Deck 11: Middle Adulthood

Question 1

When you were in high school, your friends had "mosquito" ring tones on their cell phones.Mosquito tones are very high-pitched tones.What did your 45-year-old teachers think of it?

A)Some of the teachers thought that there was an invasion of mosquitoes at your school.
B)Most the time the ring tones were very quiet, and the teachers seemed to like them.
C)They found the high-pitched noise to be very irritating.
D)Most never heard it.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

The tiny hairs in the inner ear that transmit sounds to the brain and make it possible for an individual to hear are known as __________.

A)cilia
B)malleus
C)eardrum
D)incus

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Lasik is a type of surgery that corrects __________.

A)visual distance problems
B)auditory problems
C)tactile problems
D)olfactory problems

Answer 3

A

Question 4

In middle adulthood, what issue continues to increase in prevalence, partly due to a biological tendency toward increasing body fat and losing muscle mass?

A)obesity
B)joint problems
C)athletic injuries
D)hair loss

Question 5

During what developmental period are individuals most likely to notice that it is more difficult to perceive images in sharp focus and to see in dim light?

A)late teens
B)young adulthood
C)middle adulthood
D)late adulthood

Question 6

By age 60, an individual has lost about __________ of their rods and cones in the eye.

A)one-third
B)one-quarter
C)one-half
D)two-thirds

Question 7

Men more likely to experience great hearing loss than women in middle adulthood because they __________.

A)listen to very loud music, which causes damage to the inner ear
B)are employed in places where there would be chronic exposure to loud noises
C)smoke, which causes irreversible harm to the outer and middle ear
D)do not spend as much time trying to listen to what other people are saying

Question 8

Why do tribal Africans in middle adulthood show less decline in hearing than people in developed countries do?

A)They are exposed to less noise in their daily lives.
B)They must make loud noises to keep away predators, so they are used to loud noise.
C)They are genetically better at hearing.
D)Their diets have been shown to support hearing.

Question 9

Due to the consequences of the changes in the eyes, most middle adults __________ by the time they reach __________ years of age.

A)take the visual test each time they renew the driver's license; 65
B)require reading glasses; 60
C)never drive at night; 50
D)watch movies and television on large-screen television sets; 45

Question 10

For adults in developed countries, hearing declines steadily beyond age 40, especially for __________.

A)speech sounds
B)low-pitched sounds
C)high-pitched sounds
D)bone-conducted sounds

Question 11

You have noticed that whenever you and your mother are at a bookstore, she needs to hold the book that she is reading about an arm's length away from her face.What is going on with your mother's eyesight?

A)It's likely something other than eyesight issues, since most middle adults have really good vision.
B)She likely needs to get reading glasses.
C)She probably has macular degeneration and needs to see an ophthalmologist.
D)Although there are minor visual changes, she is obviously just exaggerating them.

Question 12

Your father, who is a high school English teacher, is having some reading.This is causing him considerable frustration.He has a pair of reading glasses but loses them constantly because he is not really used to needing glasses.What type of treatment may help him see without the need for reading glasses?

A)monovision correction
B)cataracts
C)binocular adjustment procedure
D)retinal replacement

Question 13

In middle adulthood the __________ of the eye enlarges and becomes less flexible and less transparent, making it more difficult to perceive images in sharp focus and to see in dim light.

A)retina
B)iris
C)cornea
D)lens

Question 14

Which statement best explains why skin begins to wrinkle and becomes saggy in middle adulthood?

A)Skin begins to lose its fat content and the three layers of skin begin to adhere to each other less firmly.
B)The body retains less water; therefore, skin begins to wrinkle and becomes less pliable.
C)White blood cells begin to decrease in number and skin cells are indirectly affected.
D)The nuclei of skin cells begin to shrink, which in turn affects skin elasticity.

Question 15

Which of the following is an environmental cause for decreased auditory acuity during middle adulthood?

A)The eardrum and other structures in the inner ear become less flexible.
B)In the brain, the auditory cortex becomes less efficient in processing information from the inner ear.
C)The cilia in the inner ear begin to thin, making it more difficult to hear.
D)Having worked in a factory or at a job with exposure to chronically loud noises can contribute to hearing loss.

