Deck 15: Middle Adulthood: Physical and Cognitive Development

Question 1

Which of the following statements best characterizes presbyopia?

A) It is caused by glaucoma.
B) It is the equivalent as nearsightedness.
C) It results from less flexible lenses in the eye.
D) It is the failure to see objects that are at a distance.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following best characterizes physical development in middle adulthood?

A) Physical decline is rapid for most people.
B) Exercise and diet can stave off aging completely.
C) People are at their peak physical levels.
D) Some theorists consider middle adulthood to be a time of peak performance.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

How is the basal metabolic rate (BMR) affected by aging?

A) The BMR remains unaltered with age.
B) The BMR increases throughout middle adulthood.
C) The BMR decreases throughout middle adulthood.
D) The BMR rapidly increases during the beginning of middle adulthood and rapidly decreases at the end of middle adulthood.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Katharine is 55 years old and is concerned about changes in her metabolism, muscle mass, strength, bone density, aerobic capacity, blood-sugar tolerance, and her ability to regulate body temperature.Which of the following is her physician most likely to tell her about these changes?

A) They are irreversible in middle adulthood.
B) They can be compensated for by expertise.
C) They can be altered by diet and exercise.
D) They are rarely affected by one's behaviour.

Question 5

How is caloric need affected by aging?

A) Caloric need decreases with age, as does one's basal metabolic rate.
B) Caloric need increases with age because more calories are burned with less effort.
C) Caloric need remains constant during middle adulthood.
D) Caloric need decreases with age, but one's basal metabolic rate increases.

Question 6

Which of the following occurs during middle adulthood?

A) Aerobic capacity increases.
B) Interindividual variability is the rule.
C) Sensory functioning declines rapidly.
D) Metabolism levels increase significantly.

Question 7

It's your 40th birthday, and you are celebrating with your girlfriends who are all older than you.Your friends say, "Just wait and see what happens to your hair now!" Which of the following is NOT a change that will happen?

A) Your hair will lose its melanin.
B) Your hair will decrease in production overall, especially for men.
C) Your hair will usually begin to go grey.
D) Your hair texture will change, becoming thicker and coarser.

Question 8

You are studying the effects of developmental psychology during middle adulthood, which includes the age range of both your parents.Which of the following changes can your parents expect?

A) a rapid cognitive decline
B) more accidents than experienced by younger adults
C) rapidly declining sensory and sexual abilities
D) greater risk for certain illnesses than during early adulthood

Question 9

Martha finds that her hair is starting to go grey, her skin is less elastic, and she is NOT as fast at racquetball as she used to be.What stage is Martha most likely in?

A) adolescence
B) early adulthood
C) middle adulthood
D) late adulthood

Question 10

Which of the following best characterizes physical development during middle adulthood?

A) It is at its peak.
B) Accident rates are at their peak.
C) Physical decline occurs rapidly regardless of exercise and diet.
D) It declines gradually for most people who exercise and eat well.

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a change to skin during middle adulthood?

A) Skin loses its elasticity.
B) Skin loses its melanin.
C) Skin becomes oilier.
D) Skin produces additional proteins.

Question 12

How is body mass index (BMI) affected by aging?

A) BMI decreases with age.
B) BMI remains stable over time.
C) BMI changes due to loss of fat cells.
D) BMI changes due to loss of muscle mass.

Question 13

Which of the following best describes muscle strength during middle adulthood?

A) It is at its peak.
B) It changes gradually.
C) It declines and cannot be compensated for by exercise.
D) It is likely, for most people, to be enhanced to earlier athletic levels by vigorous enough exercise.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes cognitive development during middle adulthood?

A) It results in some drop in processing speed and lapses in memory.
B) It results in a sharp decline in working memory capacity.
C) It does NOT change from early adulthood.
D) It is complicated by the diminishing crystallized intelligence factor.

Question 15

What changes occur to lean-body mass and body fat during middle adulthood?

A) Lean-body mass increases with age, and fat also increases.
B) Lean-body mass increases with age, whereas fat decreases.
C) Lean-body mass decreases with age, and fat also decreases.
D) Lean-body mass decreases with age and is replaced with fat.

