Chapter 6

74. Which of the following refers to a baby's ability to pick up tiny objects using the thumb and the index finger? A. Pincer grasp B. Raking grasp C. Palmar grasp D. Grasp reflex

A. Pincer grasp

75. Which of the following motor skills is present at birth? A. The ability to lift the head while lying on the stomach B. The ability to hold the head erect while being held C. The ability to grasp with the thumb and index finger D. The ability to roll over purposefully

A. The ability to lift the head while lying on the stomach

97. Which of the following is recommended by doctors to reduce the occurrences of SIDS? A. To avoid letting babies sleep on their stomach B. To give babies more solid food than liquid food C. To let infants share a bed with the mother or any other adult D. To use very soft bedding in the crib

A. To avoid letting babies sleep on their stomach

64. A study of infants' hearing suggests that infants identify new speech sounds from those they have heard before A. as early as 3 days after birth. B. at about 2 weeks after birth. C. at about 4 weeks after birth. D. as early as 10 days after birth.

A. as early as 3 days after birth.

71. To observe the development of a child's fine motor skills, a psychologist would ask the child to A. draw with a crayon. B. read a children's book. C. throw a baseball. D. kick a football.

A. draw with a crayon.

30. The part of the brain that maintains balance and motor coordination grows fastest A. during the 1st year of life. B. between 3 and 5 years of age. C. during middle childhood. D. during the first few weeks after conception.

A. during the 1st year of life.

1. Children's most rapid physical growth takes place during the _____ year of life. A. first B. second C. third D. fourth

A. first

101. When authorities remove a maltreated child from his/her home, the usual alternative placement is A. foster care. B. with neighbors. C. with relatives. D. an orphanage.

A. foster care.

70. Physical skills that involve the large muscles are called _____ motor skills, and physical skills that involve the small muscles and eye-hand coordination are called _____ motor skills. A. gross; fine B. large; gross C. fine; large D. fine; gross

A. gross; fine

2. According to the proximodistal principle, A. growth occurs from the center of the body outward. B. growth occurs from top down. C. upper and lower body parts develop simultaneously. D. the order of development depends on environmental influences.

A. growth occurs from the center of the body outward.

35. The function of the corpus callosum is to A. join the two hemispheres of the brain. B. control breathing in newborns. C. maintain balance and motor coordination. D. maintain body temperature in infants.

A. join the two hemispheres of the brain.

52. By examining an infant's reflex behaviors, we can assess A. neurological development. B. intelligence. C. handedness. D. personality development.

A. neurological development.

100. In infancy, lack of appropriate growth for no known medical cause, accompanied by poor developmental and emotional functioning is known as _____. A. nonorganic failure to thrive B. shaken baby syndrome C. fetal alcohol syndrome D. attention deficit hyperactive disorder

A. nonorganic failure to thrive

57. Toy manufacturers know that during the early years of life, a child's brain can be "molded" by experience. This capacity, known as _____, encourages companies to develop new and more enriching types of toys. A. plasticity B. programmability C. functionality D. flexibility

A. plasticity

15. Luci can control her shoulder muscles well enough to move her arms in the general direction of a toy, but she has trouble using her hands to grasp it. When she is older, she will be able to control her hands and grasp the toy. This sequence illustrates the _____ principle of development. A. proximodistal B. cephalocaudal C. evolutionary D. information-processing

A. proximodistal

76. Barbara is delighted that her 4-month-old son Matt is developing normally. At this age, Matt should be able to A. roll over. B. sit unsupported. C. pick up small objects. D. stand while holding on.

A. roll over.

93. If a normal, healthy infant dies in his sleep, he most likely suffered from A. sudden infant death syndrome. B. fetal alcohol syndrome. C. hyaline membrane disease. D. trauma.

A. sudden infant death syndrome.

36. The occipital lobe is primarily concerned with A. making mental associations. B. abstract thought processes. C. visual processing. D. planning and problem solving.

C. visual processing.

18. Breast milk is almost always the best food for newborns and is recommended for at least the first _____ months. A. 3 B. 6 C. 14 D. 12

D. 12

24. To which of the following women is breast-feeding inadvisable? A. Carol, who is overweight B. Ellen, who drinks 3 cups of coffee per day C. Cindy, who has only a three-week maternity leave D. Alison, who has AIDS

D. Alison, who has AIDS

83. Which of the following is necessary for proper depth perception? A. Binocular coordination B. Focusing with both eyes C. Motor control D. All of the above are necessary.

