Deck 9: Thinking, Language, and Intelligence

Question 1

When we use the word automobile to refer to a category of transport vehicles,we are using this word as a(n)

A) mental set.
B) heuristic.
C) concept.
D) algorithm.

Answer 1

concept.

Question 2

A prototype is a

A) mental grouping of similar objects,events,ideas,or people.
B) step-by-step procedure for solving problems.
C) best example of a particular category.
D) simple thinking strategy for solving problems efficiently.

Answer 2

best example of a particular category.

Question 3

Prototype is to category as ________ is to ________.

A) rose;flower
B) chair;table
C) man;woman
D) rope;weapon

Answer 3

rose;flower

Question 4

After identifying an ethnically blended face as Asian rather than as Caucasian,Belgian students recalled the face as more closely resembling their ________ of an Asian face.

A) algorithm
B) heuristic
C) prototype
D) fixation

Question 5

Psychologists who study cognition focus on mental activities associated with all of the following EXCEPT

A) thinking.
B) communicating information.
C) spatial rotation.
D) remembering.

Question 6

In the process of classifying objects,people are especially likely to make use of

A) algorithms.
B) fixations.
C) prototypes.
D) mental sets.

Question 7

A chess-playing computer program that routinely calculates all possible outcomes of all possible game moves best illustrates problem solving by means of

A) the availability heuristic.
B) belief perseverance.
C) an algorithm.
D) framing.

Question 8

People are likely to take less time to recognize a woman as a nurse than a man as a nurse because a woman more closely resembles their nurse

A) heuristic.
B) prototype.
C) algorithm.
D) fixation.

Question 9

With which of the following statements will people typically agree most quickly?

A) A penguin is a bird.
B) A goose is a bird.
C) A robin is a bird.
D) An ostrich is a bird.

Question 10

Kevin did not know whether the locker room was located down the short hallway to his right or down the long hallway to his left.Crossing his fingers,he decided to try the short hallway.His problem-strategy best illustrates

A) confirmation bias.
B) the framing effect.
C) trial and error.
D) belief perseverance.

Question 11

The use of heuristics rather than algorithms will most likely

A) save time in solving problems.
B) yield more accurate solutions to problems.
C) minimize the overconfidence phenomenon.
D) involve greater reliance on convergent thinking.

Question 12

Which term refers to all the mental activities associated with thinking,knowing,remembering,and communicating?

A) algorithm
B) heuristic
C) cognition
D) mental set

Question 13

People are likely to detect male prejudice against females ________ easily than they detect female prejudice against males.They are likely to take ________ time to identify a whale as a mammal than to identify a cow as a mammal.

A) more;less
B) less;more
C) more;more
D) less;less

Question 14

As he attempted to spell the word receive,Tim reminded himself "i before e except after c." Tim's self-reminder best illustrates the use of

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

Question 15

An algorithm is a

A) simple thinking strategy for making decisions quickly and efficiently.
B) testing method involving trial and error.
C) automatic,intuitive judgment.
D) methodical step-by-step procedure for solving problems.

Question 16

Simple thinking strategies that allow us to solve problems and make judgments efficiently are called

A) fixations.
B) heuristics.
C) prototypes.
D) algorithms.

Question 17

A mental grouping of similar objects,events,ideas,or people is a(n)

A) algorithm.
B) prototype.
C) heuristic.
D) concept.

Question 18

Eva had difficulty recognizing that a sea horse was a fish because it did not closely resemble her fish

A) hierarchy.
B) heuristic.
C) algorithm.
D) prototype.

Question 19

Professor Pegler's research efforts focus on how the use of heuristics influences the way people assess financial risks.Which specialty area is he most interested in studying?

A) development
B) biology
C) cognition
D) personality

Question 20

Baby Alex has learned the word "dog." He has referred to cats,horses,dogs,and cows as "dogs." Baby Alex has formed a(n)

A) algorithm.
B) heuristic.
C) frame.
D) concept.

Question 21

Research participants were asked to identify a word that would form a compound word or phrase with each of three other words.Solutions that occurred with sudden insight were accompanied by a burst of activity in the brain's ________ lobe.

A) right temporal
B) left temporal
C) right occipital
D) left occipital

Question 22

Mr.Smith,a business manager,is often overly confident of his own hiring ability because he is more likely to monitor the successes of people he has hired than the achievements of those he has rejected.This illustrates that overconfidence may be facilitated by

A) an algorithm.
B) prototypes.
C) the framing effect.
D) confirmation bias.

