently begun to decrease in women after a long period of increase.
D) Although the effects of smoking are not insignificant, most lung cancer deaths are a result of other factors.

Question 39

The inability to attain an erection when desired __________.

A) rarely occurs before age 50
B) is a sign of serious sexual dysfunction
C) becomes more common in midlife
D) is always a sign of declining testosterone

Question 40

Women age 65 and older taking HRT __________.

A) have a decreased risk of heart attack and stroke
B) have a decreased risk of breast cancer
C) have an elevated risk of Alzheimer's disease
D) receive estrogen without progesterone

Question 41

Bianca, age 52, has porous bones and a very low bone density level. Bianca is at risk for __________.

A) atherosclerosis
B) osteoporosis
C) scoliosis
D) arterial thrombosis

Question 42

Current evidence pinpoints __________ as a "toxic" ingredient of the Type A behavior pattern.

A) competitiveness
B) hostility
C) ambition
D) impatience

Question 43

People with __________ are more likely to be affected by osteoporosis.

A) obesity
B) longer bones
C) a diet rich in vitamin D
D) thin, small-framed bodies

Question 44

Effective emotion-focused coping __________.

A) reduces emotional distress
B) is largely self-blaming
C) tends to be impulsive or escapist
D) helps people face problems more calmly

Question 45

Shavonda fell and fractured her hip, and has since been diagnosed with osteoporosis. Shavonda's doctor will probably recommend __________.

A) removing vitamin D from the diet
B) endurance training
C) weight-bearing exercise
D) a vitamin C enriched diet

Question 46

__________ is associated with high blood pressure and heart disease.

A) Displaying a socially submissive emotional style
B) Having an optimistic outlook
C) Ruminating about past anger-provoking events
D) Expressing frustration and disappointment

Question 47

Merrill has a buildup of plaque in his coronary arteries, which encircle his heart and provide its muscles with oxygen and nutrients. Merrill has __________.

A) arrhythmia
B) angina pectoris
C) arterial thrombosis
D) atherosclerosis

Question 48

Janet has cardiovascular disease. Her doctor detected high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol. To relieve arterial blockage, Janet had __________, a procedure in which a surgeon threaded a needle-thin catheter into her arteries and inflated a balloon at its tip.

A) angioplasty
B) bypass surgery
C) a pacemaker implantation
D) angina pectoris

Question 49

A pacemaker is one treatment for __________.

A) arterial thrombosis
B) atherosclerosis
C) arrhythmia
D) angina pectoris

Question 50

__________ is vital in adopting, maintaining, and exerting oneself in an exercise regimen.

A) Hardiness
B) Self-efficacy
C) Access to equipment
D) Having an exercise buddy

Question 51

Jackelyn is a low-SES, sedentary 47-year-old. She is more likely than a high-SES agemate to mention __________ as a barrier to exercise.

A) low self-efficacy
B) lack of motivation
C) unsafe neighborhoods
D) disinterest in sports

Question 52

__________ coping is largely emotion-focused and self-blaming, impulsive, or escapist.

A) Avoidant
B) Ineffective
C) Problem-focused
D) Flexible

Question 53

Linnea has angina pectoris. Her crushing chest pain reveals a(n) __________.

A) irregular heartbeat
B) oxygen-deprived heart
C) blood clot within the heart's chambers
D) blood clot in the coronary arteries

Question 54

More than half of U.S. middle-aged adults __________.

A) are sedentary
B) engage in the nationally recommended level of leisure-time physical activity
C) engage in the nationally recommended levels of resistance exercises
D) devote energy each week to leisure-time physical activities

Question 55

In middle adulthood, stress management __________.

A) is less important than in early adulthood
B) is less important than in late adulthood
C) can limit the age-related rise in illness
D) escalates the severity of disease

Question 56

Rosia viewed life as fluid. She expected change and accepted it as inevitable. When Rosia was faced with a problem, she identified it and decided what to do about it. Rosia used a(n) __________ coping strategy.

A) problem-centered
B) emotion-centered
C) relaxation-centered
D) holistic

Question 57

When __________ persists, it can prevent the heart from pumping enough blood and result in faintness.

A) BRCA2
B) arrhythmia
C) osteoporosis
D) angina pectoris

Question 58

Which statement is true about sex differences in heart attack symptoms and treatments?

A) Doctors often view a heart attack as a "female problem" and overlook symptoms in men.
B) Rather than chest pain, many women experience extreme fatigue and symptoms often mistaken for a panic attack.
C) Women account for over 70 percent of cardiovascular disease cases in middle adulthood.
D) Men are less likely than women to be offered costly, invasive therapies, such as angioplasty and bypass surgery.