Question 16

Paul is 45.He recently purchased reading glasses because he was unable to read the fine print on his medication bottle.What is most likely the cause of his visual difficulty?

A) myopia
B) cataracts
C) glaucoma
D) presbyopia

Question 17

What changes occur to reaction time during middle adulthood?

A) Reaction time decreases throughout middle adulthood.
B) Reaction time increases because of a loss in IQ throughout middle adulthood.
C) Reaction time increases because of a loss of neurons involved in sensing signals.
D) Reaction time decreases because people are wiser.

Question 18

Canada's baby boomers are now middle-aged.When is one considered to be middle-aged?

A) after one is married
B) between ages 30 and 50
C) between ages 40 and 65
D) after one retires

Question 19

How is breathing affected during middle adulthood?

A) Breathing is unchanged by exercise.
B) Breathing declines in capability because of changes in lung tissue due to aging.
C) Breathing becomes easier with age because of increased capacity of the lungs.
D) For most, breathing declines by approximately 90% by the end of middle adulthood.

Question 20

What is the meaning of interindividual variability?

A) All people change at the same rate during middle adulthood.
B) Change is predictable during middle adulthood.
C) No two people change in the same way or at the same rate.
D) Predictable changes occur in cognition, but NOT in physical strength and abilities.

Question 21

Which of the following are NOT considered to be carcinogenic?

A) chemicals in tobacco
B) hormones in our food
C) ultraviolet radiation
D) viruses

Question 22

What causes adult-onset diabetes?

A) the reduced sensitivity of the pancreas to insulin levels
B) the decrease in muscle mass in middle adulthood
C) eating too much sugar
D) body tissues' decreased ability to take up glucose from the bloodstream

Question 23

What two controllable factors are responsible for two out of three cancer deaths in Canada?

A) alcohol abuse and smoking
B) smoking and diet
C) alcohol abuse and diet
D) smoking and exercise

Question 24

Which of the following statements best describes what is known about cancer in middle adulthood?

A) It is rarely preventable.
B) It can often be controlled or cured.
C) African Canadian women have a higher rate of cervical cancer than any other demographic group.
D) Asian Canadians have twice the average death rate from prostate cancer.

Question 25

What weight change are middle-aged and older adults likely to experience?

A) They are more likely to gain weight easily as they age because of changes in their basal metabolic rate (BMR).
B) They are less likely to gain weight easily as they age because of changes in their basal metabolic rate (BMR).
C) They are as likely to gain or lose weight as they were when they were younger.
D) They will lose weight if they increase their level of physical activity to an already increased basal metabolic rate (BMR).

Question 26

What is the function of glucose?

A) It calms the body after physical exertion.
B) It increases its presence in the bloodstream to compensate for insulin loss.
C) It is the fuel that feeds the cells.
D) It increases body tissue sensitivity and causes diabetes.

Question 27

According to your textbook, approximately what percentage of Canadians aged 45 to 65 consider themselves to be in very good or excellent health?

A) 35%
B) 45%
C) 55%
D) 65%

Question 28

Which of the following best describes people in minority groups and their health care?

A) They are less likely to be screened for cancer.
B) They have better health insurance than the dominant group.
C) They believe the health care system is fairly distributed and sensitive to issues of race and ethnicity.
D) They are more likely to be diagnosed with cancer, but less likely to be treated for it than members of the dominant group.

Question 29

Why do people in developed nations, aged 40 to 65, have better health than ever before?

A) Everyone has access to high-quality health care.
B) People get annual checkups beginning at this time.
C) Vaccinations are available for preventable diseases.
D) People are exposed to unlimited medical advice.

Question 30

How does the cardiovascular system during middle age compare with its functioning earlier in life?

A) It becomes less efficient.
B) It becomes more efficient.
C) It is no different from its functioning in early life stages.
D) It can be diverted by exercised.

Question 31

Which of the following best characterizes the mortality rates from cancer during middle adulthood?

A) They are often attributable to the lack of early detection and treatment.
B) They are higher than during later adulthood.
C) They are lower than during early adulthood.
D) Types of cancer are evenly distributed across gender and racial groups.

