Deck 13: Physical and Cognitive Development in Middle Adulthood

Question 1

What is the consistent finding regarding age identity of 60- to 75-year-olds?

A) Half of them viewed themselves as being older than their chronological age.
B) Almost all of them felt that they were younger than their chronological age.
C) More than half of them considered that their mental age was higher than their chronological age.
D) Half of them viewed themselves as being middle-aged.

Answer 1

Half of them viewed themselves as being middle-aged.

Question 2

Hector's doctor said his blood pressure and cholesterol were too high to go untreated. He has to make some big lifestyle changes and start on daily medications. Developmental experts would use these circumstances to place him specifically in:

A) late adulthood.
B) early midlife.
C) late midlife.
D) older adulthood.

Answer 2

late midlife.

Question 3

Today the average life expectancy in the United States is:

A) 68 years.
B) 72 years.
C) 79 years.
D) 85 years.

Answer 3

79 years.

Question 4

Which of the following statements about late midlife is FALSE?

A) People in late midlife are either preparing for retirement or actually retiring.
B) People in late midlife are more likely to experience the death of a parent than people in early midlife.
C) People in late midlife are less likely to experience their last child leaving home than people in early midlife.
D) People in late midlife are more likely to experience becoming a grandparent than those in early midlife.

Question 5

Many experts on middle adulthood describe the age period of 55 to 65 as:

A) late adulthood.
B) early midlife.
C) late midlife.
D) early adulthood.

Question 6

Two years ago Ariana's father died, and now her mother's health is failing quickly. Developmental experts would use these circumstances to place her specifically in:

A) late adulthood.
B) early midlife.
C) late midlife.
D) older adulthood.

Question 7

The age structure of the population used to be represented by a pyramid and is now represented by a triangle. The change represents:

A) a decline in the number of children.
B) a decline in the number of older adults.
C) an increasing number of older adults as compared to children.
D) the shift from a pyramid to an eventual circle.

Question 8

Lydia, a first-time grandmother, works in the office at a health clinic. Research would say her age identity is:

A) older than her chronological age.
B) younger than her chronological age.
C) the same as her chronological age.
D) confused by conflicting environmental signals.

Question 9

One study found that _____ of the individuals 65 to 69 years of age considered themselves middle-aged.

A) almost all
B) almost half
C) one-third
D) one-fourth

Question 10

Claudia, age 40, is in great physical and mental shape. She works out at the gym every day and enjoys a competitive game of tennis. While she is established in her career, she feels there is so much more she wants to accomplish. When wondering if she is in young adulthood or middle age, Claudia is considering her:

A) mental age.
B) age identity.
C) chronological age.
D) age stereotype.

Question 11

Questions such as, "To which age group do you belong?" and "How old do you feel?" reflect the concept of:

A) mental age.
B) age identity.
C) chronological age.
D) age stereotype.

Question 12

What percentage of the U.S. population is older than 65 years?

A) 2%
B) 12%
C) 22%
D) 23%

Question 13

Sandra has been actively planning for her retirement and today, finally, is her last day on the job! Developmental experts would use these circumstances to place her specifically in:

A) late adulthood.
B) early midlife.
C) late midlife.
D) older adulthood.

Question 14

Max cannot believe his youngest child, Mallory, is leaving home to go to college. Developmental experts would use these circumstances to place him specifically in:

A) late adulthood.
B) early midlife.
C) late midlife.
D) older adulthood.

Question 15

Which of the following is a consistent finding regarding age identity?

A) As adults become older their age identity is younger than their chronological age.
B) Most adults feel that their age identity is five years more than their chronological age.
C) The age identity of adults is directly proportional to their chronological age.
D) Most adults feel that their age identity is much older than their chronological age.

Question 16

Gary is a 68-year-old retired factory worker who loves to work in his garden. Research would say his age identity is:

A) older than his chronological age.
B) younger than his chronological age.
C) the same as his chronological age.
D) confused by conflicting environmental signals.

Question 17

Drew, age 72, is in great physical and mental shape. He is an active runner who prefers half-marathons and runs a small business out of his home. When he is wondering if he has crossed the bridge from middle age to late adulthood, he is pondering his:

A) mental age.
B) age identity.
C) chronological age.
D) age stereotype.

Question 18

Which of the following BEST explains why middle adulthood comes later and lasts longer now than in the early 1900s?

A) People today have fewer children than people in the early 1900s.
B) People today have a higher income than people in the early 1900s.
C) People today have less anxiety in their lives than people in the early 1900s.
D) People today have healthier lifestyles than people in the early 1900s.

Question 19

_____ is the developmental period that has been traditionally defined as beginning at approximately 40 to 45 years of age and extending to about 60 to 65 years of age.

