Deck 7: Cognition, Language, and Intelligence

Question 1

According to Stephen Kosslyn, images are constructed

A) all at once.
B) one part at a time.
C) in the same way we see reality.
D) differently for the different senses.

Answer 1

one part at a time.

Question 2

People classify events and objects into concepts according to their

A) physical dimensions.
B) common attributes.
C) phonetic similarity.
D) arbitrary differences.

Answer 2

common attributes.

Question 3

Shepard and Metzler tested subjects by showing them a series of pictured geometric shapes. Then they showed them a set of pictures containing the same shapes, rotated into different positions, and shapes they had never seen before. The researchers found that

A) the more the objects had to be rotated in imagery, the longer it took the subjects to decide if the picture matched the original shape.
B) the more objects needed to be manipulated, the more the subjects could not do the experiment, revealing that images have a limited range of motion.
C) the longer it took to rotate the object in imagery, the quicker the subjects correctly dismissed shapes they had not seen before.
D) none of the subjects were able to correctly identify objects whose picture showed them in a position of rotation more than 145 degrees from their original orientation.

Answer 3

the more the objects had to be rotated in imagery, the longer it took the subjects to decide if the picture matched the original shape.

Question 4

Which of the following is not a prototype of the furniture concept?

A) chair
B) sofa
C) hammock
D) recliner

Question 5

Which of the following approaches suggests that we form concepts in an active and orderly way, as opposed to a random or haphazard format?

A) the positive and negative instance approach
B) the prototype approach
C) the systematic or formal approach
D) the exemplar approach

Question 6

Studies with split-brain patients and normal people suggest that two types of processes are used in the formation of visual images. First,

A) we retrieve stored memories.
B) we create the image.
C) we arrange or assemble parts of the image.
D) we access emotional memories of the image.

Question 7

Mental categories that people use to classify events and objects with respect to common properties are called

A) syllogisms.
B) logogens.
C) concepts.
D) propositions.

Question 8

A label which represents a class or group of objects, people, or events that share common characteristics or attributes is called

A) a positive instance.
B) a prototype.
C) an image.
D) a concept.

Question 9

Which of the following is least useful as a prototype of the category "bird"?

A) robin
B) penguin
C) blue jay
D) cardinal

Question 10

Three-year-old Carrie points to a truck and proudly announces that it is a car. Her mother corrects her by saying, "No, Carrie, that is a truck." This is an example of

A) reinforcement learning in action.
B) a simple mistake by a child, with little connection to language development.
C) negative instances of the concept car.
D) an inappropriate correction of language.

Question 11

The formation of concepts involves the development of the best or clearest examples of such categories, called

A) heuristics.
B) anomalies.
C) prototypes.
D) syllogisms.

Question 12

When we think generally about a group of related items-for example, realizing that Mustang, Focus, Civic, Prius, and Jaguar are all cars-we are using

A) heuristics.
B) algorithms.
C) propositions.
D) concepts.

Question 13

Which of the following approaches suggests that we form concepts by selecting an example that embodies the most common characteristics and most typical features of the concept?

A) the prototype approach
B) the positive and negative instance approach
C) the exemplar approach
D) the systematic or formal approach

Question 14

Which of the following statements is true about imagery?

A) Visual images are created all at once, rather than a piece at a time.
B) Subjects were able to answer questions faster when imaging small objects than imaging large objects.
C) Our imaging system seems to work in much the same way as our perceptual system.
D) Our images are generally as vivid as the real thing.

Question 15

The best and most familiar examples of concepts are called

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

Question 16

Which among the following would best serve as a prototype of a vehicle?

A) truck
B) unicycle
C) Segway
D) skateboard

Question 17

A prototype is the most ________ example of a concept.

A) common
B) recent
C) unusual
D) abstract

Question 18

Mental frameworks for categorizing diverse items as belonging together are called

A) analogies.
B) concepts.
C) heuristics.
D) syllogisms.

Question 19

Which of the following is not a concept?