Question 32

Which of the following statements best characterizes the leading causes of death in middle adulthood?

A) They "scream out their preventability."
B) They vary depending on gender and race.
C) They are suicide, accidents, and homicide.
D) They remain the same as in early adulthood.

Question 33

How is bone density affected by aging?

A) Bone density increases with age.
B) Bone density does NOT change throughout one's life.
C) Bone density decreases with age, beginning around age 40.
D) Bone density decreases with age, beginning around age 60.

Question 34

Which of the following statements best characterizes cancer during middle adulthood?

A) African Americans have higher than average colorectal cancer incidence and death rates.
B) European Americans have twice the average death rate from prostate cancer.
C) The rate of cervical cancer among Latina American women is lower than that of all other demographic groups.
D) More than 80% Aboriginal women age 40 years and over have had a recent mammogram.

Question 35

Which of the following is NOT an effect of the change in bone density during middle adulthood?

A) an increased risk of fractures
B) the need for more calcium
C) an increased risk of osteoporosis
D) an increase in density and calcification

Question 36

Which of the following statements best describes the cardiovascular system during middle adulthood?

A) The heart pumps less blood.
B) Less oxygen is required to maintain lung capacity.
C) The maximum heart rate increases.
D) The heart and lung muscles enlarge.

Question 37

What are the top two causes of death in middle adulthood?

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

Question 38

Which of the following statements best characterizes cancer?

A) It is usually benign if caught early.
B) Cancer types are evenly distributed across gender and racial groups.
C) It may be caused by internal or external agents.
D) Benign tumours spread through the lymphatic system.

Question 39

Which of the following best characterizes the health of people aged 40 to 65?

A) It is the same around the world.
B) It has decreased in the last century.
C) It is best for all people who live in Canada today.
D) It varies significantly, depending on one's genetics and access to health care.

Question 40

Which of the following statements best characterizes cancers in middle adulthood?

A) They are rarely avoidable in middle adulthood.
B) They are benign whereas during late adulthood they become malignant.
C) They travel through the parasympathetic system.
D) They increase in risk with age.

Question 41

Which of the following best characterizes the risk factors for heart disease?

A) They are unknown.
B) They include smoking and age.
C) They cannot be reduced by one's behaviour.
D) They are more common among women than men.

Question 42

Which of the following best describes inflammation?

A) It is bad for the immune system.
B) It increases the supply of white blood cells used to combat foreign invasion.
C) It is a sign that the immune system is failing.
D) It is engaged when red blood cells defend the body from a viral invasion.

Question 43

What is the relationship between diet and cancer?

A) Diet may account for 30% of all cancers in Western cultures.
B) Diet is rarely related to cancer.
C) Diet has no effect on risk of cancer.
D) Diet overwhelmingly accounts for 90% of all cancers in Western cultures.

Question 44

What is perimenopause?

A) It is same as menopause.
B) It is the beginning of menopause.
C) It is the final stages of menopause.
D) It refers to men's decrease in testosterone.

Question 45

Which of the following statements best describes the sexual activity of nearly three-quarters of adults aged 57 to 64?

A) They never have sex.
B) They rarely have sex.
C) They continue to be sexually active.
D) They become impotent or experience severe sexual dysfunctions.

Question 46

Which of the following statements best describes the immune system?

A) It engages red blood cells to defend the body from invasion.
B) It is largely determined by heredity and diet.
C) It uses leukocytes to combat bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
D) It functions best with a high level of serum cholesterol.

Question 47

Which of the following is NOT accurate about arteriosclerosis?

A) It is also known as hardening of the arteries.
B) It is a problem associated with heart disease.
C) It impairs circulation.
D) It involves a buildup of leukocytes.

Question 48

What psychological or behavioural characteristic is a risk factor for heart disease?

A) type B personality
B) type A personality
C) family history
D) eating animal fats

Question 49

If you are a Canadian and you smoke, which of the following represents the potential effects of your cigarette smoking?