Question 59

Andrew is extremely competitive, ambitious, impatient, and hostile. He is prone to angry outbursts. Andrew displays __________.

A) the Type A behavior pattern
B) the Type B behavior pattern
C) approval-seeking behavior
D) passive-aggressive behavior

Question 60

Sean has frequent angry outbursts. He is rude, disagreeable, critical, and condescending. Sean exhibits __________.

A) expressed hostility
B) suppressed anger
C) passive-aggressiveness
D) a socially dominant style

Question 61

Which statement is true about age-related changes in mental abilities?

A) Many early cross-sectional studies showed an age-related increase in cognitive functioning.
B) Cross-sectional research from the 1950s revealed modest decreases in mental abilities in midlife.
C) Testing of college students and soldiers in the 1920s revealed an increase in intelligence in midlife.
D) When adults are followed longitudinally, their verbal scores rise during early adulthood and decline in midlife.

Question 62

Longitudinal research shows that from the twenties on, __________ decreases steadily.

A) verbal ability
B) inductive reasoning
C) perceptual speed
D) numeric ability

Question 63

High-hardy individuals are likely to __________.

A) use active, problem-centered coping strategies in situations they can control
B) use emotion-centered and avoidant coping strategies in most situations
C) avoid seeking social support because they believe they can solve problems independently
D) deny that a stressful event occurred, or eat and drink to forget about it

Question 64

Some theorists believe that a general slowing of __________ underlies nearly all age-related declines in cognitive performance.

A) processing speed
B) synaptic connections
C) verbal and emotional IQ
D) central nervous system functioning

Question 65

In one study involving 2,500 mentally and physically healthy 16- to 85-year-olds, verbal IQ began to decline in the __________.

A) twenties
B) forties
C) sixties
D) eighties

Question 66

Which type of intelligence begins to decline in the twenties?

A) fluid
B) crystallized
C) naturalistic
D) kinesthetic

Question 67

Adults with a history of __________ adversity exposure report __________.

A) no lifetime; greater life satisfaction
B) no recent; functional impairment
C) modest lifetime; greater life satisfaction
D) high lifetime; less overall psychological distress

Question 68

Most cognitive aging research has focused on intellectual __________.

A) stability
B) gains
C) competence
D) deficits

Question 69

The double standard for gender and aging __________.

A) has become irrelevant
B) is more relevant today
C) is rarely evident in the media
D) is adaptive at this point in history

Question 70

Trends in both crystallized and fluid mental abilities reported from the Seattle Longitudinal Study indicate that middle-aged adults __________.

A) show steady increases in nonverbal IQ
B) often overestimate their intellectual abilities
C) are intellectually "in their prime," not "over the hill"
D) show sharp decrements in ability, starting around age 40

Question 71

Many cross-sectional studies show that crystallized intelligence __________.

A) declines steadily after age 20
B) declines swiftly after age 40
C) increases steadily through middle adulthood
D) rises swiftly through early adulthood, and then falls slowly

Question 72

Which statement is true about lifetime adversity?

A) People with modest lifetime adversity are less negatively affected by exposure to recent adversity.
B) Adults with no history of adversity respond optimally when faced with life stressors.
C) High levels of lifetime adversity strengthen people's coping skills and foster resilience.
D) Compared to adults with a history of modest lifetime adversity, those with no adversity report greater life satisfaction.

Question 73

Chrissy regards most experiences as controllable. She displays a committed approach to daily activities and views change as a normal part of life and a chance for personal growth. Chrissy fits the pattern of a __________ individual.

A) Type A
B) Type B
C) pessimistic
D) hardy

Question 74

Wesley finds meaning in almost all his daily activities, even during stressful times. Wesley is displaying which element of hardiness?

A) commitment
B) control
C) challenge
D) confidence

Question 75

People often rate middle-aged women as __________ than middle-aged men.

A) less emotional
B) more confident
C) more versatile
D) less attractive

Question 76

As people discover that they are no longer as good as they once were at certain tasks, they accommodate, shifting to activities that depend more on __________.

A) emotional intelligence
B) accumulated knowledge
C) cognitive efficiency
D) perceptual speed

Question 77

Intelligence test items reflecting fluid abilities include __________.

A) vocabulary
B) general information
C) verbal comprehension
D) spatial visualization

Question 78

Hector, age 85, is likely to show greater decrements in __________.

A) verbal memory
B) numeric ability
C) verbal ability
D) inductive reasoning

Question 79

Crystallized intelligence depends on __________.

A) the ability to detect relationships among visual stimuli
B) accumulated knowledge and experience
C) the speed of analyzing information
D) the capacity of working memory

Question 80

__________ likely contributes to negative judgments of middle-aged women's appearance, especially by men.

A) Being a grandmother
B) Menopause
C) Graying hair
D) Being employed