Deck 17: Late Adulthood: Physical and Cognitive Development

Question 1

Which of the following is true of physical changes in late adulthood that affect sexual behavior of individuals?​

A) The vaginal opening in women tends to expand.
B) Older men ejaculate more easily as they age.
C) Erections tend to become less firm for older men.
D) Nocturnal erections disappear altogether for older men.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Studies showing that longevity tends to run in families validate:​

A) maintenance theories of aging.
B) error theories of aging.
C) programmed theories of aging.
D) cellular damage theories of aging.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

In the context of programmed theories of aging, which of the following is likely to determine the number of times a cell can divide and survive?​

A) The free radical content in the body
B) The length of telomeres for a species
C) The extent of cross-linking
D) The extent of wear-and-tear of the body through use

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Benjamin is an 80-year-old man whose acuteness of hearing has dramatically decreased in the last decade. This indicates that he has most likely developed:​

A) presbyopia
B) retinitis.
C) glaucoma.
D) presbycusis.

Question 5

Nocturnal erections in late adulthood:​

A) increase in frequency.
B) indicate abnormal enlargement of the prostate gland.
C) disappear as part of the normal aging process.
D) diminish in intensity and duration.

Question 6

In the context of the effects of aging on men and women, which of the following statements is true?

A) The risk of developing heart disease early is higher in women than in men.
B) Age-related changes tend to occur more gradually in women than in men.
C) Arthritis is more common in men than in women.
D) Osteoporosis poses a greater threat to women than to men.

Question 7

Which of the following is a vision disorder caused by chemical changes of aging?​

A) Myopia
B) Cataract
C) Ambylopia
D) Congenital strabismus

Question 8

Presbycusis is caused by:​

A) auditory nerve damage.
B) age-related degenerative changes in the ear.
C) syphilis.
D) excessive intake of medications containing aminoglycosides.

Question 9

Which of the following statements defines life span?​

A) It is the length of time one can live under the best of circumstances.
B) It is the maximum amount of time a person can be expected to live in a given setting.
C) It is the minimum expected life-period for a species.
D) It is the average age to which individuals live under given conditions.

Question 10

Glaucoma is characterized by:​

A) the buildup of fluid pressure inside the eyeball.
B) the weakening of ciliary muscles.
C) clouding of the eye lens.
D) inflammation and damage of the retina.

Question 11

Sleep problems in late adulthood:​

A) occur in just a small percentage of individuals.
B) are unlikely to be linked to chronic illnesses.
C) may symptomize psychological disorders.
D) do not involve physical changes.

Question 12

Which of the following can lower the risk of osteoporosis in men?​

A) Larger bone mass
B) Sedentary lifestyle
C) High levels of testosterone
D) Tough connective tissues

Question 13

In the context of the physical changes in older women, which of the following statements is true?​

A) There tends to be an increase in vaginal lubrication.
B) There tends to be an increase in the production of estrogen.
C) The vagina and the vaginal opening tend to shrink in size.
D) The labia majora tend to thicken due to increased fatty deposits.

Question 14

Which of the following is true about bone fractures?​

A) They pose a greater threat to men than to women due to the poor bone density of men.
B) They are characteristics of the normal aging process.
C) They are more common among women after menopause than among young women.
D) They pose a greater threat to those who engage in walking as a regular exercise than those who do not.

Question 15

Pam is a 78-year-old woman whose eyesight has reduced due to clouding of her eye lenses. In this scenario, which of the following disorders has Pam developed?​

A) Glaucoma
B) Cataracts
C) Myopia
D) Nystagmus

Question 16

Who among the following is most likely to be suffering from sleep apnea?​

A) Nia, who occasionally wakes up from sleep gasping for breath due to a temporary suspension of breathing
B) Sam, who sometimes walks around while still asleep without being consciously aware of doing so
C) Beth, who has difficulty falling asleep and wakes up quite often during the night and has trouble going back to sleep
D) Mike, who consistently feels drowsy all day and tends to sleep a lot

Question 17

The term ageism refers to:​

A) the physical and psychological changes associated with aging.
B) the privileges enjoyed by older adults in the society.
C) the age-related decline in the memory of adults.
D) the prejudice against people because of their age.