A) your year of birth
B) a vegetable
C) things that fly
D) a household pet

Question 20

The mental processes involved in acquiring, storing, retrieving, and using information describe

A) cognition.
B) mental imagery.
C) decision making.
D) concept formation.

Question 21

Danielle cannot remember the name of the Mexican restaurant where she is supposed to meet Willard. Which of the following is a heuristic problem-solving strategy for locating the right restaurant?

A) About the time they were supposed to meet, she should get in a car and drive around the city hoping to catch sight of Willard's car.
B) She should assume Willard will choose a restaurant nearest his home, and call these Mexican restaurants first to check on whether he made a reservation.
C) She should ask a Ouija board for the name of the restaurant.
D) She should call all Mexican restaurants in alphabetical order until she locates the one with Willard's reservation.

Question 22

Which of the following approaches suggests that concepts are represented by individual instances that we have stored in memory from our own experience?

A) the prototype approach
B) the systematic or formal approach
C) the positive and negative instance approach
D) the exemplar approach

Question 23

________ is the notion that focusing on a single factor magnifies the importance of that factor relative to others that are relevant to a decision.

A) Focusing
B) Framing
C) Anchoring
D) Distracting

Question 24

Robert cannot remember the last two digits of his email password. He decides to try every possible combination, one at a time, until the correct digits are found. Which problem solving-strategy is Robert using?

A) algorithms
B) means-ends analysis
C) heuristics
D) trial-and-error

Question 25

Rules of thumb based on past experiences that are used to solve problems are referred to as

A) trial-and-error methods.
B) positive test strategies.
C) algorithms.
D) heuristics.

Question 26

Efficiency is to certainty of success as

A) trial-and-error is to prototype.
B) prototype is to trial-and-error.
C) algorithm is to heuristic.
D) heuristic is to algorithm.

Question 27

Carol is trying to decide which college to attend next semester. She first eliminates those that are too far from home for her to be able to visit her family and friends on the weekend. The decision-making strategy demonstrated here is

A) heuristic systematic decision-making process.
B) elimination by aspects
C) the representativeness heuristic
D) the recognition heuristic

Question 28

Which problem-solving method offers a promising way to attack a problem and arrive at a solution, although it does not guarantee success?

A) algorithms
B) trial and error
C) mental set
D) heuristics

Question 29

The major disadvantage of using heuristics to solve problems is that

A) no solution is guaranteed.
B) they involve so much effort.
C) they are time consuming and inefficient.
D) several solutions may be found.

Question 30

Rules or formulas for particular problems that will eventually yield a solution are called

A) positive test strategy.
B) algorithms.
C) heuristics.
D) prototypes.

Question 31

During a discussion of environmental psychology, Jeff is asked to think about a house. If Jeff imagines his own home, he is using which of the following approaches to concept formation?

A) the positive and negative instance approach
B) the systematic approach
C) the formal approach
D) the exemplar approach

Question 32

Psychologists define ________ as the process of considering alternatives and choosing among them.

A) hermeneutics
B) systemic cognition
C) problem solving
D) decision making

Question 33

May Yin is systematically ordering factors involved in a decision from most to least important. She is most likely involved in

A) heuristics.
B) systemic decision making.
C) anchoring.
D) elimination by aspects.

Question 34

________ refers to the way in which information is presented to people involved in decision making. Information can be presented in such a way that it changes the focus of the decision-making process.

A) Framing
B) Prejudicing
C) Anchoring
D) Systematic presentation

Question 35

Which of the following are examples of a heuristic?

A) using a formula, such as in math problems
B) trying one solution after another
C) exploring every possible solution
D) working backward and means-end analysis

Question 36

Which of the following, if properly applied, is guaranteed to result in a solution to a problem?

A) applying prior knowledge
B) a heuristic
C) trial and error
D) an algorithm

Question 37

Which of the following is not a problem-solving technique?