D. All of the above are necessary.

73. Which of the following principles does motor development in infancy follow? A. Cephalocaudal B. Proximodistal C. Simple-to-complex D. All of these

D. All of these

90. Which of the following groups is least likely to have babies that die in infancy? A. African Americans B. Hispanics C. American Indians D. Asian Americans

D. Asian Americans

89. Which of the following is NOT one of the major causes of infant mortality? A. Birth defects B. Low-birth-weight C. Sudden infant death syndrome D. Birth trauma

D. Birth trauma

32. Which of the following regions of the brain is the largest and is divided into two halves or hemispheres? A. Cerebellum B. Brain stem C. Spinal cord D. Cerebrum

D. Cerebrum

91. Which of the following behavioral factors does NOT account for racial and ethnic disparities in infant mortality rates? A. Mother's obesity during pregnancy B. Smoking C. Alcohol consumption D. Number of children in the home

D. Number of children in the home

53. _____ is a term that explains how humans who grow up in a high-quality environment generally thrive better than those who grow up in deprived environments. A. Flexibility B. Malleability C. Neurological sensitivity D. Plasticity

D. Plasticity

88. Which of the following is the chief cause of neonatal death worldwide, accounting for 86 percent of all neonatal deaths? A. Diabetes mellitus B. Unintentional injuries C. Breathing difficulty D. Severe infections

D. Severe infections

38. The process of coating neurons with a fatty substance to enable faster communication between cells is called A. integration. B. differentiation. C. neuron lubrication. D. myelination.

D. myelination.

42. Which of the following statements about the components of a neuron is true? A. Axons receive incoming messages from dendrites. B. Synapses are the nervous system's communication links. C. Glial cells are narrow, branching, fiber-like extensions. D. Dendrites send signals to other neurons.

B. Synapses are the nervous system's communication links.

12. Why are babies' heads so large in proportion to their body size? A. The head widens the birth canal so the rest of the body can pass easily. B. The baby's brain and head are more developed than are other parts of the body. C. The brain is surrounded by a large volume of fluid that gradually subsides after birth. D. The head has excess fat at birth to protect it during passage through the birth canal.

B. The baby's brain and head are more developed than are other parts of the body.

6. Mothers can expect their babies' first tooth to erupt A. during the first month. B. between 5 and 9 months. C. between 2 and 4 months. D. after the tenth month.

B. between 5 and 9 months.

10. Baby Kevin can accurately reach for a toy bat and grasp it in his hands, although he cannot yet stand on his feet. Only when he is older will he be able to control his legs well enough to stand. This pattern of development illustrates the _____ principle. A. proximodistal B. cephalocaudal C. centrifugal D. longitudinal

B. cephalocaudal

80. Which of the following milestones of motor development, when achieved, has striking cognitive and psychosocial benefits? A. Ability to hold the head erect B. Sitting without support C. Emergence of self-locomotion D. Development of pincer grasp

C. Emergence of self-locomotion

41. _____ are cells in the brain that send and receive information. A. Axons B. Dendrites C. Neurons D. Glia

C. Neurons

44. _____ bridge the gaps between synapses. A. Axons B. Dendrites C. Neurotransmitters D. Neurons

C. Neurotransmitters

27. Fetal nervous system development begins at about ___ weeks. A. 3 B. 9 C. 12 D. 20

A. 3

50. Which of the following reflexes tends to remain throughout one's lifetime? A. Blinking B. Rooting C. Grasping D. Babinski

A. Blinking

29. Which of the following brain structures has its major growth period before birth and is responsible for basic bodily functions such as breathing and heart rate? A. Brain stem B. Cerebellum C. Cerebrum D. Frontal lobe

A. Brain stem

31. Which of the following is a part of the brain that maintains balance and motor coordination? A. Cerebellum B. Brain stem C. Spinal cord D. Cerebrum

A. Cerebellum

3. A child's rate of growth is most rapid during _____. A. infancy B. early childhood C. late childhood D. adolescence

A. infancy

62. Newborns have an innate preference for _____ tastes. A. bitter B. sour C. sweet D. salty

C. sweet

45. _____ describes the process by which neurons coordinate the activities of muscle groups. A. Integration B. Differentiation C. Consolidation D. Lateralization

A. Integration

54. Based on experiments conducted with animals, which of the following statements about environmental influences on brain development is correct? A. Early experiences can result in actual physical changes in brain functioning. B. Early experiences can affect cognitive and social functioning but cannot bring about actual physical changes. C. Early experiences have minimal effect on brain development. D. Early experiences are less influential than later experiences.

