Deck 7: Section 2: Thinking, Language, and Intelligence

Question 1

Joseph is trying to select a new couch for his living room. As he looks at each couch at the furniture store, he tries to visualize how it would look in his living room at home. Joseph is using _____ to help him determine which couch to buy.

A)a prototype.
B)a natural concept.
C)a formal concept.
D)mental imagery.

Answer 1

mental imagery.

Question 2

The Focus on Neuroscience box, "Seeing Faces and Places in the Mind's Eye," reported on an fMRI study of mental imagery. In the study, the researchers compared brain scans of volunteers who were:

A)listening to music versus looking at paintings.
B)looking at an actual scene versus imagining the same scene.
C)imagining a sound versus imagining a smell.
D)watching a scary video versus imagining something scary happening to them.

Answer 2

looking at an actual scene versus imagining the same scene.

Question 3

Research on the cognitive ability needed to manipulate mental images indicates that:

A)the greater the distance between two points on the mental image, the less time it will take to scan.
B)the greater the distance between two points on the mental image, the more time it will take to scan.
C)the shorter the distance between two points on the mental image, the more time it will take to scan.
D)there is no relationship between the size of a mental image and the amount of time it takes to mentally scan it.

Answer 3

the greater the distance between two points on the mental image, the more time it will take to scan.

Question 4

Which of the following BEST defines a formal concept?

A)the most typical instance of a particular concept
B)a mental category that is formed as the result of everyday experience
C)a mental category that is formed by learning the rules or features that define it
D)a mental representation of an object or event that is not physically present

Question 5

How we use our cognitive abilities and accumulated knowledge to think, solve problems, and use language are all key dimensions of:

A)perception.
B)sensation.
C)intelligence.
D)memory.

Question 6

The Focus on Neuroscience box, "Seeing Faces and Places in the Mind's Eye," reported on an fMRI study of mental imagery. One of the findings of the study was that:

A)looking at places activated the parahippocampal place area (PPA) and imagining places activated the fusiform facial area (FFA).
B)imagining a scene activated different brain areas than were activated during perception of the scene.
C)looking at faces activated the parahippocampal place area (PPA) and imagining faces activated the fusiform facial area (FFA).
D)imagining a scene activated the same brain areas that were activated during perception of the scene.

Question 7

The term used to describe the mental activities involved in acquiring, retaining, and using knowledge is:

A)cognition.
B)perception.
C)mental imagery.
D)sensation.

Question 8

While Mary was reading a story about the Australian outback adventures of Billy and his dog, she had no problem visualizing the arid countryside, the unusual animals that lived there, and the various people that Billy and his dog met in their journeys. Mary is using:

A)mental imagery.
B)a mental set.
C)an algorithm.
D)a heuristic.

Question 9

Your text described a classic study that involved participants memorizing a simple map, and then measuring how long it took them to mentally scan from one location to another across a mental image of the map. What was the main conclusion of the research study?

A)the vast majority of people are unable to mentally scan a remembered visual image.
B)people take much longer to scan a mental image than to scan an actual image.
C)people tend to scan a mental image in much the same way that they scan an actual visual image.
D)people take much longer to scan an actual image than to scan a mental image.

Question 10

Mental images:

A)can involve any of the senses, including sounds, smells, and textures.
B)are typically only visual, although some exceptional people can form auditory mental images.
C)are involved in processing visual stimuli only, and are not involved when stimuli are sounds, smells, textures, or tastes.
D)cannot be studied scientifically.

Question 11

As part of his homework assignment, Kenny memorized the names of all the planets in the solar system, learned the distance between the Earth and the Sun, decided what items he still needed to research in the library, and spent some time daydreaming about space travel. In the most general sense, Kenny was engaged in:

A)thinking.
B)functional fixedness.
C)constructing an algorithm.
D)developing a heuristic.

Question 12

Thinking often involves the manipulation of two forms of mental representations:

A)concepts and mental images.
B)perception and intelligence.
C)learning and cognition.
D)prototypes and stereotypes.

Question 13

When we form a concept by learning the rules or features that define a particular concept, it is called a(n) _____ concept.

