Human Growth and Development (D202)

Correct Answer C. Fluid intelligence and speedy recall begin to increase in the 20's.

Explanation

Fluid intelligence typically peaks in early adulthood and tends to decline with age, particularly in areas like problem-solving and the speed of information processing. Speedy recall and fluid intelligence are known to decline as people move through middle adulthood, contrary to the statement that they begin to increase in the 20s.

Why other options are wrong

A. Crystallized intelligence skills increase throughout middle adulthood. This is correct. Crystallized intelligence, which involves accumulated knowledge and verbal skills, tends to remain stable or improve with age. This is particularly true in middle adulthood as adults gain more life experience.

B. General facts, procedural knowledge in how to do things, and facts related to occupation do not change or they change for the better. This is true as well. Crystallized intelligence tends to improve over time, especially in areas like occupation-related knowledge, as people gain more experience and expertise.

D. In mid-life, adults are in their intellectual prime. This is generally considered true. While fluid intelligence may decline, crystallized intelligence, experience, and wisdom increase, allowing individuals in middle adulthood to perform well cognitively, often in areas of decision-making and problem-solving.

Correct Answer B. The use of short and precise words without grammatical markers such as articles, auxiliary verbs, and other connectives.

Explanation

Telegraphic speech is a term used to describe the speech patterns of young children, typically around the age of 2 years, when they begin to combine words. These phrases usually contain only the essential words to convey meaning, such as nouns and verbs, but lack the grammatical markers like "the," "is," or "and." The name "telegraphic" comes from the way early communication resembles the concise, abbreviated nature of telegrams.

Why other options are wrong

A. Long, detailed sentences used by children in the early stages of language development.

Children in the early stages of language development generally use short, simple phrases, not long or detailed sentences. The concept of telegraphic speech specifically refers to short, essential combinations of words that lack grammatical complexity.

C. The repetition of sounds and words

Repetition of sounds and words is a stage earlier in language development, often referred to as "babbling" or "pre-verbal" communication. It does not describe telegraphic speech, which involves combining words to form short phrases.

D. The use of gestures instead of words to communicate.

Gestures are often used by infants before they develop telegraphic speech, but this is not what telegraphic speech refers to. Telegraphic speech involves using a limited number of words in a simplified form, not gestures.

Correct Answer B. It indicates that children have an innate ability to detect language rules.

Explanation

The Language Acquisition Device (LAD), proposed by Noam Chomsky, suggests that children are born with an inherent capacity to acquire language. The fact that they can recognize when adults make grammatical errors supports this theory. It shows that they are not just mimicking speech but have an internalized understanding of linguistic rules, which they use to evaluate and correct language input from others.

Why other options are wrong

A. It suggests that children are passive learners of language. This is incorrect because the observation actually shows children are active participants in learning language. They process and analyze what they hear, which contradicts the idea of passive learning.

C. It shows that children rely solely on imitation for language acquisition. Children’s ability to detect errors suggests more than just imitation. If they were only imitating, they wouldn’t be able to recognize mistakes—they would simply repeat what they hear, errors included.

D. It implies that children do not understand language until they are older. The ability to recognize errors in grammar at a young age demonstrates early comprehension of language structure, directly opposing the claim that understanding comes only with age.

Correct Answer B. Moving objects from one hand to another

Explanation

At around 6 months of age, infants typically develop the ability to transfer objects from one hand to another, which is an important milestone in fine motor development. This ability shows that the infant’s hand-eye coordination is improving and that they are gaining more control over their hand

movements. This skill helps lay the foundation for more complex motor tasks, such as picking up small objects or using utensils.

Why other options are wrong

A. Stacking blocks.

Stacking blocks is a more advanced fine motor skill that usually appears later, around 12-18 months, when children have greater control over their hand movements and can coordinate their actions more precisely.

C. Using a spoon to feed themselves.

Self-feeding with a spoon is a fine motor skill typically developed closer to 12-18 months, as children’s hand-eye coordination and dexterity improve enough to manage utensils.

D. Drawing with crayons.

Drawing with crayons is usually not a skill displayed by a 6-month-old. It typically develops around 18 months when children gain more control over their fine motor skills and hand movements to grasp and manipulate writing instruments.

Correct Answer A. 3–6 years old

Explanation

The period referred to as early childhood, preschool age, or early school age typically covers the developmental range of 3 to 6 years old. During this stage, children experience rapid growth in language, motor skills, and social interaction. It’s a critical period for laying the foundation for school readiness and emotional development.