Question 16

During Lasik monovision correction, one eye is corrected for near vision and one eye is corrected for distance vision.It is possible for an individual to see both near and far away because __________.

A)the brain automatically figures out which eye to rely on most, depending on whether near vision or distance vision is necessary
B)human beings rely on one eye at any given time, a phenomenon known as monocular vision
C)binocular vision is seldom used and human beings rely on one eye, his or her dominant eye, the majority of the time
D)of the photoreceptors-cones are located in the left eye and rods are located in the right eye, and it is these photoreceptors that help to determine distance

Question 17

The eardrum and other structures of the inner ear become __________ during middle adulthood.

A)less flexible and more sensitive to sound
B)less flexible and less sensitive to sound
C)more flexible and less sensitive to sound
D)basically unchanged during this time

Question 18

A few years ago Robert noticed a few gray hairs.A little frustrated, he was able to isolate and pluck them out one by one; however, recently his gray hairs have become overwhelming in number and he has more gray hairs than brunette hairs.Which time period do most people turn mostly gray or all gray?

A)emerging adulthood
B)young adulthood
C)middle adulthood
D)late adulthood

Question 19

Which sense declines the most in middle adulthood?

A)hearing
B)sight
C)taste
D)touch

Question 20

For most men of European descent, hair turning gray begins in __________, but by __________ most people's hair has turned mostly or all gray.

A)the late teens; young adulthood
B)young adulthood; middle adulthood
C)the late teens; middle adulthood
D)middle adulthood; late adulthood

Question 21

Hearing loss may lead to what additional behavioral changes in middle adulthood?

A)Many people in middle adulthood will avoid listening to music.
B)Many people in midlife will avoid social contact due to the embarrassment of having to wear hearing aids.
C)Many people in midlife will limit or avoid social contact because of their inability to carry on a conversation.
D)Many will decide that time is running out so they become much more socially engaged.

Question 22

Menopause usually occurs in the __________.

A)late 20s and early 30s
B)late 30s and early 40s
C)late 40s and early 50s
D)late 50s and early 60s

Question 23

Although hearing aids are a viable option for those experiencing hearing loss in middle adulthood, one of the challenges to obtaining hearing aids is __________.

A)they are very expensive and access to them depends on affordability
B)they are not very effective
C)they only work for a small percentage of those with hearing loss
D)most people are embarrassed to wear them

Question 24

At what age do men stop producing sperm?

A)50
B)60
C)70
D)never

Question 25

Women from which region of the world report the highest rate of hot flashes associated with menopause?

A)the United States
B)Africa
C)Japan
D)Mexico

Question 26

A common symptom of menopause is __________, in which a woman suddenly sweats and feels very warm.

A)hot flashes
B)anemia
C)dementia
D)jaundice

Question 27

What do researchers believe explains the minimal menopausal symptoms experienced among Japanese women?

A)taking daily naps in the afternoon
B)drinking large amounts of caffeine
C)eating soybean-based foods
D)living in a very warm climate

Question 28

Your grandmother has been experiencing the side effects of menopause, and you overheard your mother and grandmother discussing the possibility of using hormone replacement therapy (HRT).What would be your advice?

A)not to use HRT, as there are serious side effects, including increased risk of stroke, heart attacks, and breast cancer
B)not to use HRT, as it increases the likelihood of osteoporosis and colon cancer
C)to use HRT, as it decreases the likelihood of stroke, heart attacks, and breast cancer
D)to use HRT, as it decreases the risk of spontaneous abortion

Question 29

Which women tend to receive the most benefits of HRT with few of the risks?

A)Women who have never given birth.
B)Women who begin HRT 5 years after the onset of menopause.
C)Women who begin HRT at the onset of menopause and receiv it for no more than 5 years.
D)Women who begin HRT during perimenopause and receive it for longer than 10 years.

Question 30

Sichhun is a 50-year-old female whose hormone levels have dropped.Her menstrual cycle has ceased and she has begun to experience hot flashes, headaches, dizziness, and heart palpitations on a frequent basis.Which of the following best explains Sichhun's condition?

A)menopause
B)jaundice
C)anemia
D)dementia

Question 31

In menopausal women, HRT helps to __________.