A)informal
B)formal
C)unnatural
D)natural

Question 14

The Focus on Neuroscience box, "Seeing Faces and Places in the Mind's Eye," reported on an fMRI study of mental imagery. In comparing perception and imagery, the researchers found that:

A)compared to imagining a face or place, perceiving a face or place evoked a stronger brain response.
B)looking at faces activated the parahippocampal place area (PPA) and imagining faces activated the fusiform facial area (FFA).
C)compared to imagining a face or place, perceiving a face or place evoked a much weaker brain response.
D)looking at places activated the parahippocampal place area (PPA) and imagining places activated the fusiform facial area (FFA).

Question 15

A problem presented in your textbook asked you to look at five versions of the number "3" that were displayed at different orientations, and then identify which were backward. The point of the demonstration was that:

A)some people are better than others at mental rotation skills, which is why such problems are often used in intelligence or IQ tests.
B)rotating a mental image is similar to rotating an actual physical object, and-just as it takes time to rotate a physical object-it takes time to rotate a mental image.
C)rotating a mental image is not the same as rotating an actual physical object; it takes much longer to rotate a mental image than the same physical object.
D)physically manipulating an actual object takes time, but manipulating a mental image happens almost instantaneously.

Question 16

The psychological process that involves manipulating mental representations of information in order to draw inferences and conclusions is called:

A)perception.
B)sensation.
C)thinking.
D)learning.

Question 17

The Focus on Neuroscience box, "Seeing Faces and Places in the Mind's Eye," reported on an fMRI study of mental imagery. What was the central question being investigated in this study?

A)whether all emotions activate the same areas of the brain or different areas of the brain.
B)whether forming a mental image activates a different part of the brain than that used in solving an arithmetic problem.
C)whether a mental image activates the same brain areas that are involved in the perception of the actual scene or object.
D)whether auditory mental images of sounds activate the same brain area as do visual mental images.

Question 18

The Focus on Neuroscience box, "Seeing Faces and Places in the Mind's Eye," reported on an fMRI study of mental imagery. From simply looking at the brain scan images, the researchers were able to determine whether the research participants were:

A)imagining a sound or a visual scene.
B)experiencing happiness, sadness, fear, or anger.
C)imagining a face or a place.
D)solving an arithmetic problem or scanning a visual image of a map.

Question 19

The mental categories we form to group objects, events, or situations that share similar features or characteristics are called:

A)concepts.
B)mental images.
C)algorithms.
D)heuristics.

Question 20

A mental representation of objects or events that are not physically present is called a(n):

A)algorithm.
B)mental image.
C)stereotype.
D)heuristic.

Question 21

Nikki wandered into a produce store in Chinatown and saw a bin marked "LITCHIS" that was filled with small round objects with bumpy red shells. As she was trying to decide whether "litchis" were fruits or vegetables, she was mentally comparing them to her memories of other instances of fruits and vegetables, such as cherry tomatoes, raspberries, strawberries, and grapes. In her attempt to classify the litchis, Nikki was using:

A)exemplars.
B)formal concept rules and features.
C)stereotypes.
D)prototypes.

Question 22

A concept that is formed as a result of everyday experience, rather than by learning strict rules or features, is called a(n) _____ concept.

A)informal.
B)formal.
C)unnatural.
D)natural.

Question 23

Mary had trouble recognizing that snails can be a food because snails did not fit with her _____ of food.

A)prototype
B)heuristic
C)intuition
D)generative idea

Question 24

Rachel took longer to agree with the statement "An ostrich is a bird" than the statement "A crow is a bird, " because for Rachel an ostrich is dissimilar to her _____ of the category "bird."

A)formal concept
B)heuristic
C)prototype
D)stereotype

Question 25

When Hillary was asked what comes to mind in response to the word "animal," she immediately said "horse." For Hillary, "horse" is a(n) _____ of the category "animal."

A)prototype
B)formal concept
C)stereotype
D)additive feature

Question 26

Two of your friends are having a heated argument about whether a particular basketball player is one of the "super-greats" or just one of the "greats" of basketball. Because you have read this chapter, you point out to them that their argument may never be resolved because "super-great basketball players" is a(n):

A)natural concept with fuzzy boundaries.
B)heuristic without hard and fast rules.
C)formal concept, but your friends are unaware of the rules that define it.
D)algorithm, and requires a clear prototype for accurate classification.