Question 18

Osteoporosis is characterized by:​

A) toughening of tissues.
B) inflammation of joints.
C) infection of bone marrow.
D) brittleness of bones.

Question 19

Which of the following statements is true of life expectancy?​

A) Environmental factors do not affect the life expectancy of an individual.
B) Life expectancy tends to be the same for both male and female members of a given population.
C) Differences in geographic location are unlikely to affect the life expectancy of members of a species.
D) Life expectancy tends to differ according to health-related behavior patterns.

Question 20

In the context of age-related changes in men and women, which of the following statements is accurate?​

A) Hearing ability tends to decline more gradually in women than in men.
B) Men are more likely than women to die from liver cirrhosis and strokes.
C) Heart disease typically develops later in life in men than in women.
D) Arthritis is more common in men than women among African Americans.

Question 21

Which of the following statements about arthritis is true?​

A) Arthritis is less common in African Americans than European Americans.
B) Arthritis is more common in women than men.
C) Children are unlikely to be affected by arthritis.
D) The risk of arthritis tends to be highest in adolescence.

Question 22

Which of the following is a result of stiffening of collagen?​

A) Brittle bones
B) Coarse and dry skin
C) Increase in vaginal lubrication
D) Excessive apoptosis

Question 23

To prepare her students for an examination, a teacher makes them recite the names of all the continents thrice before beginning her lessons every day. At the end of three weeks of this exercise, every student could recollect the names of continents. This example demonstrates the concept of:​

A) explicit memory.
B) implicit memory.
C) episodic memory.
D) haptic memory.

Question 24

Which of the following memories is likely to be helpful in developing sight vocabulary?​

A) Sensory memory
B) Associative memory
C) Prospective memory
D) Echoic memory

Question 25

What is Medicare?​

A) It is a federal program that regulates healthcare costs for all uninsured Americans.
B) It is a federal program that fully covers healthcare costs of terminal ill older adults in America.
C) It is a federal program that partially funds health care for older Americans and the disabled.
D) It is a federal program that covers a portion of the healthcare costs of people of all ages who are otherwise unable to afford coverage.

Question 26

Which of the following is commonly used to treat rheumatoid arthritis?​

A) Anti-inflammatory drugs
B) Electroconvulsive therapy
C) Laxatives
D) Hormone therapy

Question 27

Which of the following theories is a cellular damage theory of aging?​

A) The telomere theory
B) The endocrine theory
C) The wear-and-tear theory
D) The immunological theory

Question 28

Which of the following is the leading cause of death among adults over the age of 80 in America?​

A) Cirrhosis of the liver
B) HIV/AIDS
C) Stroke
D) Heart disease

Question 29

Older adults are more likely to be intoxicated by alcohol consumption compared to younger adults due to:​

A) the slowdown in the metabolic rate of older adults.
B) the low level of free radical content in the body of older adults.
C) the increase in the processing speed of older adults.
D) the increase in antibodies secreted by the endocrine system of older adults.

Question 30

Antioxidants delay aging by:​

A) disarming free radicals.
B) enabling cross-linking of cell proteins.
C) lengthening telomeres.
D) regulating hormone levels in the body.

Question 31

Which of the following statements is true of rheumatoid arthritis?​

A) It affects the entire body.
B) It does not affect bones and cartilage.
C) It is characterized by wear and tear on joints.
D) It is a hereditary congenital disorder.

Question 32

Which of the following statements is true in the context of cognitive developments of older adults?​

A) Aging is unlikely to affect the processing speed of individuals.
B) Aging has little effect on the retrospective memory of individuals.
C) Aging tends to affect explicit memory more than implicit memory.
D) Aging has a more detrimental effect on memory for single items than on associative memory.