A) trial-and-error
B) algorithms
C) escalation of commitment
D) heuristics

Question 38

Suppose you cannot find your psychology text. You generate a list of places you may have left it and then search them. Your problem-solving strategy is

A) a positive test strategy.
B) a heuristic.
C) an algorithm.
D) trial-and-error.

Question 39

In which of the following approaches to problem-solving do you try various different responses until one will work?

A) trial-and-error
B) heuristic
C) analogy
D) algorithm

Question 40

Some psychologists suggest that humans use ________ decision-making processes which involves examining all possible alternatives and then choosing the one that is most beneficial.

A) heuristic
B) systemic
C) representational
D) elimination by aspects

Question 41

A strategy for solving a problem by determining the steps needed to accomplish the goal, and then trying to solve each part in turn, is called

A) algorithms.
B) trial-and-error.
C) linear reasoning.
D) means-ends analysis.

Question 42

Once we've solved a problem a particular way, we tend to stick to this strategy even when more efficient approaches exist. This is known as

A) means-end analysis.
B) functional fixedness.
C) mental set.
D) metacognition.

Question 43

Gilbert has just raked up all the fallen leaves into a pile and now puzzles about how to move them into the far corner of the yard. It does not occur to him to pile them all into a canvas tarpaulin and drag them into the corner because he thinks of the tarpaulin as a cover for something, not a carrier. Gilbert is a victim of

A) functional fixedness.
B) prototypical thinking.
C) a mental set.
D) the base rate fallacy.

Question 44

John needs a paperweight to keep open a book from which he is making notes. He does not own a paperweight. There is small red building-brick keeping his door open that would be perfect as a weight, but when John looks at it, he doesn't think of it as a paperweight. In this case, John has fallen prey to

A) item compensation.
B) a very bad heuristic.
C) algorithmic failure.
D) functional fixedness.

Question 45

A person who has never used a paper clip for anything other than clipping papers might be accused of

A) cognitive rigidity.
B) functional fixedness.
C) object permanence.
D) conventional cognition.

Question 46

Which of the following is likely to reduce our ability to solve new problems?

A) analogies
B) algorithms
C) mental set
D) means-end analysis

Question 47

The inability to see that an object can have a use other than its usual or stated use is called

A) cognitive dissonance.
B) psychological set.
C) functional fixedness.
D) perceptual rigidity.

Question 48

The process of developing original, novel, and appropriate responses to a problem is called

A) creativity.
B) brainstorming.
C) directed thinking.
D) convergent thinking.

Question 49

Completing a term paper by first picking a specific topic, then searching for information, followed by reading and understanding the information, and finally writing the paper is an example of which of the following problem-solving techniques?

A) prototypes
B) exemplars
C) algorithms
D) means-ends analysis

Question 50

If we have accidentally stumbled on a solution to a problem in the past, even if it is not particularly elegant, we may be prone to

A) solution prejudice.
B) confirmational bias.
C) functional bias.
D) mental set.

Question 51

The use of a strategy that has worked in the past to solve a problem, but is actually inefficient or inappropriate for current use, is called

A) cognitive inflexibility.
B) mental set.
C) being in numeracy.
D) functional fixedness.

Question 52

The fact that we fail to see a new or novel function of an object we have used previously is called

A) positive test strategy.
B) conformational bias.
C) means-ends fixity.
D) functional fixedness.

Question 53

Which of the following is likely to reduce our ability to solve new problems?

A) analogies
B) functional fixedness
C) means-ends analysis
D) algorithms

Question 54

When you are solving a problem, if you divide the problem into sub-problems and solve these one at a time, approaching the goal step by step, you are employing

A) an analogy.
B) a mental set.
C) a means-end analysis.
D) an algorithm.

Question 55

When Dobrila uses a dime as a screwdriver she is overcoming

A) belief perseverance.
B) functional fixedness.
C) positive test strategy.
D) conformational bias.

Question 56

The type of thinking that explores new options and unconventional solutions is called

A) convergent thinking.
B) divergent thinking.
C) academic thinking.
D) metacognitive thinking.