Question 27

Thinking and behavior directed toward attaining a goal that is not readily available is called:

A)wishful thinking.
B)displacement.
C)generative thinking.
D)problem solving.

Question 28

With virtually no hesitation you can say that pigs, sheep, and cows are all examples of the concept of mammal, but you may hesitate a few seconds before deciding whether bats and porpoises are also mammals. This suggests that pigs, sheep, and cows are _____ of the concept mammal.

A)stereotypes
B)prototypes
C)algorithms
D)heuristics

Question 29

In his chemistry class, Milton learned the rules and features used for classifying certain chemical compounds. Milton has learned a(n) _____ concept.

A)formal.
B)natural.
C)informal.
D)unnatural.

Question 30

Formal concept is to _____ as natural concept is to _____.

A)mental image; physical object.
B)defining rules and features; everyday experience.
C)prototype; heuristic.
D)physical object; mental image.

Question 31

Problem solving is defined as:

A)thinking and behavior directed toward attaining a goal that is not readily available.
B)the mental activities involved in acquiring, retaining, and using knowledge.
C)the mental activities that involve learning rules and features.
D)the tendency to view objects as functioning only in their usual or customary way.

Question 32

Which of the following BEST defines a prototype?

A)the most typical instance of a particular concept
B)the beliefs and expectations we have about the characteristics of a particular group
C)a mental category that is formed by learning the rules or features that define it
D)individual instances of a concept or category held in memory

Question 33

Exemplars and prototypes are similar in that:

A)both are effective problem-solving strategies.
B)they both involve strict rules and procedures for categorizing novel objects or situations.
C)they are used to determine whether an object or situation is an instance of a particular natural concept.
D)both can be obstacles to successful problem solving.

Question 34

A natural concept is:

A)the most typical instance of a particular concept.
B)a mental category that is formed as the result of everyday experience.
C)a mental category that is formed by learning the rules or features that define it.
D)a mental representation of an object or event that is not physically present.

Question 35

Which of the following is NOT true about concepts?

A)Concepts economize the cognitive effort required for thinking.
B)Concepts make it easier to communicate with people.
C)Formal concepts are much easier to acquire than natural concepts because they are formed automatically through everyday experiences.
D)Thinking can be more efficient because concepts can be organized into orderly hierarchies.

Question 36

Psychologist Eleanor Rosch noted that the rules or attributes that define categories of natural objects and events in everyday life are usually not as clear and distinct as those that define formal concepts. Thus, she described natural concepts as:

A)being more susceptible to functional fixedness than formal concepts.
B)having fuzzy boundaries.
C)being derived by trial and error.
D)having sharply defined boundaries.

Question 37

In general, you can quickly identify an item as being an example of a natural concept if the item:

A)closely matches the prototype of the concept.
B)is very different from the prototype of the concept.
C)is identified using the additive model.
D)has functional fixedness.

Question 38

When Valerie decided to return to college, she had to figure out how she was going to support herself financially and still maintain a high grade-point average. Valerie is engaged in:

A)problem solving.
B)concept formation.
C)prototypical thinking.
D)stereotypical thinking.

Question 39

Our memories of individual instances of a particular concept are called:

A)categories.
B)attributes.
C)stereotypes.
D)exemplars.

Question 40

The word "school" is used to describe the place where teachers and students can be found. It can also be used to describe a college, a kindergarten, and a place in which people learn to cut hair or play a musical instrument. "School" in this example is a:

A)formal concept.
B)natural concept.
C)prototype.
D)heuristic.

Question 41

Kesha forgot her locker combination at the gym. She decides to apply what she knows about algorithms to figure out her combination. This technique:

A)will produce a correct combination about 60 percent of the time.
B)is the most efficient approach to solving Kesha's problem.
C)is not a practical approach, as there may be thousands of potential combinations to try.
D)may or may not work; it depends on the type of locker she has.