Question 33

The ability to recall the order in which events have occurred can be attributed to:​

A) temporal memory.
B) sensory memory.
C) prospective memory.
D) implicit memory.

Question 34

Implicit memory is associated with the ability to:​

A) visually associate people with their names.
B) automatically recall things learnt by repetition.
C) remember past incidents and general knowledge.
D) recollect our plans for the future.

Question 35

Autobiographical memory is a type of:​

A) explicit memory.
B) implicit memory.
C) prospective memory.
D) procedural memory.

Question 36

In the context of aging, which of the following is true?​

A) Elevated levels of stress hormones make the body vulnerable to chronic diseases.
B) The stretching of telomeres with each cell division limits the number of times a cell can divide.
C) The stiffening of body tissues retards the process of aging.
D) Elevated levels of free radicals in the body lower the risk of developing heart disease.

Question 37

Mark suffers from a severe pain in his knees due to an inflammation of the membranes surrounding his knee joints. He finds it extremely painful to walk. If Mark's condition is due to his tissues being attacked by his body's immune system, he is suffering from:​

A) rheumatoid arthritis.
B) osteoarthritis.
C) septic arthritis.
D) psoriatic arthritis.

Question 38

Dementia is a condition characterized by:​

A) temporary suspension of breathing while asleep.
B) pain and stiffness of joints.
C) sudden loss of vision and hearing ability.
D) dramatic deterioration of mental abilities.

Question 39

Which of the following is true of free radicals?​

A) They are produced during metabolism by oxidation.
B) They elongate telomeres.
C) They loosen body proteins and tissues.
D) They accelerate the secretion of enzymes by the endocrine system.

Question 40

According to the_____, the immune system is preset to decline by an internal biological clock.

A) immunological theory
B) wear-and-tear theory
C) free-radical theory
D) cross-linking theory

Question 41

Free radicals are molecules that toughen tissues and protect the body from cell damage.

Question 42

In the context of handling interpersonal conflicts, older adults are more likely than young adults to:​

A) solve the problem.
B) express their frustration.
C) seek support from others.
D) remain unperturbed.

Question 43

Osteoarthritis is a painful, degenerative disease characterized by wear and tear on joints.

Question 44

According to a study, age-related decline in prospective memory is greatest when:​

A) attention paid to the impending task is high.
B) distractibility is low.
C) the cues are conspicuous.
D) the task to be completed is not crucial.

Question 45

Which of the following statements is true in the context of cognitive developments of older adults?​

A) Age-related declines in the working memory of older adults do not affect their retrospective memory.
B) Older adults tend to do nearly as well as young adults in tasks that assess explicit memory.
C) Even if fluid intelligence remained intact, prospective memory of older adults might decline.
D) Age-related decline in prospective memory is greatest when the task to be completed is crucial.

Question 46

Immunological theory is a cellular damage theory of aging.

Question 47

Age-related decline in reading comprehension is related to:​

A) a distortion or decay of long-term memory.
B) a decrease in the scope of working memory.
C) an increase in the associative ability and associative memory.
D) an increase in the processing speed.

Question 48

In the context of cognitive developments of older adults, which of the following statements is true?​

A) Age-related declines in fluid intelligence have important effects on retrospective memory.
B) The processing speed of older adults has no effect on retrospective memory.
C) The working memories of older adults hold more information simultaneously than the working memories of young adults.
D) Older adults tend to do nearly as well as young adults in tasks that assess explicit memory.

Question 49

Research studies have shown the existence of age-related cognitive changes in late adulthood. Which of the following statements supports this claim?​

A) Although older adults usually do not fare as well as younger adults in tasks that measure implicit memory, they tend to do nearly as well as young adults in tasks that assess explicit memory.
B) If fluid intelligence remains intact, prospective memory of older adults does not decline.
C) Older adults show a gradual decline in their expressive vocabularies despite retaining their receptive vocabularies.
D) When older adults encounter interpersonal conflicts, they are relatively more likely than young adults to express frustration and to seek support from other people.