A. Early experiences can result in actual physical changes in brain functioning.

85. Which of the following theories describes developing motor and sensory abilities as interdependent parts of a functional system that guides behavior in varying contexts? A. Gibsons' ecological theory of perception B. Thelen's dynamic systems theory C. Bronfenbrenner's bioecological theory D. Piaget's theory of cognitive development

A. Gibsons' ecological theory of perception

40. _____ cells of the brain nourish and protect the neurons. A. Glial B. Nerve C. Synaptic D. Stem

A. Glial

8. According to the cephalocaudal principle, A. upper body parts develop before lower parts. B. lower body parts develop before upper parts. C. upper and lower body parts develop simultaneously. D. the order of development depends on environmental influences.

A. upper body parts develop before lower parts.

5. Eric is celebrating his first birthday. Since birth, Eric's weight has likely A. increased by 25 percent. B. doubled. C. tripled. D. quadrupled.

C. tripled.

59. The most mature sensory system for the first few months of life is the sense of _____. A. taste B. smell C. touch D. sight

C. touch

20. Babies can switch to full-fat cow's milk after age _____. A. 2 years B. 1 year C. 8 months D. 6 months

B. 1 year

79. Tina has just begun to walk regularly and steadily without assistance. If Tina is an "average" child, she is approximately _____ months old. A. 8 B. 12 C. 20 D. 24

B. 12

65. During the first two months of life, a baby's visual abilities include all of the following EXCEPT A. blinking at bright lights. B. 20/20 visual acuity. C. the ability to follow a moving target. D. color perception.

B. 20/20 visual acuity.

67. Binocular vision usually does not develop until _____ months of age. A. 2 or 3 B. 4 or 5 C. 7 or 8 D. 9 or 10

B. 4 or 5

69. When interpreting the Denver Developmental Screening Test, "average" refers to skills exhibited by _____ percent of all children at a given age. A. 25 B. 50 C. 75 D. 90

B. 50

92. Which of the following statements is true of racial/ethnic disparities in infant mortality? A. Infant mortality has increased for all racial and ethnic groups in the United States. B. African American infants are more likely to die in their first year than white babies. C. Asian Americans are most likely to die in infancy than any other ethnic group, D. Chinese American infants are more than three times as likely to die as Hawaiian infants.

B. African American infants are more likely to die in their first year than white babies.

60. Jenna's pediatrician recommends that her newborn son receive lots of sensory stimulation. The doctor tells her to stimulate the sense that is the most developed. Which of the following techniques should Jenna use? A. Play classical music softly. B. Give her newborn a massage. C. Turn the lights on and off. D. Show the infant complex pictures.

B. Give her newborn a massage.

33. Which of the following is a primary function of the left hemisphere of the brain? A. Visual and spatial functions B. Language and logical thinking C. Motor skills and locomotion D. Vision and hearing

B. Language and logical thinking

16. Which of the following statements about obesity is true? A. The age of an overweight child is a poor indicator for obesity in adulthood. B. Overweight has increased in infancy as in all age groups in the United States. C. An overweight child with only one obese parent is not likely to become obese later in life. D. Infants and toddlers in the United States tend to eat much less than required.

B. Overweight has increased in infancy as in all age groups in the United States.

63. Which of the following liquids would a newborn most likely prefer? A. Water B. Sugar solution C. Unsweetened lemonade D. Salt water

B. Sugar solution

78. Babies begin using different forms of locomotion such as scooting, crawling, and standing A. between 2 and 4 months. B. between 6 and 10 months. C. during the 5th month. D. from 11 months on.

B. between 6 and 10 months.

82. The visual cliff is a device for testing infants' A. peripheral vision. B. depth perception. C. visual preferences. D. color perception.

B. depth perception.

46. During brain development, through differentiation A. the neurons that control various groups of muscles coordinate their activities. B. each neuron takes on a specific, specialized structure and function. C. the multiplication of dendrites and synaptic connections takes place. D. each neuron releases chemicals called neurotransmitters.

B. each neuron takes on a specific, specialized structure and function.

61. The American Academy of Pediatrics now maintains that anesthesia is _____ during circumcision. A. preferred B. essential C. not required D. ineffective

B. essential

21. Breast-fed babies are A. more likely to need braces. B. less likely to become obese. C. more likely to contract infectious illnesses such as diarrhea. D. less likely to develop osteoporosis.