Question 42

Insight is defined as:

A)a problem-solving strategy that involves attempting different solutions and eliminating those that do not work.
B)a problem-solving strategy that involves following a specific rule, procedure, or method that inevitably produces the correct solution.
C)a problem-solving strategy that involves following a general rule of thumb to reduce the number of possible solutions.
D)the sudden realization of how a problem can be solved.

Question 43

Kip is a professional auto mechanic whose hobby is restoring old cars. He picked up a classic Thunderbird convertible at an auction, but after spending several weekends tinkering with the engine, he still couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. As he was waking up one morning, he suddenly realized what the problem was. Kip's sudden realization of the problem's solution is an example of:

A)mental set.
B)a heuristic.
C)insight.
D)functional fixedness.

Question 44

The process of coming to a conclusion or making a judgment without conscious awareness of the thought processes involved is called:

A)functional fixedness.
B)a mental set.
C)intuition.
D)prototypical thinking.

Question 45

An intuitive hunch is most likely to be accurate when:

A)you have no prior knowledge or experience regarding the problem or issue.
B)the hunch is based upon conscious, logical analysis of the problem.
C)you already have a broad base of knowledge and experience in the given area.
D)the hunch is strong and emotionally compelling.

Question 46

Foster has been a clinical psychologist for 15 years and has worked with hundreds of patients. One day, a patient came to Dr. Foster's office and began to describe his concerns and problems. Dr. Foster listened to what the patient said and observed the patient's posture, movements, and facial expressions. Based upon this information, Dr. Foster began to get a sense of what the pattern of symptoms probably meant. In which stage of Bowers's model of intuition was Dr. Foster operating?

A)the integrative stage
B)the generativity stage
C)the displacement stage
D)the guiding stage

Question 47

Trial and error is defined as a:

A)problem-solving strategy that involves attempting different solutions and eliminating those that do not work.
B)problem-solving strategy that involves following a specific rule, procedure, or method, which inevitably produces the correct solution.
C)problem-solving strategy that involves following a general rule of thumb to reduce the number of possible solutions.
D)sudden realization of how a problem can be solved.

Question 48

Majid met with a new patient who had a long list of puzzling symptoms. After talking with him for about 10 minutes, Dr. Majid told the patient that she needed to run some tests. Dr. Majid ordered a series of blood and urine tests but privately believed that the patient probably had diabetes. When the test results came back, Dr. Majid sat down to analyze them. Analyzing the test results to confirm or disprove her hunch is an example of the _____ stage of intuition.

A)integrative
B)guiding
C)displacement
D)generativity

Question 49

David and Alice plan to vacation in Florida. They figure out the total cost of the trip and then decide how much they will have to put aside each week in order to be able to pay for their holiday. David and Alice are using:

A)insight.
B)the working backward heuristic.
C)trial-and-error planning.
D)an algorithm.

Question 50

In which stage of the two-stage model of intuition does a person perceive a pattern in the information that is being contemplated, but not consciously?

A)the representative stage
B)the guiding stage
C)the integrative stage
D)the generativity stage

Question 51

Which statement best characterizes the process of insight?

A)Insight rarely occurs through the conscious manipulation of concepts or information.
B)Insight involves a systematic search of thoughts and ideas that will lead to a solution.
C)Insight often involves using the working backward approach for problem solving.
D)Insight typically involves the subgoal analysis approach to problem solving.

Question 52

Which of the following is the BEST definition of heuristic?

A)the sudden realization of how a problem can be solved.
B)a problem-solving strategy that involves following a specific rule, procedure, or method, which inevitably produces the correct solution.
C)a problem-solving strategy that involves following a general rule of thumb to reduce the number of possible solutions.
D)a problem-solving strategy that involves attempting different solutions and eliminating those that do not work.

Question 53

When there is a limited range of possible solutions, _____ can be a useful problem-solving strategy.

A)stereotypical thinking.
B)applying a formal concept.
C)trial and error.
D)insight and intuition.

Question 54

Milovitch systematically mixed thousands of different combinations of chemical compounds in order to find one that would be a pollution-free refrigerator coolant. Dr. Milovitch's approach best illustrates:

A)trial-and-error problem solving.
B)the use of algorithms for solving the problem.
C)prototypical thinking.
D)the use of heuristics for solving the problem.