Question 50

Today, older people are at a higher risk of dying from chronic diseases than from infectious diseases.

Question 51

Ageism refers to the privilege enjoyed by older adults in the society because of their age.

Question 52

Sleep problems in late adulthood may involve physical changes that bring discomfort.

Question 53

In the context of long-term memory, which of the following statements is accurate?​

A) It is inherently limited.
B) It is subject to distortion.
C) It is not subject to bias.
D) It is unaffected by aging.

Question 54

Which of the following statements is true of long-term memory?​

A) It has no known limits.
B) It is not subject to distortion.
C) It is not subject to bias.
D) It is not subject to decay.

Question 55

Cellular damage theories see aging as a result of genetic instructions.

Question 56

One's life expectancy refers to the length of time one can live under the best of circumstances.

Question 57

People whose diets are rich in antioxidants may be less likely to develop heart disease.

Question 58

The frontal regions of the brain are involved in:​

A) performing reflex actions.
B) binding elements to form memory traces.
C) directing one's attention.
D) recovering information in response to use of proper memory cues.

Question 59

An older male may enjoy orgasm as thoroughly as he did at a younger age.

Question 60

The medial temporal lobe is responsible for:​

A) organizing information and strategic processes.
B) directing one's attention.
C) binding elements to form memory traces.
D) managing automatic functions, such as reflexes like breathing.

Question 61

The number of years a person in a given population group can anticipate to live is called _________.
A. durability
B. life span
C. longevity
D. life expectancy

Question 62

How does psychologist Lynn Hasher associate the distractibility of older adults with their wisdom?

Question 63

What is sleep apnea?

Question 64

Many of the physical changes in older women that are characteristic of normal aging can be attributed to a decline in _________.
A. muscle flexibility
B. estrogen production
C. bone density
D. fluid intelligence

Question 65

What are the common changes observed in people who suffer from Alzheimer's disease (AD)?

Question 66

_________ is joint inflammation that results from conditions affecting the structures inside and surrounding the joints.
A. Arthritis
B. Osteoporosis
C. Atrophy
D. Osteonecrosis

Question 67

Aging has a more detrimental effect on memory for single items than on associative memory.

Question 68

_________ is a condition characterized by clouding of the lens of the eye.
A. Myopia
B. Cataract
C. Nystagmus
D. Glaucoma

Question 69

The medial temporal lobe is the executive center of the brain.

Question 70

Is substance abuse by adults a major problem in America?

Question 71

The risk of glaucoma tends to be higher among those who suffer from _________.
A. dementia
B. presbycusis
C. diabetes
D. arthritis

Question 72

_________ tend to see aging as a result of genetic instructions.
A. Free radical theories of aging
B. Programmed theories of aging
C. Cross-linking theories of aging
D. Cellular damage theories of aging

Question 73

The joints most commonly affected by osteoarthritis are in the _________.
A. knees
B. jaw
C. foot
D. skull

Question 74

_________ is most likely to cause tunnel vision.
A. Glaucoma
B. Myopia
C. Hypermetropia
D. Nystagmus

Question 75

Retrospective memory helps us retrieve information from the past.

Question 76

_________ is the most common cause of dementia.
A. Arthritis
B. Alzheimer's disease
C. Glaucoma
D. Cerebral palsy

Question 77

_________ attributes the effects of aging to the stiffening of body proteins.
A. Wear-and-tear theory
B. Cross-linking theory
C. Immunological theory
D. Free-radical theory​

Question 78

Chronic alcoholism can cause dementia.

Question 79

Discuss long-term memory in late adulthood. Do adults recall all their life events with the same intensity?

Question 80

Even if fluid intelligence remained intact, prospective memory might decline.