A) Late adulthood
B) Middle adulthood
C) Early adulthood
D) Emerging adulthood

Question 20

What was the average life expectancy in 1900 and what percentage of the population lived past 65 years of age?

A) 26 years; 10%
B) 47 years; 3%
C) 61 years; 18%
D) 68 years; 25%

Question 21

Kaleb was looking over his medical records on his insurance company website. He noticed that at 50 years old he is half aninch shorter than he was at 30 years old. After doing some research, he realized that this change is:

A) much less than average.
B) average.
C) slightly more than average.
D) dramatically more than average.

Question 22

Sarcopenia is especially marked in:

A) the upper arms.
B) the back and legs.
C) the jaw and face.
D) the chest and abdomen.

Question 23

Which of the following is the reason for the decrease in height with the advancement in age?

A) Brittleness of bones of the limbs
B) Increase in weight
C) A stooping posture
D) Bone loss in the vertebrae

Question 24

Maya is with her mother at the local health clinic. When the technician says she is five feet five inches tall, her mother replies, "When I got married at 25 years old I was five feet seven inches tall." After doing some research, Maya found that the change in her mother's height is:

A) much less than average.
B) average.
C) slightly more than average.
D) dramatically more than average.

Question 25

Tucker has been a lobsterman for most of his adult life. Now 50 years old, he can tell he is losing strength in his back and legs. His _____ is starting to interrupt his work.

A) sarcoma
B) osteopenia
C) osteoporosis
D) sarcopenia

Question 26

In a 2011-2012 U.S. survey, approximately what percentage of adults 40 to 59 years of age were obese?

A) 15%
B) 40%
C) 65%
D) 90%

Question 27

Brady has been farming for most of his adult life. Now 50 years old, he knows he has to get started figuring out how to get the physical labor done before his _____ has advanced enough that he cannot do his job.

A) sarcoma
B) osteopenia
C) osteoporosis
D) sarcopenia

Question 28

The term _____ is given to age-related loss of muscle mass and strength.

A) sarcoma
B) osteopenia
C) osteoporosis
D) sarcopenia

Question 29

In terms of visible signs of aging, a study of twins found that sagging facial skin and wrinkles were linked to:

A) smoking.
B) alcohol.
C) exercise.
D) nutrition.

Question 30

The average adult in middle adulthood _____ height and _____ weight.

A) loses; loses
B) loses; gains
C) gains; gains
D) gains; loses

Question 31

Jimmy, a fireman in his forties, is starting to notice _____, a typical thing at his age.

A) increased strength in his upper arms
B) sensitivity to high-pitched sounds
C) joint stiffness
D) decreased bladder control

Question 32

Which of the following statements about bone density is TRUE?

A) Maximum bone density occurs by the mid- to late twenties.
B) Maximum bone density occurs by the mid- to late thirties.
C) Peak functioning of the body's joints occurs in the fifties.
D) The rate of bone density loss begins fast and then decelerates.

Question 33

Tessa has enjoyed skiing all of her life. Now that she is in her fifties she doesn't take the risks that she used to. She is more cautious now than ever because she knows:

A) peak functioning of the body's joints usually occurs in the thirties.
B) by the end of midlife, bones break more easily and heal more slowly.
C) maximum bone density occurs by the mid- to late twenties.
D) the rate of bone density loss decelerates in the fifties.

Question 34

Joanna has all the signs of middle age, including:

A) an increase in height.
B) weight loss.
C) thinner hair.
D) memory loss.

Question 35

On average, body fat accounts for about _____ of body weight in middle age.

A) 5%
B) 10%
C) 20%
D) 15%

Question 36

A man in his mid-forties is MOST likely to notice:

A) increased strength in his upper arms.
B) sensitivity to high-pitched sounds.
C) joint stiffness.
D) decreased bladder control.

Question 37

Which of the following is a sign of aging for the average adult in middle adulthood?

A) Increase in height
B) Decrease in weight
C) Brittle fingernails
D) Loss of memory

Question 38

Compared to middle age, late middle age is a time when:

A) health problems start to decline.
B) losses may begin to outnumber gains.
C) life changes decrease: the path is relatively fixed.
D) losses and gains even out.

Question 39

Darius has all the signs of middle age, including:

A) an increase in height.
B) weight loss.
C) wrinkling skin.
D) memory loss.

Question 40

A recent study linked "sarcopenic obesity" with a _____ increased risk for all causes of mortality, especially for _____.

A) 24%; men
B) 24%; women
C) 67%; men
D) 67%; women

Question 41

During middle age, the ability to hear _____ sounds declines first.