Question 55

In the _____ stage of the two-stage theory of intuition, conscious, analytic thought processes take over, and you try to prove or disprove your hypothesis.

A)guiding
B)integrative
C)generativity
D)heuristic

Question 56

In problem solving, an algorithm is defined as:

A)a problem-solving strategy that involves attempting different solutions and eliminating those that do not work.
B)a problem-solving strategy that involves following a specific rule, procedure, or method, which inevitably produces the correct solution.
C)a problem-solving strategy that involves following a general rule of thumb to reduce the number of possible solutions.
D)the sudden realization of how a problem can be solved.

Question 57

Derek learns that his apartment building has been sold and that he needs to move by the end of the month. He develops the following plan of action: (1) look for a new apartment; (2) arrange for utilities; (3) contact a moving company and schedule the move; (4) start collecting empty boxes; (5) pack nonessential items first; and other preparations. What kind of problem-solving strategy is Derek using to solve the problem of moving before the end of the month?

A)the heuristic of identifying subgoals
B)trial-and-error planning
C)an algorithm
D)functional fixedness

Question 58

Tom, whose story was told in the chapter prologue, was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome (now referred to as a mild form of autism spectrum disorder). Like many people, he can become frustrated when he is "stuck" on a problem. However, unlike other people who recognize when it's time to switch to a new strategy or accept defeat and give up, Tom perseveres in trying to find the "right" solution, demonstrating _____, which are characteristics of autism spectrum disorder.

A)cognitive rigidity and inflexible thinking.
B)intuitive thinking and insight.
C)creativity, displacement, and generativity.
D)intellectual disability and a low IQ.

Question 59

Gregory decides to drive to Toronto to visit a college friend. After crossing the Canadian border, he discovers that the speed limits are posted in kilometers per hour rather than miles per hour. Luckily, Gregory remembers that one kilometer equals 1.6 miles and that to convert kilometers to miles, he can multiply the number of kilometers by 0.6214. This method would be an example of a problem-solving strategy called:

A)a heuristic.
B)an algorithm.
C)insight.
D)trial and error.

Question 60

When LaToya got her new computer, she carefully followed the steps described in the manual, and by the end of the evening, her new computer was up and running. LaToya used:

A)an algorithm.
B)a heuristic.
C)insight.
D)trial and error.

Question 61

Functional fixedness is defined as the:

A)tendency to view objects as functioning only in their usual or customary way.
B)process of coming to a conclusion or making a judgment without conscious awareness of the thought processes involved.
C)tendency to persist in solving problems with solutions that have worked in the past.
D)sudden realization of how a problem can be solved.

Question 62

State lottery commissions capitalize on the _____ by running many TV commercials showing that lucky person who won the $100 million Powerball jackpot. A vivid memory is created, which leads viewers to an inaccurate estimate of the likelihood that the event will happen to them.

A)availability heuristic
B)availability algorithm
C)representativeness heuristic
D)representativeness algorithm

Question 63

Janice forgot to pack a pillow for her camping trip, but used her down-filled jacket as a substitute pillow. This is an example of:

A)overcoming functional fixedness.
B)developing a mental set.
C)using exemplars as an aid to intuitive problem solving.
D)the availability heuristic.

Question 64

A decision-making strategy that involves systematically evaluating the important features of each alternative and rating each one using an arbitrary scale is called the _____ model.

A)single-feature
B)additive
C)elimination by aspects
D)availability

Question 65

Research suggests that the _____ is most likely to be used when people rely on information involving vivid memories to determine the likelihood of events occurring.

A)elimination by aspects model
B)representative heuristic
C)additive model
D)availability heuristic

Question 66

Faced with a wide variety of computers to choose from, Mary first eliminated all models that would not fit comfortably on her desk. Next, she eliminated all models costing more than $1,000. Finally, she eliminated all models without a full year's warranty. It appears that Mary is using the _____ model of decision making.

A)single-feature
B)additive
C)elimination-by-aspects
D)integrative

Question 67

When decisions are complex and involve the comparison of many choices that have multiple features, people usually use:

A)only the single-feature model.
B)both the single-feature model and the additive model.
C)both the elimination by aspects model and the additive model.
D)both the single-feature model and the elimination by aspects model.

