Deck 15: Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood

Question 1

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

Answer 1

C

Question 2

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 2

B

Question 3

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 3

D

Question 4

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

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

Question 5

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 6

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 7

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 8

Yolanda is 48.She probably __________.

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 9

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 10

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 11

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 12

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 13

__________ declines very gradually in the forties and fifties.

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

Question 14

By midlife,__________.

A) half the rods in the retina are lost
B) the cones in the retina double in size
C) the blood supply to the retina increases
D) the retina becomes thicker and more sensitive

Question 15

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 16

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 17

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 18

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 19

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 20

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

Question 21

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 22

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) Research finds no links between menopause and changes in quantity or quality of sleep.
D) With the final menstrual period, as hormone levels stabilize, the incidence of depression increases.

Question 23

Middle-aged adults usually attribute health complaints to __________.

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

Question 24

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 25

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 26

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 27

Viagra and other medications for impotence __________.

A) are generally safe
B) decrease blood flow to the penis
C) offer permanent relief from erectile dysfunction
D) are associated with an increased risk of cancer and stroke

Question 28

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 29

Talia,who has not had a hysterectomy,has a family history of cardiovascular disease and breast cancer.To help alleviate her hot flashes,Talia should consider __________.

A) hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
B) postmenopausal surgery (PMS)
C) estrogen replacement therapy (ERT)
D) gabapentin, a migraine-headache medication

Question 30

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 31

Which individual is most likely to say that he or she has had no sexual partners in the previous year?

A) Tamara, a 37-year-old woman
B) Santos, a 38-year-old man
C) Darnell, a 59-year-old man
D) Margarete, a 58-year-old woman

Question 32

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 33

Which rural woman is the most likely to report negative physical and emotional symptoms of menopause?

A) Stacey, a North American woman
B) Aiko, a Japanese woman
C) Eme, a Mayan woman
D) Sophie, a Greek woman

Question 34

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 35

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 36

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 37

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 38

In a study involving nearly 600 men and women,participants who described their view of menopause as a(n)__________ made more negative statements than the other contexts.

A) life transition
B) symbol of aging
C) medical problem
D) elevation of social status

Question 39

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 40

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 41

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 42

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

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

Question 43

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 44

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 45

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 46

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 47

The earlier a woman reaches menopause,the __________ her chances of developing __________.

A) smaller; osteoporosis
B) smaller; cardiovascular disease
C) greater; osteoporosis
D) greater; cardiovascular disease

Question 48

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 49

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 50

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) Lung cancer mortality has been on the decline in the United States for the last several decades.

Question 51

A pacemaker is one treatment for __________.

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

Question 52

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 53

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 54

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 55

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

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

Question 56

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 57

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

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

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) Men are less likely than women to recognize heart attack symptoms and, therefore, often delay in seeking help.
D) Men are less likely than women to be offered costly, invasive therapies, such as angioplasty and bypass surgery.

Question 59

Women with either BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations are __________.

A) unlikely to develop breast cancer before age 40
B) especially likely to develop breast cancer in late adulthood
C) especially likely to develop early-onset breast cancer
D) unlikely to develop breast cancer after age 40

Question 60

Cancer death rates increase sharply as __________ decreases.

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

Question 61

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

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

Question 62

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 63

Most cognitive aging research has focused on intellectual __________.

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

Question 64

Teaching people to be __________ rather than hostile and to __________ rather than explode interrupts the intense physiological response that intervenes between psychological stress and illness.

A) passive; implode
B) impulsive; relax
C) assertive; negotiate
D) passive; avoid

Question 65

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 66

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 67

Which statement about stress management in midlife is true?

A) Communities provide fewer social supports for middle-aged adults than for younger or older adults.
B) People tend to cope with stress less effectively as they move from early to middle adulthood.
C) When middle-aged adults surmount a highly stressful experience, they report few lasting personal benefits.
D) Community programs addressing concerns such as those of adult learners returning to college fail to reduce stress.

Question 68

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

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

Question 69

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 70

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

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

Question 71

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 72

__________ 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 73

__________ 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

Question 74

__________ 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 75

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 76

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 77

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 78

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 79

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 80

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