Human Growth and Development Exam Questions

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. According to the continuous view of development, the difference between the immature and the mature is seen as simply one of amount or complexity. This view suggests that development is a gradual and continuous process where individuals steadily acquire new abilities without abrupt changes or stages. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because nature, discontinuous, and nurture do not align with the description provided in the question. Nature typically refers to genetic or biological factors, discontinuous implies stages or abrupt changes, and nurture relates to environmental influences, none of which are synonymous with the continuous view of development.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The statement that the genetic makeup of the mother and the developing organism plays an important role in the harm done by teratogens is true. Genetic factors can influence susceptibility to teratogens, and the interaction between genetic and environmental factors plays a significant role in determining the impact on the developing fetus. This highlights the importance of considering both genetic and environmental influences when assessing risks to prenatal development. Choice A is incorrect as passive smoking can indeed be harmful to the developing fetus. Choice C is incorrect as the negative impact of teratogens is often not reversible. Choice D is incorrect as serious defects can occur throughout prenatal development, not just in the germinal period.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum will shrink. As a result, the lining of the uterus is discarded through the process of menstruation. This shedding of the uterine lining is what causes menstrual bleeding. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not describe the physiological response of the body when pregnancy does not occur. The corpus luteum shrinking and the subsequent shedding of the uterine lining are part of the menstrual cycle, not processes related to cell duplication, zygote multiplication, or the duration of the germinal period.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: In ecological systems theory, the chronosystem refers to the dimension of time and how events and transitions over time can influence an individual's development. Toby's move just before entering fourth grade represents a significant change in his life that falls under the chronosystem. The microsystem involves the immediate environments and relationships that directly influence an individual, the mesosystem relates to connections between these environments, and the exosystem includes external settings that indirectly influence the individual, such as parents' workplaces. Therefore, Toby's move best exemplifies a change in the chronosystem due to the temporal influence on his development.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Drawing the children's names out of a hat is a way to randomly assign them to treatment conditions. Random assignment helps to ensure that any differences in self-esteem that may be observed in the study are not due to pre-existing characteristics of the children. This method helps to establish a cause-and-effect relationship between the teacher's use of encouragement and the children's self-esteem. Choice A is incorrect because assigning children based on test scores may introduce bias into the study. Choice B is incorrect as balancing gender is not relevant to the research question. Choice D is incorrect as it introduces a bias by selecting a specific group of children based on a characteristic unrelated to the study objective.