A) Cigarette smoking does NOT pose a stronger correlation to contracting cancer compared with any other negative lifestyle choices, the environment you live in, or your DNA.
B) You could add to the statistics as one of the 84% of lung cancer deaths that are caused by smoking.
C) Whether you have a family history of cancer or NOT in this variable will NOT affect on your cancer risk outcome.
D) Most tumours that can be traced to cigarette smoking are often benign and will be surgically removed.

Question 50

Your doctor has just informed you that you have heart disease.You ask, "What does that mean? How did I get it?" Which of the following would she most likely reply?

A) Heart disease rarely strikes without giving noticeable symptoms.
B) Heart disease is NOT preventable.
C) Heart disease includes arteriosclerosis.
D) Heart disease involves a buildup of leukocytes, which decreases your circulation.

Question 51

You have been diagnosed with cancer and your doctor informs you of a treatment plan that will involve chemotherapy.Which of the following would your doctor likely state?

A) The use of hormones will stop tumour growth.
B) The use of high-dose X-rays will kill the tumours.
C) Chemotherapy is less effective than other treatments for cancer.
D) Chemotherapy often leads to negative side effects, such as hair loss and nausea.

Question 52

Which of the following best characterizes the climacteric?

A) It typically lasts 15 years.
B) It is the end of menopause.
C) It is a result of a decline in testosterone in men during middle adulthood.
D) It is the steep decline in hormones that occurs for women during middle adulthood.

Question 53

Which of the following does NOT represent a risk factor associated with cancer?

A) obesity
B) drinking alcohol
C) sedentary lifestyle
D) sunbathing

Question 54

Which of the following best represents the frequency of sexual activity during middle adulthood?

A) It is rare among single adults.
B) It drops progressively because of health problems alone.
C) It drops off noticeably compared with early adulthood.
D) It may drop because of a lack of opportunity and sexual dysfunction.

Question 55

Which of the following best describes the effect of stress?

A) It has no impact on the immune system.
B) It affects everyone the same way.
C) It leaves people more vulnerable to illness.
D) It activates the body's natural supply of antigens.

Question 56

Which of the following statements is ACCURATE about menopause?

A) It happens to both men and women.
B) It usually occurs at age 35.
C) It is defined by the cessation of menstruation.
D) It generally occurs around the age of 60.

Question 57

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, approximately what percentage of lung cancer in Canada is caused by cigarette smoking?

A) 15%
B) 35%
C) 55%
D) 85%

Question 58

Which of the following statements is NOT accurate about the stress hormones?

A) They can constrict the blood vessels to the heart.
B) They include steroids, epinephrine, and norepinephrine.
C) They can lead to heart attack.
D) They are the body's natural supply of antigens.

Question 59

Which of the following best describes the effects of estrogen?

A) Its deficits are associated with symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes.
B) It sparks the flashes that cause dizziness in menopausal women.
C) It increases during the climacteric.
D) It is the female equivalent to the male epinephrine and norepinephrine.

Question 60

Which of the following best characterizes the treatment for cancer?

A) It includes radiation and chemotherapy.
B) It typically has no negative side effects.
C) It can easily avoid damaging healthy tissue.
D) It is more dangerous than the cancers themselves.

Question 61

Which of the following best characterizes women's sexual dysfunctions during middle adulthood?

A) They are rare.
B) They are more common than men's experiences.
C) Women are more likely than men to experience performance anxiety.
D) Women are more likely than men to experience lack of desire and inability to achieve orgasm.

Question 62

Which of the following statements best reflects sexual dysfunctions in middle-aged men?

A) They often include premature ejaculations.
B) They occur because men want sex all the time.
C) They include lack of desire, which occurs more for men than women.
D) They may make men more anxious, which can lead to a vicious cycle.

Question 63

Schaie's longitudinal study began in 1956.What was his study's findings regarding cognitive abilities?

A) Cognitive abilities decline as people age.
B) Cognitive abilities differ because of genetic reasons.
C) People born earlier had better cognitive abilities than those born later.
D) The cognitive abilities of the different cohorts were based on their experiences in education and society in general.

Question 64

Which of the following represents a woman's experience of sexual activity as she ages?

A) Sexual activity may become painful because of thinner vaginal walls and reduced lubrication.
B) Women's sexual desire wanes while that of men increases.
C) NO treatments are available for them to help with sexual dysfunctions.
D) A women's decrease in sexual desire occurs only if her partner has erectile dysfunction.