A)increase bone density
B)decrease the likelihood of stroke
C)reduce the symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes
D)improve sexual functioning

Question 32

Menopause tends to occur earlier among women if they __________.

A)abuse alcohol or smoke marijuana
B)smoke cigarettes or have never given birth
C)are obese or are extremely underweight
D)live in poverty or have a low percentage of body fat

Question 33

Your mother has exercised regularly throughout her entire life.She is very fit, and she has never smoked.Relative to most women, when is menopause likely to occur for her?

A)It will occur earlier than in most women.
B)Exercise has no effect on menopause.
C)It will correlate to when her mother experienced menopause.
D)Women who exercise generally do not menstruate.

Question 34

One of the most important physical changes of midlife, which occurs in the reproductive system as fertility declines in males and females, is called __________.

A)menopause
B)the climacteric
C)infertility
D)erectile dysfunction

Question 35

All women experience __________ and the end of menstruation (menopause), but women vary widely in how they experience the __________.

A)spiritual decline, physiological and psychological effects
B)emotional decline; physiological and social effects
C)cognitive decline; social and psychological effects
D)hormonal declines; physiological and psychological effects

Question 36

What is the term that is used to describe the end of monthly ovulation and menstruation?

A)menopause
B)climacteric
C)infertility
D)ovarian blockage

Question 37

When are the declines in estrogen and progesterone levels associated with menopause the steepest?

A)at the very beginning
B)during the entire time menopause is occurring
C)at the very beginning and after the end of menopause
D)after the end of menopause

Question 38

The time preceding menopause when estrogen and progesterone production decline is called __________.

A)premenopause
B)perimenopause
C)pseudomenopause
D)postmenopause

Question 39

For women who are experiencing severe symptoms during menopause, what is a strategy that can alleviate their distress?

A)chiropractic massage
B)hormone replacement therapy
C)eating soybean-based foods
D)frequent intercourse

Question 40

Your mother has been experiencing some of the symptoms of menopause and has been asking her mother about her own experiences with menopause, specifically, when it stopped.Although you are a woman who is still in her early 20s, why is this information important for you and your mother alike?

A)It is just nice to have this information.
B)The beginning and end of menopause is influenced by genetics.
C)The end of menopause has a lot to do with generational attitudes.
D)Menopause is completely different for each person, and there is no genetic or environmental influence.

Question 41

Athough there is no current consensus on its occurrence, what is the proposed but unvalidated condition applying to men in midlife whose testosterone levels are unusally low?

A)low-T period
B)andropause
C)menopause
D)climacteric

Question 42

About half of men experience an enlargement of the prostate gland by age 50, resulting in __________.

A)infrequent urination
B)impotence
C)frequent pain during urination
D)frequent urination interrupting sleep

Question 43

In what condition do the bones become thin and brittle as a result of rapid calcium depletion?

A)scoliosis
B)jaundice
C)diabetes
D)osteoporosis

Question 44

Eighty percent of people who are diagnosed with osteoporosis are women.Who is at greater risk for this phenomenon?

A)people who are small and thin due to less bone mass to start with
B)people of African origin
C)people who are obese
D)people who have too much calcium in their diet

Question 45

Evolutionary biologist Jared Diamond (1992) hypothesized that the danger that childbirth poses to human mothers, and the danger that a mother's death poses to human children, were related to what unique human experience?

A)infant/mother bonding
B)miscarriages
B)parenting
C)menopause

Question 46

After age 40, many individuals in midlife experience sleep problems; they __________.

A)often do not feel fully rested in the morning
B)are more likely to have nightmares
C)are more likely to fall asleep on the job
D)are less likely to have appropriate bone density

Question 47

Lower testosterone levels are associated with __________.

A)more sexual desire
B)fewer problems with sexual performance
C)less energy
D)higher sperm count

Question 48

Your 59-year-old uncle is convinced that he will have osteoporosis.He is in good health and is quite active.What would you tell him?

A)It is not very likely.Only 20% of individuals with osteoporosis are male.
B)He is probably correct, about 80% of males have osteoporosis.
C)It is not likely if he drinks a lot of milk.
D)He is probably correct; very active adults are more prone to osteoporosis.