Question 23

Unintended racism may be a result of

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

Question 24

After spending two hours trying to solve an engineering problem,Amira finally gave up.As she was trying to fall asleep that night,a solution to the problem popped into her head.Amira's experience best illustrates

A) belief perseverance.
B) the availability heuristic.
C) insight.
D) a mental set.

Question 25

Andy's new employer looks somewhat similar to a TV actor who played the role of a very dishonest politician.Without consciously realizing the similarity,Andy experienced an immediate gut-level distrust of his new employer.His reaction best illustrates the impact of

A) algorithms.
B) confirmation bias.
C) intuition.
D) extrinsic motivation

Question 26

In contrast to our explicit conscious reasoning,our seemingly effortless and automatic feelings or thoughts are called

A) mental sets.
B) aptitudes.
C) algorithms.
D) intuitions.

Question 27

Catherine is on a commercial plane to the capital when she notices three Arab passengers also on the plane.She begins to feel uneasy and nervous and fears that a terrorist attack could take place.Catherine has intuitively compared the passengers to those who committed the terrorist attacks on 9/11.This is an example of

A) overconfidence.
B) the representativeness heuristic.
C) belief perseverance.
D) the availability heuristic.

Question 28

Scientists are trained to carefully observe and record any research outcomes that are inconsistent with their hypotheses.This practice most directly serves to reduce

A) the representativeness heuristic.
B) divergent thinking.
C) confirmation bias.
D) algorithms.

Question 29

The inability to see a problem from a new perspective is called

A) divergent thinking.
B) a fixation.
C) a heuristic.
D) framing.

Question 30

A reliance on quick intuitive judgments is best illustrated by our use of

A) convergent thinking.
B) algorithms.
C) trial and error.
D) heuristics.

Question 31

________ may lead us to ignore other relevant information as we intuitively compare something to a particular prototype.

A) Overconfidence
B) The representativeness heuristic
C) Belief perseverance
D) The availability heuristic

Question 32

The inability to solve the matchstick problem may be associated with

A) algorithms.
B) fixation.
C) prototypes.
D) cognition.

Question 33

The confirmation bias refers to the tendency to

A) search for information that supports our preconceptions.
B) judge the likelihood of events on the basis of how easily we can remember examples of them.
C) overestimate the accuracy of our beliefs and judgments.
D) make judgments in a very inefficient,time-consuming fashion.

Question 34

Some people are unable to arrange six matches to form four equilateral triangles because they fail to consider a three-dimensional arrangement.This best illustrates the effects of ________ on problem solving.

A) fixation
B) heuristics
C) framing
D) overconfidence

Question 35

Insight refers to

A) a simple thinking strategy for solving problems quickly.
B) a sudden realization of the solution to a problem.
C) expanding the number of possible solutions to a problem.
D) solving problems by means of trial and error.

Question 36

During high school,Charlie found it easy to get away with cheating on his tests.College is a different story,so Charlie spends as many hours devising new ways to cheat as it would take him to study and perform well in an honest fashion.Charlie's shortsightedness best illustrates the consequences of

A) an algorithm.
B) a mental set.
C) confirmation bias.
D) the availability heuristic.

Question 37

The representativeness heuristic is defined as

A) the tendency to be more confident than correct.
B) the tendency to approach a problem in one particular way,often a way that has been successful in the past.
C) estimating the likelihood of events based on their availability in memory.
D) estimating the likelihood of events in terms of how well they seem to represent,or match,particular prototypes.

Question 38

Because she believes that boys are naughtier than girls,Mrs.Zumpano,a second-grade teacher,watches boys more closely than she watches girls for any signs of misbehavior.Mrs.Zumpano's surveillance strategy best illustrates

A) the availability heuristic.
B) confirmation bias.
C) the representativeness heuristic.
D) belief perseverance.

Question 39

A tendency to approach a problem only in the particular way that worked previously is most indicative of

A) the availability heuristic.
B) divergent thinking.
C) overconfidence.
D) a mental set.

Question 40

A mental set is most likely to inhibit

A) confirmation bias.
B) overconfidence.
C) creativity.
D) belief perseverance.

Question 41

Our tendency to judge the likelihood of an event on the basis of how readily we can remember instances of its occurrence is called

A) framing.
B) confirmation bias.
C) belief perseverance.
D) the availability heuristic.

Question 42

The indelible memories of the 9/11 terrorist tragedy unduly inflated many people's estimates of the risks associated with air travel.This best illustrates the importance of

A) fixation.
B) the availability heuristic.
C) confirmation bias.
D) framing.

Question 43

Stacey has to travel to another state for a business meeting but has decided to drive rather than fly.She told her friend that flying was not safe and that she would feel more comfortable driving there instead.What would be her friend's best response?