B. less likely to become obese.

49. Three-month-old Eddie extended his arms automatically in an attempt to break a fall, when his mom tilted him downward to pose for a picture. Eddie's automatic response to movement is an example of a _____ reflex. A. primitive B. postural C. Babinski D. locomotor

B. postural

51. Rooting for the nipple is an example of a _____ reflex. A. Babinski B. primitive C. postural D. Moro

B. primitive

48. An automatic, involuntarily, innate reaction to stimulation is called a(n) A. unconditioned response. B. reflex. C. neutral response. D. conditioned response.

B. reflex.

94. The leading cause of postneonatal infant death in the United States is: A. fetal alcohol syndrome. B. sudden infant death syndrome. C. poor medical care. D. unintentional injuries.

B. sudden infant death syndrome.

72. Increasingly complex combinations of skills that permit a wider or more precise range of movement and more control of the environment are called A. cephalocaudal skills. B. systems of action. C. proximodistal skills. D. centrifugal movements.

B. systems of action.

58. The first sense to develop is the sense of _____. A. smell B. touch C. sight D. hearing

B. touch

87. The infant mortality rate is defined as the proportion of babies who die A. at birth. B. within the first year of life. C. during toddlerhood. D. during the first 3 years of life.

B. within the first year of life.

25. Pediatric experts recommend that iron-enriched solid foods be introduced gradually between ages ___ and ____ months. A. 2; 4 B. 3; 5 C. 6; 12 D. 12; 16

C. 6; 12

77. Baby Eddie is developing normally. At what age will Eddie be able to assume a sitting position and remain in that position without help while a photographer takes his picture? A. 2 months B. 5 months C. 8 months D. 11 months

C. 8 months

86. Which of the following statements best describes the role of culture in infant motor development? A. Motor development is genetically programmed, and culture has no effect. B. Researchers have found no instances in which culture affects motor development. C. A culture's specific child-rearing practices can have some effect on motor development. D. Culture has a major influence on motor development.

C. A culture's specific child-rearing practices can have some effect on motor development.

96. Which of the following groups has the highest risk of dying from SIDS? A. Babies of average birth weights B. Babies weighing more than 9 pounds at birth C. Black babies of low birth weight D. White babies of low birth weight

C. Black babies of low birth weight

47. Which of the following statements is true of cell death in brain development? A. Cell death ends after birth. B. Cell death leads to physical and cognitive delays. C. Cell death helps to create an efficient nervous system. D. Cell death begins after birth.

C. Cell death helps to create an efficient nervous system.

95. Which of the following infants is at the greatest risk of SIDS? A. Alexander, who is 10 months old and has frequent colds and other respiratory ailments B. Barry, who is 2 weeks old and has irregular sleep patterns and an overweight mother C. Curt, who is 3 months old and has a teenage unmarried mother who smokes regularly D. Samantha, who is 6 months old and had a difficult birth

C. Curt, who is 3 months old and has a teenage unmarried mother who smokes regularly

7. One-year-old Samantha and Edwin are fraternal twins. At a recent checkup, the doctor said that the twins were normal for their age in terms of height and weight. Which of the following statements is most likely to be true in this case? A. Samantha is taller than Edwin. B. Both Samantha and Edwin are below average in height and weight. C. Edwin is slightly larger than Samantha. D. Samantha weighs more than Edwin.

C. Edwin is slightly larger than Samantha.

17. Which of the following statements about breastfeeding is correct? A. Pediatric experts recommend only breast milk for babies until they are 10 months of age. B. The American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Breastfeeding recommends that babies be exclusively breast-fed for 4 months. C. Nutritionally speaking, breast-feeding is almost always best for infants, as well as mothers. D. Breast-feeding should begin during the third month after birth and should continue for at least 1 year.

C. Nutritionally speaking, breast-feeding is almost always best for infants, as well as mothers.

56. Which of the following was NOT an observation made about the children discovered in Romanian orphanages? A. Many of the children were passive and emotionless. B. Most 2- and 3-year-olds did not talk or walk. C. PET scans showed regular brain activity in the temporal lobes. D. The older children played aimlessly.