Why other options are wrong

B. 2–9 years old

This range is too broad and overlaps with both toddlerhood and middle childhood. While some developmental milestones may occur within these ages, 2–9 years old extends beyond the scope of early childhood. It mixes distinct stages with unique characteristics and should not be used to define early childhood specifically.

C. 6–8 years old

This age range corresponds more with the early elementary or middle childhood stage. By this point, children are typically already in formal schooling and are developing more complex cognitive and social skills. It does not accurately represent the preschool years where early learning and foundational behaviors are first established.

D. 2–5 years old

Although this range partially overlaps with early childhood, it excludes the important 6-year-old milestone, which is often included in developmental definitions of early childhood. Additionally, starting at age 2 includes toddlerhood, which has distinct developmental characteristics separate from the preschool years.

Correct Answer C. This stage often involves significant life transitions, including career changes and family dynamics.

Explanation

The age range of 45–65 is typically referred to as middle adulthood. During this period, individuals may face major life transitions such as children leaving home, caring for aging parents, and reevaluating or changing careers. It is also a time when people often reassess life goals and priorities. These social and emotional changes can be as significant as any physical changes and are central to development in this stage.

Why other options are wrong

A. This age range is characterized by physical decline and cognitive stability.

Although some physical changes may begin during this time, characterizing the stage primarily by "physical decline" is misleading. Many individuals remain physically active and productive, and cognitive abilities often remain strong or are compensated with experience and knowledge.

B. Individuals may experience a peak in physical health and cognitive abilities.

This is more accurate for young adulthood. By middle adulthood, most people have passed their physical peak, and while cognitive abilities remain sharp, they are not typically at their highest point. Instead, people often rely on accumulated knowledge and experience.

D. People in this age range typically have no significant changes in their emotional or social lives.

This is incorrect because middle adulthood is a time of considerable emotional and social adjustment. Events like becoming empty nesters, experiencing changes in marital relationships, or coping with the death of parents can have profound emotional effects.

Correct Answer B. A form of play where infants play independently, exploring their surroundings at their own pace.

Explanation

Solo play in infants refers to a type of independent play where babies engage with their environment without the presence of other children. It helps infants develop sensory and motor skills as they explore objects and learn about the world at their own pace. This form of play is crucial for cognitive and physical development, as it allows infants to discover and process stimuli on their own.

Why other options are wrong

A. A type of play where infants engage with peers in a structured environment.

This describes social play or structured play, where children interact with others in a guided or organized setting. Solo play, on the other hand, involves individual exploration, not peer interaction.

C. A play style that involves infants imitating adult behaviors.

This describes imitation play, where infants learn by mimicking the actions of adults. While imitation is a form of learning, solo play is about independent exploration rather than direct imitation of adults.

D. A method of play that requires adult supervision and guidance.

While adults may supervise solo play for safety reasons, the essence of solo play is that it is independent, with the infant exploring their surroundings at their own pace without direct adult involvement in the activity.

Correct Answer C. Pituitary gland

Explanation

The pituitary gland is responsible for initiating puberty by releasing hormones that stimulate other glands, including the gonads (ovaries in females and testes in males). These hormones, such as luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), trigger the development of secondary sexual characteristics and the production of sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone) that lead to physical changes during puberty.

Why other options are wrong

A. Thyroid gland

The thyroid gland regulates metabolism and energy levels but does not directly trigger puberty. It plays an important role in overall growth and development, but not in the onset of puberty.

B. Adrenal gland

While the adrenal glands release hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, they are involved in the early stages of puberty (specifically the release of adrenal androgens), but the pituitary gland is the primary driver of puberty.

D. Pancreas

The pancreas is responsible for regulating blood sugar through the secretion of insulin. It does not play a role in triggering puberty or the development of secondary sexual characteristics.

Correct Answer C. Hearing loss in higher frequencies

Explanation

As individuals age, one common physical change is the loss of hearing, particularly for higher frequencies. This type of hearing loss is known as presbycusis, and it is a typical age-related change that affects many older adults. This decline in high-frequency hearing can make it more difficult to understand certain sounds, such as the voices of women and children, or the higher-pitched tones in conversations or environmental noises. Other changes associated with aging include a decrease in muscle mass, flexibility, and vision, but hearing loss in higher frequencies is the most widely recognized.

Why other options are wrong

A. Increased muscle mass

This is incorrect because, as people age, muscle mass generally decreases due to the loss of muscle fibers and the body's natural aging process, not an increase.

B. Improved vision

This is incorrect because vision typically declines with age. Common age-related vision changes include presbyopia (difficulty focusing on close objects) and cataracts, which can impair vision.

D. Enhanced flexibility

This is incorrect because flexibility generally decreases with age as the joints and muscles become less supple and more prone to stiffness.