Question 68

Whenever Rachel is faced with choosing from a wide range of brand-name products, she always buys the cheapest brand. Rachel is using the _____ model of decision making.

A)single-feature
B)additive
C)elimination by aspects
D)availability

Question 69

Kyle is trying to decide which brand of diapers he should buy for his newborn daughter. Each of the brands has its own unique features that make it seem better than the others. Some diapers have extra padding so that they retain more fluid. Another brand touts special elastic bands around the legs to prevent leakage. Still others have fancy Velcro fasteners. Finally, confused about all of the features, Kyle buys the brand that he recognizes from commercials. What decision-making strategy did Kyle use?

A)the additive model
B)the elimination by aspects model
C)representativeness heuristic model
D)the single-feature model

Question 70

When Adrian's computer would not respond to commands from the wireless keyboard, he tried restarting the computer, as that strategy had worked in the past. After several tries, the keyboard still did not work so he gave up and called a computer repair service. A technician easily solved the problem: The batteries in the wireless keyboard needed to be replaced. Adrian's inability to solve the problem on his own had been hampered by his:

A)functional fixedness.
B)use of an incorrect algorithm.
C)mental set.
D)decision-making strategy.

Question 71

Sonia has been offered a job by two different companies. Since she is uncertain about which job offer to accept, Sonia makes a list of the features of each company. She then rates these features using a 10-point scale, with 10 being the best. Finally, Sonia adds up the ratings for each company. She accepts the job offer from the company that had the highest score. Sonia used the _____ model to help her make her decision.

A)single-feature
B)elimination by aspects
C)additive
D)rule-of-thumb

Question 72

Jorge is faced with the decision of which of two equally attractive condominiums to buy. He makes a list of the factors that are most important to him and numerically rates the two condominiums on each factor. Jorge is using the _____ model of decision making.

A)single-feature
B)additive
C)elimination by aspects
D)availability

Question 73

A mental set is defined as the:

A)tendency to view objects as functioning only in their usual or customary way.
B)process of coming to a conclusion or making a judgment without conscious awareness of the thought processes involved.
C)tendency to persist in solving problems with solutions that have worked in the past.
D)sudden realization of how a problem can be solved.

Question 74

A strategy in which the likelihood of an event is estimated on the basis of how easily we can remember other instances of the event is called the:

A)availability heuristic.
B)availability algorithm.
C)representativeness heuristic.
D)representativeness algorithm.

Question 75

After media coverage of two spectacular train crashes, people overestimated the probability of being killed or injured in a train crash and exaggerated the dangers of train travel. This example illustrates:

A)the availability heuristic.
B)functional fixedness.
C)the representativeness heuristic.
D)mental set.

Question 76

Mental set is sometimes MOST likely to block insight in areas in which you are:

A)already knowledgeable or well trained.
B)a novice.
C)untrained.
D)neither knowledgeable nor trained.

Question 77

When Jean-Claude came back from skiing, he wanted to brew a cup of coffee. Because he was out of coffee filters, he settled for tea. Jean-Claude's failure to realize he could use a paper towel as a coffee filter best illustrates:

A)a mental set.
B)intuition.
C)functional fixedness.
D)the availability heuristic.

Question 78

The _____ model is a decision-making strategy that simplifies the choice among many alternatives, and although useful for minor decisions, can increase the riskiness of complex decisions.

A)single-feature
B)additive
C)elimination by aspects
D)availability

Question 79

Marilyn wanted to buy a new sport utility vehicle (SUV). First, she identified those SUVs that were in her price range. Next, she only considered SUVs that possessed four-wheel drive, and then identified the model with the best safety record. Finally, there was only one SUV that met all of her criteria. Marilyn was using the _____ model of decision-making.

A)elimination by aspects
B)multiple features
C)single-feature
D)rule-of-thumb

Question 80

A decision-making strategy that involves evaluating all of the options one characteristic at a time, starting with the most important, and discarding an option if it doesn't meet that criterion, is called the _____ model.

A)single-feature
B)additive
C)elimination by aspects
D)integrative