Question 49

The most common type of cancer among men is __________, whereas __________ cancer is the most common type among women.

A)breast; lung
B)lung; colon
C)prostate; breast
D)colon; prostate

Question 50

From middle adulthood onward, women lose about __________ of their bone mass.

A)10%
B)30%
C)50%
D)70%

Question 51

How often do health authorities recommend that women over 50 have their bone density checked?

A)every 6 months
B)every year
C)every 2 years
D)every 5 years

Question 52

The lifestyle factor that raises cancer risk the most is __________.

A)alcohol
B)high fat diet
C)smoking
D)excessive sun exposure

Question 53

During middle adulthood, which of the following are factors related to sleep disturbances and sleep disorders?

A)obesity, heart disease, and depression
B)arthritis, jaundice, and diabetes
C)restless legs syndrome, myopic vision, and hypertension
D)anxiety, eczema, and psoriasis

Question 54

What is an alternative to HRT that is currently under investigation?

A)soy-based medicines
B)massage therapy
C)high protein, low carbohydrate diet
D)increased dosage hormonal therapy

Question 55

Generally speaking, how do women across cultures view menopause?

A)They feel fear, it in that it signifies the end of reproduction.
B)They generally welcome the end of their monthly periods and their reproductive years.
C)They dislike it, in that they feel less attractive.
D)They are typically completely ambivalent.

Question 56

Which cancer treatment involves subjecting the cancerous part of the body to toxic substances intended to poison the cancer cells?

A)chemotherapy
B)radiation therapy
C)angiogenesis inhibitors therapy
D)gene therapy

Question 57

Larry, who is 45 years old, has recently been discussing with his doctor his desire to father another child.He is worried that he will not able to do so even though he and his wife are strongly considering it.Larry's doctor will most likely tell him that he should __________.

A)probably get started, as sperm quality and mobility begin to decline at his age
B)give up on the idea, because his sperm count is probably too low
C)have a fertility check since most males have little to no sperm at age 45
D)think carefully about fathering a child; the child has no chance of being born healthy

Question 58

Your grandmother is a 56-year-old smoker and just read an article concerning osteoporosis.The article stated that the likelihood of osteoporosis increases with age.What would you say to her about her risk factor?

A)She should not worry about osteoporosis, you are sure that she will not have trouble.
B)She should get yearly bone density checks and quit smoking.
C)She should drink a lot of milk.
D)She should start an exercise routine.

Question 59

Medical authorities recommend __________ of sleep per night as optimal, but among midlife adults in the United States, more than __________ report receiving less than 7 hours of sleep at least occasionally.

A)5-7 hours; three-quarters
B)6-8 hours; two-thirds
C)7-9 hours; one-third
D)9-11 hours; one-half

Question 60

Which of the following is the leading cause of death for adults ages 45 to 64?

A)cardiovascular disease
B)starvation
C)war
D)cancer

Question 61

Your 46-year-old neighbor just learned that he has pancreatic cancer.What are your thoughts about this?

A)It is very sad, because pancreatic cancer has the lowest survival rate at 5%.
B)It should be fine, because the survival rate for pancreatic cancer is quite good at 67%.
C)If he eats a nutritious diet, his chances of survival are fairly good at 55%.
D)With a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, the survival rate is nearly 80%, so he should be fine.

Question 62

What is the term that describes the building up of plaque in the arteries, causing the passage of blood in arteries to become constricted?

A)pulmonary disease
B)coronary disease
C)high blood pressure
D)atherosclerosis

Question 63

The Americans' Changing Lives (ACL) study followed a nationally representative sample of Americans ages 25 and older for 15 years beginning in 1986 and ending in 2001, assessing their physical health at four times during the 15-year period.The main finding of the study was that __________.

A)educational attainment relates to one's physical health
B)genetic lineage predicts life expectancy
C)coping skills and the strength of one's social network relates to life satisfaction
D)sex is a correlating factor to health consciousness

Question 64

Ralph was given good news and bad news by his physician.The bad news was that he has cancer; the good news was that the survival rate for the type of cancer that he has is 80%.Which of the following types of cancer does Ralph most likely have?