A) "You're right! People are more likely to be injured or die on a scheduled flight than any other method of transportation."
B) "I understand why you don't like to fly.I don't fly either."
C) "Statistically,it is actually safer to fly because Americans are more likely to die in car accidents than on a scheduled flight."
D) "It is not irrational to fear flying.Remember the 9/11 terrorist attacks?"

Question 44

Dean overestimates the proportion of family chores for which he takes sole responsibility because it's easier for him to recall what he has done than to recall what other family members have done.This best illustrates the impact of

A) overconfidence.
B) framing.
C) confirmation bias.
D) the availability heuristic.

Question 45

By encouraging people to imagine their homes being destroyed by winds from a hurricane,insurance salespeople are especially successful at selling expensive homeowners' policies.They are most clearly exploiting the influence of

A) belief perseverance.
B) an algorithm.
C) overconfidence.
D) the availability heuristic.

Question 46

Fear of not being able to control something is to ________ as our ancestral history is to _______.

A) fear of flying;fear of spiders
B) fear of snakes;fear of driving
C) fear of sharks;fear of lizards
D) fear of a heart attack;fear of smoking

Question 47

We fear too little those events that will claim lives

A) accidentally.
B) undramatically.
C) in the near future.
D) in a highly memorable way.

Question 48

Overconfidence refers to the tendency to

A) cling to our initial beliefs,even though they have been proven wrong.
B) search for information that supports our preconceptions.
C) underestimate the extent to which our beliefs and judgments are wrong.
D) judge the likelihood of an event based on its availability in memory.

Question 49

When Larina started college,she was certain that she would never use illegal drugs.By the end of her freshman year,however,Larina had used an illegal drug on three different occasions.Larina's experience best illustrates

A) the availability heuristic.
B) confirmation bias.
C) overconfidence.
D) the framing effect.

Question 50

Stockbrokers often believe that their own expertise will enable them to select stocks that will outperform the market average.This belief best illustrates

A) a fixation.
B) the framing effect.
C) the availability heuristic.
D) overconfidence.

Question 51

A single memorable case of welfare fraud can have a greater impact on people's estimates of welfare abuse than do statistics showing that this case is actually the exception to the rule.This illustrates that judgments are influenced by

A) confirmation bias.
B) overconfidence.
C) belief perseverance.
D) the availability heuristic.

Question 52

Lenore's kitchen remodeling project ended up costing nearly twice as much as she had anticipated.This best illustrates

A) confirmation bias.
B) the planning fallacy.
C) belief perseverance.
D) the framing effect.

Question 53

People with a superficial understanding of proposals for political change often express immoderately strong pro or con views.This best illustrates the impact of

A) overconfidence.
B) divergent thinking.
C) the framing effect.
D) an algorithm.

Question 54

Just passing by a person who sneezes and coughs heightens our perceptions of various health risks.This best illustrates the impact of

A) the availability heuristic.
B) belief perseverance.
C) confirmation bias.
D) framing.

Question 55

A televised image of a starving child had a greater impact on Mr.White's perception of the extensiveness of world hunger than did a statistical chart summarizing the tremendous scope of the problem.This suggests that his assessment of the world hunger problem is influenced by

A) belief perseverance.
B) an algorithm.
C) confirmation bias.
D) the availability heuristic.

Question 56

The average kitchen remodeling project ends up costing about twice as much as homeowners expect.This best illustrates

A) confirmation bias.
B) the planning fallacy.
C) belief perseverance.
D) the framing effect.

Question 57

We tend to NOT fear events that can be considered

A) accidents.
B) ongoing threats.
C) future events.
D) disasters.

Question 58

Which of the following best accounts for people's greater fear of commercial air flights than of driving an automobile?

A) perceived control
B) fixation
C) the framing effect
D) insight

Question 59

Underestimating the time and cost necessary to complete a project best demonstrates

A) divergent thinking.
B) the framing effect.
C) the availability heuristic.
D) the planning fallacy.

Question 60

People who err on the side of overconfidence are especially likely to

A) use algorithms to solve problems.
B) think creatively.
C) avoid confirmation bias.
D) live more happily.

Question 61

Research findings suggest that the best advice to give people who want to avoid belief perseverance is

A) "Try to justify your positions."
B) "Consider the opposite."
C) "Don't draw hasty conclusions."
D) "Be as objective as possible."

Question 62

William is convinced that there is no relationship between exposure to violent media and aggressive behavior.When presented with evidence to the contrary,he quickly critiques it and disputes it,claiming that it is unreliable and flawed.This is an example of

A) the availability heuristic.
B) the framing effect.
C) motivated reasoning.
D) creative thinking.

