Human Growth and Development Exam Questions

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Pregnant women are wise to avoid eating long-lived predatory fish, which are heavily contaminated with mercury. Mercury is a known teratogen, meaning it can negatively impact the development of the fetus and lead to birth defects. It is recommended that pregnant women choose fish with lower levels of mercury to reduce potential risks to the baby's health. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because lead, polychlorinated biphenyls, and radiation are not typically found in fish at levels that pose significant risks to pregnant women and the developing fetus.

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: G. Stanley Hall is generally regarded as the founder of the child study movement. He established the first American research laboratory dedicated to child psychology and education, helping to pioneer the scientific study of child development. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they were not primarily associated with founding the child study movement. Charles Darwin is known for his contributions to the theory of evolution, Alfred Binet is famous for developing the first intelligence test, and Sigmund Freud is renowned for his work in psychoanalysis.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Many theorists believe that behaviorism and social learning theory offer too narrow a view of important environmental influences. This is because they focus mainly on observable behaviors and external factors, neglecting the role of internal cognitive processes and individual differences in shaping development. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because behaviorism and social learning theory do not specifically emphasize the plasticity of cognitive development, overestimate people's contributions to their own development, or overemphasize each individual's unique life history. Instead, they are criticized for providing a limited perspective by focusing predominantly on external stimuli and behaviors.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: An experimental design permits inferences about cause and effect because researchers evenhandedly assign people to treatment conditions. This means that researchers can manipulate certain variables and observe the effects on participants, allowing them to determine causation between variables. This is a key strength of experimental research designs. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not accurately describe the primary purpose or strength of experimental designs. Experimental designs do not focus on gathering information in natural life circumstances (A), looking at relationships between characteristics and behavior (B), or have the limitation of not being able to infer cause and effect (D).