Question 1

Evolutionary psychologists suggest that when people have to make quick decisions they tend to

Accepted Answer

A)  gather information, calculate probabilities, and make statistically optimal decisions. 
B)  use relatively simple heuristics. 
C)  use relatively complicated heuristics. 
D)  make irrational decisions.

Question 2

In the Featured Study on intuitive decisions versus careful deliberation,the researchers found that when people are faced with complex choices,they tend to make better decisions

Accepted Answer

A)  if they make intuitive decisions. 
B)  if they use careful deliberation. 
C)  when they focus only on the attributes that have high subjective utility. 
D)  when they delay the decision as long as possible.

Question 3

Analogy problems such as "Mickey Mouse is to Minnie Mouse as Donald Duck is to ____" are problems of

Accepted Answer

A)  inducing structure. 
B)  transformation. 
C)  mental set. 
D)  arrangement.

Question 4

The most successfully trained apes have language abilities similar to a three year old human child..

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

You are having a conversation with your psychology professor and he proposes that neural circuits supporting language emerge gradually in response to language learning experiences.Which type of theorist would likely agree with his assertions?

Accepted Answer

A)  a behaviorist 
B)  a navtivist 
C)  an emergentist theorist 
D)  an evolutionary theorist

Question 6

Kareem is working on a practical problem with his 16-year-old son,Josh,and his 8-year-old daughter,Lisa.They don't have the right tools for the job,and they need to come up with a creative solution that uses the items they have available.Based on research findings into the prevalence of functional fixedness,you should predict that

Accepted Answer

A)  Lisa is most likely to come up with a solution because, in general, young children are less vulnerable to functional fixedness. 
B)  Josh is most likely to come up with a solution because, in general, older children and adolescents are less vulnerable to functional fixedness. 
C)  Kareem is most likely to come up with a solution because, in general, adults are less vulnerable to functional fixedness. 
D)  either Kareem or Josh is most likely to come up with a solution because, in general, men are less vulnerable to functional fixedness.

Question 7

The theories of language acquisition that emphasize both the importance of children's learning experiences and their information-processing skills are

Accepted Answer

A)  social communication theories. 
B)  emergentist theories. 
C)  behaviorist theories. 
D)  nativist theories.

Question 8

Robert knows how to say "red," but when his cousin asks him to name the colors of the cars that drive past their house,he says red for the red cars,the blue cars,the green cars,and the black cars.Robert's use of this word illustrates

Accepted Answer

A)  fast mapping. 
B)  telegraphic speech. 
C)  babbling. 
D)  overextension.

Question 9

Malcolm has been watching a roulette-type game at a local charity bazaar.The game has only ten numbers on the wheel,and every number except 8 has come up as a winner during the last 15 minutes.Malcolm decides to bet $10 on number 8,because it has to come up eventually.In this case,Malcolm is showing evidence of

Accepted Answer

A)  the availability heuristic. 
B)  the gambler's fallacy. 
C)  the base rate fallacy. 
D)  the conjunction fallacy.

Question 10

When solving problems containing numerical information,

Accepted Answer

A)  it is safe to assume that all of the information will be needed to solve the problem. 
B)  it is a good idea to start by trying to figure out how to use the numerical information. 
C)  you should start by figuring out which information is relevant to the problem. 
D)  insight will typically produce the fastest, most accurate solution to the problem.

Question 11

Syntax refers to rules for

Accepted Answer

A)  arranging words into phrases and sentences. 
B)  combining phonemes to form morphemes. 
C)  using words symbolically. 
D)  combining morphemes into words.

Question 12

In the Featured Study on intuitive decisions versus careful deliberation,the researchers found that when decision complexity was low,conscious deliberation was associated with

Accepted Answer

A)  less satisfaction. 
B)  greater satisfaction. 
C)  greater risk taking. 
D)  more post-decision regret.

Question 13

When working on complex problems,a useful strategy to use is to

Accepted Answer

A)  formulate subgoals, or intermediate steps toward a solution. 
B)  recognize the similarity between two problems. 
C)  recognize when the problem does not have a well-specified goal. 
D)  use a heuristic.

Question 14

Basing the estimated probability of an event on the ease with which instances come to mind is called the

Accepted Answer

A)  law of small numbers. 
B)  representativeness heuristic. 
C)  conjunction fallacy. 
D)  availability heuristic.

Question 15

When the word "jar" is changed to the word "jars," the number of

Accepted Answer

A)  phonemes increases, but the number of morphemes stays the same. 
B)  phonemes stays the same, but the number of morphemes is increased. 
C)  phonemes and morphemes are both increased. 
D)  phonemes decreases, but the number of morphemes increases.

Question 16

The trial and error approach to problem solving is most effective when

Accepted Answer

A)  there is a relatively large number of possible solutions. 
B)  there is a relatively small number of possible solutions. 
C)  there are no time constraints on solving the problem. 
D)  a solution to the problem must be found quickly.

Question 17

When people are attempting to cut their losses,they are ____________________ to make risky decisions than when they are seeking gains.

Accepted Answer

The answer of When people are attempting to cut their...

Question 18

Cognition refers to

Accepted Answer

A)  focusing awareness on a narrow range of stimuli or events. 
B)  the use of language in a social context. 
C)  widely shared beliefs that are transmitted socially across generations. 
D)  the mental processes involved in acquiring and using knowledge.

Question 19

Darla was struggling to solve a difficult problem so she took a break to have lunch.As she was having lunch the solution to the problem suddenly occurred to her when she wasn not even consciously thinking about it.Darla experienced the ___________ effect.

Accepted Answer

A)  transitional 
B)  reevaluation 
C)  incubation 
D)  sublimation

Question 20

Based on past experience,Sue decides not to take her two five-year-old grandsons to the movies at the same time.Sue is using which decision-making strategy?

Accepted Answer

A)  availability heuristic 
B)  representativeness heuristic 
C)  conjunction heuristic 
D)  gambler's heuristic

Exam 8: Language and Thought