A) low-pitched
B) high-volume
C) high-pitched
D) high-amplitude

Question 42

Accommodation of the eye experiences its sharpest decline between:

A) 20 to 29 years of age.
B) 60 to 79 years of age.
C) 40 and 59 years of age.
D) 30 to 35 years of age.

Question 43

The ability to focus and maintain an image on the retina is referred to as _____ of the eye.

A) muscle integrity
B) focal power
C) visual acuity
D) accommodation

Question 44

High blood pressure during middle-age has been linked to _____ in late adulthood.

A) intraocular changes
B) tinnitus
C) cognitive impairment
D) sarcopenia

Question 45

Alberto, 52 years old, is worried about heart disease. It seems to be common in his family. He knows that all of the following except _____ have been found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

A) a diet high in protein
B) a diet high in fruits and vegetables
C) weight control
D) routine challenging exercise

Question 46

Sensitivity to _____ sounds usually declines first among _____.

A) high-pitched; women
B) high-pitched; men
C) low-pitched; women
D) low-pitched; men

Question 47

Randall's doctor said he would like to start measuring his lung capacity. Now that Randall is 55 years old, it is likely that:

A) his lung capacity has been declining through middle adulthood.
B) the proteins in his lungs are becoming more elastic.
C) the connective tissues in his chest wall are getting flexible.
D) his lungs will become less efficient at getting oxygen to his brain.

Question 48

Lawrence and Nina have always enjoyed live symphony performances. Now that they are nearing 60 years old, Lawrence doesn't enjoy it as much as Nina. It is likely that Lawrence:

A) cannot hear the high-pitched sounds as well as Nina can.
B) cannot hear the low-pitched sounds as well as Nina can.
C) is suffering from memory loss.
D) is wearing a hearing aid.

Question 49

Candace and Donovan have always enjoyed hiking and mountain climbing. Even though she and Donovan are both 57 years old, she is more cautious about activities with a high risk of falling. Candace knows:

A) the rate of bone density loss begins fast and then decelerates.
B) by the end of early adulthood, bones break more easily and heal more slowly.
C) peak functioning of the body's joints occurs in the sixties.
D) women lose bone mass twice as fast as men do.

Question 50

Which of the following is MOST typical of the vision-related issues faced by middle-aged persons?

A) Difficulty viewing moving objects
B) Difficulty viewing objects in the background
C) Difficulty viewing close objects
D) Difficulty viewing complicated patterns

Question 51

Which of the following statements about bone and joint functioning is TRUE?

A) Peak functioning of the body's joints usually occurs in the thirties.
B) By the end of midlife, bones break more easily and heal more slowly.
C) Maximum bone density occurs by the mid- to late twenties.
D) The rate of bone density loss decelerates in the fifties.

Question 52

Jazmine, 45 years old, has trouble reading small print. She has lost count of how many pairs of reading glasses she has purchased at the drug store! Her experience is:

A) a signal of high blood pressure.
B) a signal of cataracts.
C) a signal of glaucoma.
D) typical for someone her age.

Question 53

Which of the following has NOT been identified as a way to reduce levels of bad cholesterol in middle-aged Americans?

A) Exercise
B) Cholesterol-lowering drugs
C) Diets high in protein
D) Weight control

Question 54

Which of the following statements about cardiovascular disease is TRUE?

A) When HDL is high and LDL is low, the risk of cardiovascular disease is lessened.
B) When HDL is high and LDL is low, the risk of cardiovascular disease is increased.
C) When HDL is low and LDL is high, the risk of cardiovascular disease is lessened.
D) When both HDL and LDL are low, the risk of cardiovascular disease is lessened.

Question 55

Cholesterol can be lowered in all of the following ways EXCEPT:

A) regular exercise.
B) changes in diet to include foods low in saturated fat.
C) changes in diet to include foods that are low in cholesterol.
D) liposuction.

Question 56

Which of the following statements about lung capacity in middle-age is TRUE?

A) There is significant change in lung capacity through most of middle adulthood.
B) In late middle-age, the proteins in lung tissue become more elastic.
C) Stiffening of the chest wall decreases the lungs' capacity to shuttle oxygen.
D) The lung capacity of smokers increases drastically in middle age.

Question 57

Linda, 55 years old, has trouble reading small print and trouble seeing things when the light is dim. Her doctor suggested she look into _____. Even though she was worried, after some research she found that this is a routine procedure to correct vision for people her age.

A) ocular transplants
B) laser surgery
C) electroconvulsive surgery
D) glaucomistic installations

Question 58

A study of over 17,000 men found that exercise in middle-age was linked to a reduction in the occurrence of lung cancer by approximately:

A) 25%.
B) 45%.
C) 68%.
D) 93%.

Question 59

The level of cholesterol in the blood increases through the adult years and in midlife begins to accumulate on the artery walls, increasing the risk of:

A) falling.
B) memory loss.
C) cardiovascular disease.
D) osteoporosis.