Question 63

Consumers respond more positively to ground beef advertised as "75 percent lean" than to ground beef described as "25 percent fat." This illustrates that consumer reactions are influenced by

A) belief perseverance.
B) confirmation bias.
C) the availability heuristic.
D) framing.

Question 64

While shopping for a new winter coat you find a $100 coat marked down from $150.This seems like a better deal than a similar coat priced regularly at $100.This best illustrates the importance of

A) belief perseverance.
B) confirmation bias.
C) framing.
D) the availability heuristic.

Question 65

A framing of choices by which governments and companies can,without coercion or altered incentives,encourage people to make choices that support their health,retirement savings,and well-being is called

A) belief perseverance.
B) a nudge.
C) overconfidence.
D) intuition.

Question 66

An unwillingness to give up our beliefs even when the evidence proves us wrong is called

A) the availability heuristic.
B) trial and error.
C) belief perseverance.
D) confirmation bias.

Question 67

People are very likely to decide to be organ donors when the default option on their renewable drivers' license forms is Yes,but they can choose to drop out.They are much less likely to decide to be organ donors if the default option on their license forms is No,but they can choose to opt in.This best illustrates the effects of

A) framing.
B) overconfidence.
C) confirmation bias.
D) the availability heuristic.

Question 68

Master chess players can make correct game moves at such speed that their acquired expertise feels like

A) an algorithm.
B) a prototype.
C) extrinsic motivation.
D) intuition.

Question 69

Implicit knowledge of what we've learned but can't fully explain is most clearly reflected in our

A) intrinsic motivation.
B) algorithms.
C) intuitions.
D) prototypes.

Question 70

People with opposing views of capital punishment reviewed mixed evidence regarding its effectiveness as a crime deterrent.As a result,their opposing views differed more strongly than ever.This best illustrates

A) the framing effect.
B) the planning fallacy.
C) belief perseverance.
D) the availability heuristic.

Question 71

When Quang couldn't find his wallet,he began to wonder about his roommate's honesty.Although Quang later recalled that he had left his wallet in the glove compartment of his car,he continued to doubt his roommate's honesty.Quang's irrational thinking best illustrates

A) confirmation bias.
B) an algorithm.
C) belief perseverance.
D) framing.

Question 72

The value of making a good first impression when you begin work for a new employer is best underscored by the research on

A) overconfidence.
B) the framing effect.
C) belief perseverance.
D) the availability heuristic.

Question 73

The risks of smoking are more alarming when presented in terms of the number of smokers with lung cancer than the percentage of smokers with lung cancer.This illustrates the importance of

A) fixation.
B) belief perseverance.
C) overconfidence.
D) framing.

Question 74

One of Kaylee's new college professors has a slightly high-pitched voice very similar to one of her high school teachers whom Kaylee disliked.Without consciously realizing the voice similarity,Kaylee's gut-level reaction to the voice led her to form an unduly negative first impression of her new professor.This best illustrates the impact of

A) intuition.
B) confirmation bias.
C) overconfidence.
D) belief perseverance.

Question 75

Jennifer was asked,"Do you want to help save the lives of innocent children?" before being asked if she would sign a petition in support of gun control legislature.Jennifer decided to sign the petition.This demonstrates

A) the power of belief perseverance.
B) the powerful influence of the representativeness heuristic.
C) how intuition can be used to help form attitudes and decisions.
D) how framing an issue can nudge our attitudes and decisions.

Question 76

On Monday,the meteorologist forecast a 20 percent chance of rain,so Sheryl took her umbrella to work.On Friday,he reported an 80 percent chance that it would not rain,so Sheryl left her umbrella at home.Sheryl's behavior illustrates the effect of

A) confirmation bias.
B) overconfidence.
C) the availability heuristic.
D) framing.

Question 77

Using beliefs to assess evidence,rather than using evidence to draw conclusions,is referred to as

A) the framing effect.
B) motivated reasoning.
C) belief perseverance.
D) the availability heuristic.

Question 78

People are less upset when they miss getting an early payment discount than when they are asked to bear a late payment surcharge.This best illustrates the importance of

A) belief perseverance.
B) confirmation bias.
C) framing.
D) the availability heuristic.

Question 79

Although intuition can at times hinder rationality,it is often adaptive because it facilitates

A) framing.
B) quick decisions.
C) belief perseverance.
D) a mental set.

Question 80

Wording a question or presenting an issue in such a way that it evokes a desired judgment is called

A) framing.
B) confirmation bias.
C) belief perseverance.
D) an algorithm.