Question 57

The fact that Bernice takes the same crowded road to work every day merely because she has always taken that road (and even though a less clogged route is available) is due to her

A) mental set.
B) confirmational bias.
C) functional fixedness.
D) metacognition.

Question 58

The Remote Associates Test is used to measure

A) creativity.
B) problem-solving ability.
C) imaging ability.
D) concept formation.

Question 59

Claudia uses a garbage bag with holes for her head and arms to keep from getting wet. She is displaying the ability of overcoming

A) functional fixedness.
B) perceptual rigidity.
C) mental set.
D) cognitive dissonance.

Question 60

Once we have hit upon a solution that works for several problems, we often fail to perceive more direct solutions to similar problems. This phenomenon refers to

A) mental set.
B) metacognition.
C) functional fixedness.
D) confirmational bias.

Question 61

The meaning derived from words, sentences, and other units of language is known as

A) syntax.
B) phonology.
C) semantics.
D) morphology.

Question 62

________ refers to the literal words that are written or spoken or signed.

A) Syntax
B) Semantics
C) Surface structure
D) Deep structure

Question 63

The smallest units of meaning in language are known as

A) syntax.
B) semantics.
C) phonemes.
D) morphemes.

Question 64

A few single-letter words can be both

A) morphemes and syntax.
B) semantics and syntax.
C) phonemes and morphemes.
D) phonemes and syntax.

Question 65

The act of using a word, on the basis of some shared feature, to apply to a broader range of objects is called

A) overextension.
B) overregularization.
C) telegraphic speech.
D) underextension.

Question 66

"Bababa" is an example of

A) cooing.
B) babbling.
C) overregularization.
D) a holophrase.

Question 67

The smallest units of sound in a spoken language are known as

A) syntax.
B) semantics.
C) morphemes.
D) phonemes.

Question 68

The aspect of grammar that specifies the rules for arranging and combining words is known as

A) morphology.
B) phonology.
C) semantics.
D) syntax.

Question 69

"She goed to school" is an example of

A) overregularization.
B) overextension.
C) holophrasing.
D) underextension.

Question 70

Calling a lion a "kitty" is an example of a young child's

A) syntax.
B) overregularization.
C) overextension.
D) underextension.

Question 71

A phrase such as "Daddy juice" instead of "Daddy, give me juice" is called

A) overextension.
B) underextension.
C) telegraphic speech.
D) a holophrase.

Question 72

Babbling first appears at about

A) one month of age.
B) six months of age.
C) one year of age.
D) 18 months of age.

Question 73

Little Nelida doesn't use the word apple for Golden Delicious apples because "apples are always red." This is an example of

A) underextension.
B) linguistic relativity.
C) overextension.
D) assimilation.

Question 74

The study of how language is acquired, produced, and used, as well as how the sounds and symbols of language are translated into meaning, is known as

A) psycholinguistics.
B) morphology.
C) phonetics.
D) semantics.

Question 75

Which of the following is not typical of a 20-month-old's telegraphic speech?

A) "daddy cookie"
B) "eat cookie"
C) "daddy eat"
D) "cookie eat"

Question 76

Which of the following terms describes the characteristics of spoken language that help you decipher the social meaning of utterances?

A) syntax
B) surface
C) psycholinguistics
D) pragmatics

Question 77

Babbling gradually transitions into the use of only the phonemes present in the child's native language, beginning at the age of

A) 3 months.
B) 6 months.
C) 8 months.
D) 1 year.

Question 78

"He eated the cookies" is an example of

A) overregularization.
B) overextension.
C) holophrasing.
D) underextension.

Question 79

In the word "relocated," what is the first morpheme?

A) the letter 'r'
B) the prefix 're'
C) the word 'locate'
D) the whole word is a single morpheme

Question 80

Little Gavin looks at his mother and says "Up!" This is an example of which language concept?

A) overextension.
B) holophrase.
C) telegraphic speech.
D) underextension.