Human Growth and Development Exam Questions

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Epidural analgesia is the most common approach to controlling pain during labor. It involves the administration of pain medication through a catheter placed in the epidural space of the spine, providing pain relief while allowing the mother to remain alert and participate in the birthing process. It is preferred by many women due to its effectiveness in reducing labor pain. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect as they do not directly address pain management during labor. While an anesthetic and a spinal block are forms of pain relief, epidural analgesia is specifically the most common method used for pain control during labor.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: In a cross-sectional design, researchers study groups of participants differing in age at the same point in time. This design allows researchers to compare different age groups simultaneously, providing valuable insight into age-related differences without the need to track the same group over time. Choice A is incorrect because it describes a longitudinal design where the same group is followed over time. Choice C is incorrect as it involves different groups of the same age studied at different times. Choice D is incorrect as it does not capture the essence of a cross-sectional design, which involves studying groups of different ages at the same point in time.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Fetal monitoring is required in most U.S. hospitals during labor and delivery to track the baby's heart rate and the mother's contractions. This helps healthcare providers to assess the well-being of the fetus and make timely decisions regarding the need for interventions if any complications arise. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because fetal monitoring is a standard procedure in most hospitals to ensure the safety and health of both the mother and the baby during labor.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The difficulty in isolating the precise damage caused by illegal drugs during pregnancy is due to the fact that drug users often take several drugs, display other high-risk behaviors, and suffer from other stresses. This makes it challenging to identify the specific impact of each individual factor on prenatal development. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because they do not address the complexity of the situation involving drug users during pregnancy. Most drug-using mothers refusing to participate in teratology research, the majority of babies not surviving, or drug-using mothers quitting during the first trimester do not directly explain the difficulty in isolating the precise damage caused by illegal drugs during pregnancy.

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.