Question 60

Which of the following statements about the changes in bone mass and density is TRUE?

A) The rate of bone density loss begins fast and then decelerates.
B) By the end of early adulthood, bones break more easily and heal more slowly.
C) Peak functioning of the body's joints occurs in the sixties.
D) Women lose bone mass twice as fast as men do.

Question 61

Which of the following symptoms is NOT associated with menopause?

A) Nausea
B) Fatigue
C) Hot flashes
D) Depression

Question 62

Recently Ruby has had trouble thinking clearly and remembering life events. Based on research, it is likely Ruby has been:

A) working out at the gym.
B) through a recent divorce.
C) eating more fruits and vegetables.
D) practicing yoga daily.

Question 63

Marina is having hot flashes, nausea, and rapid heartbeat, all signs that the production of _____ by the ovaries declines dramatically.

A) testosterone
B) estrogen
C) adrenaline
D) insulin

Question 64

Chronic disorders account for approximately _____ of total health-care spending in the United States.

A) 10%
B) 30%
C) 60%
D) 85%

Question 65

Currently, the main causes of death in middle adulthood in the United States are:

A) infectious diseases.
B) accidents.
C) chronic diseases.
D) homicides.

Question 66

In middle age there is an increase in:

A) sleep-disordered breathing.
B) the frequency of accidents.
C) susceptibility to allergies.
D) susceptibility to colds.

Question 67

Stan, a middle-aged man, rarely gets more than five hours of sleep a night. Stan is at risk for:

A) a weakening of his immune system.
B) short-term memory consolidation problems.
C) obesity.
D) intellectual disability.

Question 68

_____ for six months reduced menopausal symptoms in a group of sedentary women.

A) Aerobic training
B) Reading blogs on menopause
C) Attending a menopause support group
D) Eating more fruits and vegetables

Question 69

Harriet, a middle-aged woman, just started taking yoga classes. If she continues and makes it a daily habit, she is likely to see a decrease in her:

A) menopausal symptoms.
B) longevity.
C) lung capacity.
D) marital satisfaction.

Question 70

Individuals who had a high level of allostatic load (wearing down of the body's systems in response to high stress levels) exhibited difficulties in:

A) breathing.
B) episodic memory.
C) running.
D) consolidation of long-term memories.

Question 71

Which of the following is typical during early and late middle-age?

A) Frequency of accidents increases
B) Susceptibility to colds and allergies decreases
C) Wakeful periods during sleep decreases
D) Incidence of chronic disorders decreases

Question 72

_____ is a term that is used to describe the midlife transition in which fertility declines.

A) Puberty
B) Menarche
C) Spermarche
D) Climacteric

Question 73

Which of the following is FALSE about menopause?

A) It is not the negative experience women once thought it was.
B) Most women do not have psychological problems related to menopause.
C) Most women will have severe physical problems related to menopause.
D) Exercise will reduce most related symptoms.

Question 74

What is the MOST common change in sleep patterns of adults during middle-age?

A) Sleep-disordered breathing becomes less prevalent.
B) Wakeful periods become less frequent during the night.
C) The total number of hours slept dramatically increases.
D) There is a decrease in the deepest type of sleep.

Question 75

Ebony has been showing symptoms of depression, such as a lack of interest in anything and a sense of hopelessness. While her daughter is worried about her mother, she believes the depression is just a side effect of the menopausal process. Research has shown:

A) a very strong connection.
B) a mild connection in women who are married.
C) a mild connection in women who are single.
D) no clear evidence of a connection.

Question 76

All of the following have been found to be stress reducing EXCEPT:

A) hypnosis.
B) yoga.
C) relaxation.
D) marital separation.

Question 77

Sleep deprivation in middle-age has been linked to all of the following EXCEPT:

A) improved cognitive functioning.
B) increased risk of stroke.
C) less effective immune system functioning.
D) problems with long-term memory consolidation.

Question 78

Lillian is 50 years old. Her doctor has noticed a sharp decrease in her estrogen levels, and Lillian is complaining about nausea and fatigue. According to the symptoms given in the textbook, what could be her initial diagnosis?

A) Her thyroid is malfunctioning.
B) She is going through menopause.
C) She may have a problem with her bone marrow.
D) She needs to control her diet and blood sugar levels.

Question 79

Which of the following types of hormones is MOST commonly administered during hormone replacement therapy?

A) Estrogen
B) Testosterone
C) Follicle stimulating hormone
D) Luteinizing hormone

Question 80

_____ were the main cause of death in the United States until the middle of the twentieth century.

A) Infectious diseases
B) Accidents
C) Chronic diseases
D) Homicides