Human Growth and Development Clep Practice Exam

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is 'the United States.' According to the information provided, the United States has the highest percentage of extremely poor children among Western nations. This is supported by the extract, which states that the United States leads in this aspect. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as the question specifically asks for the country with the highest percentage of extremely poor children among Western nations, which is the United States.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Avery demonstrating the ability to retrieve his ball hidden under a blanket indicates that he has started to understand object permanence. Object permanence is the concept that objects continue to exist even when they are out of sight. This milestone typically occurs around 8-12 months of age. The other choices are incorrect. Option A, the tertiary circular reaction, is related to Piaget's theory of sensorimotor development but does not specifically address object permanence. Reflexive schemes (Option B) refer to simple, reflex-like behaviors and are not directly linked to object permanence. Deferred imitation (Option D) involves the ability to imitate actions observed at an earlier time, which is a different developmental milestone compared to object permanence.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: According to Erikson's theory of psychosocial development, despair is the stage that aging adults face when they reflect on their life and feel they have not achieved their goals, with little time left to correct their mistakes. Mistrust (choice A) is associated with infancy, stagnation (choice C) with middle adulthood, and isolation (choice D) with young adulthood, and are not relevant to the described scenario of aging adults reflecting on their life decisions.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is 'D: deficits.' Most cognitive aging research has indeed focused on deficits rather than stability, gains, or competence. Studies have consistently shown that deficits in processing speed and memory are common in aging individuals, making it a primary area of interest in research. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because cognitive aging research primarily aims to understand and address deficits associated with aging rather than focusing on stability, gains, or overall competence.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D. Kohlberg's moral stages are not strictly sequential but rather overlap and are more fluid, much like Piaget's cognitive stages. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because Kohlberg's stages do not follow a neat, predictable, or highly organized pattern, as they can be revisited and experienced in varying orders.