C. PET scans showed regular brain activity in the temporal lobes.

4. Which of the following statements is true of babies' growth patterns during the first three years? A. Children grow faster, especially during the second year of life. B. On average, baby girls are slightly larger than baby boys. C. Teething in babies usually begins around 3 or 4 months after birth. D. The first tooth usually arrives at the end of the first year.

C. Teething in babies usually begins around 3 or 4 months after birth.

19. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants be given A. cow's milk for the first 4 months after birth. B. skim milk rather than whole milk, to prevent obesity. C. breast milk exclusively for six months. D. baby food during the first 2 months to help them sleep through the night.

C. breast milk exclusively for six months.

13. Sensory and motor development of babies proceeds according to the _____ principle. A. proximodistal B. lateralization C. cephalocaudal D. maturational

C. cephalocaudal

28. The brain's growth occurs in fits and starts called brain _____. A. cognitive bursts B. developmental drifts C. growth spurts D. neurological regressions

C. growth spurts

34. The tendency for the brain's hemispheres to have specialized functions is termed _____. A. compartmentalization B. specialization C. lateralization D. departmentalization

C. lateralization

39. The brain is composed of A. white and gray cells. B. neurons and protoneurons. C. neurons and glia. D. positive and negative cells.

C. neurons and glia.

14. Baby Miley first learned to wave her arms, then to move her hands toward objects, and finally to use her fingers. This sequence exemplifies which of the following principles of development? A. maturational B. cephalocaudal C. proximodistal D. environmental science

C. proximodistal

68. The Denver Developmental Screening Test assesses all of the following EXCEPT A. gross motor development. B. social skills. C. temperament. D. language skills.

C. temperament.

99. Which of the following statements about immunization is true? A. Infant immunization has been identified as a leading risk factor for autism and other developmental disorders. B. The immune systems of young children cannot safely handle multiple vaccines. C. Immunization rates are lower among minority groups and poor families. D. Immunization has done little to combat childhood illness, including measles and pertussis.

D. Immunization has done little to combat childhood illness, including measles and pertussis.

37. Which of the following statements about the cerebral hemisphere is true? A. The cerebral cortex is the inner layer of the cerebrum. B. The temporal lobes are involved with a variety of higher-order processes. C. The occipital lobe is the largest of the four lobes. D. The parietal lobe is involved with integrating sensory information from the body.

D. The parietal lobe is involved with integrating sensory information from the body.

98. Which of the following factors is the fifth leading cause of infant death in the United States? A. Sudden infant death syndrome B. Fetal alcohol syndrome C. High birth weight D. Unintentional injuries

D. Unintentional injuries

26. The brain and the spinal cord together form the _____ nervous system. A. autonomic B. peripheral C. parasympathetic D. central

D. central

11. Baby Arnold first learned to hold up his head, then to raise his shoulders, and then to push with his feet. Which of the following principles of development does this sequence demonstrate? A. proximodistal B. lateralization C. maturational D. cephalocaudal

D. cephalocaudal

66. Vision becomes more acute during the first year, reaching the 20/20 level by about the _____ month. A. second B. fourth C. sixth D. eighth

D. eighth

23. All of the following illnesses are prevented or minimized by breast-feeding EXCEPT A. diarrhea. B. diabetes. C. asthma. D. measles.

D. measles.

9. The _____ principle states that development proceeds from the central part of the body to the outer parts. A. centrifugal B. cephalocaudal C. neurological D. proximodistal

D. proximodistal

22. Breast-feeding mothers A. take more time to recover from childbirth. B. are less likely to return to their prepregnancy weight. C. have a higher risk of postpartum bleeding. D. report feeling more confident and less anxious.

D. report feeling more confident and less anxious.

43. The tiny gaps that are the communication links in the nervous system are called A. axons. B. neurons. C. dendrites. D. synapses.

D. synapses.

55. A generalization about brain development that has emerged from animal research is that plasticity A. is evident only during the first trimester of gestation. B. is evident only during the period immediately after birth. C. tends to occur more in female brains than in male brains. D. tends to be evident throughout life.

D. tends to be evident throughout life.

84. Haptic perception is A. an accidental process that leads to learning. B. the ability to accurately see items that are far away. C. the ability to accurately see items that are in close proximity. D. the ability to acquire information about objects by handling them.

D. the ability to acquire information about objects by handling them.

81. According to Piaget, reaching depends on the use of the eyes to guide the movement of the hands, which is referred to as _____. A. binocular coordination B. haptic perception C. depth perception D. visual guidance

D. visual guidance