Question 65

What term refers to intellectual abilities NOT being absolutely fixed but being able to be modified under certain conditions at almost any time in life?

A) plasticity
B) multidirectionality
C) interindividual identity
D) interindividual variability

Question 66

Which of the following accompanies menopause and the decline in estrogen?

A) hot flushes
B) oily skin
C) reduced sexual desire
D) an increase in breast tissue

Question 67

Flynn (2003) found that IQ scores increased 18 points in the United States between the years of 1947 and 2002.Which of the following does NOT explain the cause of this increase?

A) genetic improvements
B) better nutrition
C) better education and mass media
D) globalization

Question 68

Which of the following is NOT illustrated by intellectual development in adulthood?

A) multidirectionality
B) interindividual variability
C) multilateral directionality
D) plasticity

Question 69

What is Viagra?

A) a medication for treating sexual dysfunctions in men
B) a medication for treating colon cancer in women
C) a medication for treating cardiovascular disease that contributes to premature ejaculations
D) an immunological disorder experienced mostly by middle-aged men

Question 70

Which of the following statements best characterizes hormone-replacement therapy?

A) It has both benefits and risks for many women.
B) It is used by most perimenopausal women today.
C) It has been banned in Canada because it causes cancer.
D) It is recommended for all women for treatment of menopausal symptoms.

Question 71

Maria is fluent in two languages and is learning her third.She is in her mid-forties.Which of the following concepts is Maria illustrating?

A) plasticity
B) multidirectionality
C) interindividual reliability
D) interindividual variability

Question 72

Which of the following best represents the findings of research on the effects of hormone-replacement therapy (HRT)?

A) It caused cancer in everyone who used it.
B) It increased the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease for those who used it.
C) It decreased the risk of breast cancer for those who used it.
D) It has provides advantages and disadvantages for many women.

Question 73

Which of the following best describes most men during middle adulthood?

A) They are NOT capable of fathering children.
B) They experience the same swift drop in hormones as women do.
C) They benefit significantly from testosterone replacement therapy.
D) They experience a steady decline in sexual functioning and hormone production.

Question 74

A group of long-time friends, all middle-aged men, meet for lunch.One man confides that that he has been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction.A friend asks what he knows about the dysfunction.Which of the following is he most likely to state?

A) It becomes more common with age.
B) It is unrelated to diet and exercise.
C) It is rare for men in middle adulthood.
D) It is almost always psychological in origin.

Question 75

What is the effect of long-term estrogen deficiency?

A) It is linked to osteoporosis.
B) It reduces the risk of most types of cancer.
C) It is linked to a decreased risk of heart disease.
D) It causes the ovaries to atrophy.

Question 76

Martha finds that as she gets ages, she can still recall most of her medical training, but she cannot recall the Italian she learned when she was a student.Which of the following is illustrated by Martha's cognitive development?

A) plasticity
B) reaction speed
C) interindividuality
D) multidirectionality

Question 77

Steadman loves to travel, learn new languages, and read three newspapers every day.Bob, on the other hand, has little energy after work so he plops in front of the television and watches whatever is on.Which term best explains their different situations?

A) plasticity
B) condescension
C) multidirectionality
D) interindividual variability

Question 78

Which of the following distinguishes sexual dysfunctions during middle adulthood?

A) They are uncommon for both men and women.
B) Regardless of gender, they cause significant distress.
C) Men were more likely to report reaching orgasm too soon, compared with women.
D) The loss of sexual desire is greater for men than for women.

Question 79

Which of the following is NOT an effect of estrogen deficiency?

A) It is linked to osteoporosis.
B) It is linked to a loss of breast tissue.
C) It is linked to cognitive impairments.
D) It is linked to uterine cancer.

Question 80

Which of the following best characterizes andropause?

A) It is successfully treated by testosterone replacement therapy.
B) It is a rapid drop in male sex drive and hormone production during middle adulthood.
C) It is the same as menopause, but for men during middle adulthood.
D) It is the gradual decline in the production of male sex hormones.