A)prostate or skin
B)throat or rectal
C)kidney or lung
D)pancreas or liver

Question 65

In what procedure for cardiovascular disease does a surgeon insert a tube into a blocked artery and inflate a tiny balloon that flattens the fatty deposits against the wall and allows blood to flow more freely?

A)angioplasty
B)open heart surgery
C)stents
D)pacemaker

Question 66

In Vaillant's original study, subjects who were heavy smokers, alcohol abusers, and overweight at age 50 were more likely to be dead by the ages of 75-80, and those who were still alive were likely to be classified as __________.

A)happy-well
B)sad-sick
C)depressed-morbid
D)joyful-elated

Question 67

Why are survival rates for breast and prostate cancer so high in certain countries but not others?

A)use of holistic medicine and participation in early detection screenings
B)professional diet and exercise programs
C)advanced medical technologies and participation in early detection screenings
D)lack of smoking and reduced genetic risk

Question 68

Why is coronary heart disease so high in countries like Denmark?

A)high rates of alcohol consumption
B)extreme weather conditions
C)a diet high in fat
D)large consumption of high carbohydrate foods

Question 69

Which developed country has the highest survival rates for breast and prostate cancer in the world?

A)Germany
B)United States
C)Japan
D)England

Question 70

Which of the following cancers have the lowest 5-year survival rate?

A)prostate and skin
B)breast and rectal
C)kidney and liver
D)pancreas and lung

Question 71

In a study examining treatment approaches for individuals who had heart disease (Blumenthal et al., 2005), which group exhibited better cardiovascular functioning as well as lower levels of distress and depression?

A)the routine care group
B)the music therapy group
C)the movie-watching group
D)the stress management and exercise groups

Question 72

Ed is a middle-aged male who is a high-risk candidate for coronary heart disease.Which of the following are recommendations to help Ed lower his risk?

A)establish a healthy diet, increase exercise, quit smoking, take low-dose aspirin daily
B)get more sleep, get more sun, and get more potassium
C)increase calcium, folic acid and B12, but decrease iron
D)start a multivitamin regimen, decrease stress, and limit the consumption of high fructose corn syrup

Question 73

What is the best way to avoid death from cancer?

A)prevention
B)surgery
C)chemotherapy
D)radiation therapy

Question 74

In a study conducted by Coleman and colleagues (2008), __________ of American women aged 50-64 reported receiving regular mammograms to screen for breast cancer, compared to __________ of British women.

A)94%; 73%
B)84%; 63%
C)74%; 53%
D)64%; 43%

Question 75

A promising approach to cancer prevention that focuses more frequent screenings and exams on people who are at highest risk due to a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors is __________.

A)risk stratification
B)genome stratification
C)genetic profiling
D)high risk profiling

Question 76

In Vaillant's original study, which of the following variables are characteristics of participants who were classified as happy-well?

A)years of education and marriage stability
B)an easygoing temperament and strong cognitive skills
C)authoritative parental upbringing and low social problem-solving
D)years of prosocial behavior and high altruism

Question 77

Worldwide, what is the second most common cause of death among midlife adults?

A)coronary heart disease
B)cancer
C)accidents
D)suicide

Question 78

In a study that examined women who experienced a severely stressful event and were screened for symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), what did researchers find when they reexamined the women 14 years later?

A)Women who went to therapy were actually more likely to have coronary heart disease.
B)Women who exhibited five or more symptoms of PTSD were more than three times as likely to have coronary heart disease.
C)Women who took antidepressants were more likely not to have coronary heart disease.
D)Women who were not married were eight times more likely to have coronary heart disease.

Question 79

Your mother is 52 years old and has had only one mammogram in the last 10 years because she hates having them done.To help her get her next mammogram, you tell her that the survival rate of women who have __________.

A)breast cancer is much better if detected early with regular mammograms
B)colon cancer is much better if detected early with regular mammograms
C)prostate cancer is much better if detected early with regular mammograms
D)pancreatic cancer is much better if detected early with regular mammograms

Question 80

In a study of more than a million women in Sweden, the death rate from breast cancer was __________ for the women who received mammograms than for those who did not.

A)50% lower
B)40% higher
C)29% lower
D)10% higher