Question 1

Once a particular gene is located, it is relatively easy for researchers to identify its function.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Darwin suggested that language develops as the brain makes probability decisions that one word is likely to follow another.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Which of the following is true with regard to the heritability of intelligence?

Accepted Answer

A)  Heritability estimates are higher for children than for adults. 
B)  Heritability estimates increase with age up to at least late middle age. 
C)  Heritability estimates differ for males and females. 
D)  Regardless of age, heritability estimates for intelligence range from 0.75 to 0.90.

Question 4

In order to explain principles of the differences in intelligence between and within groups, the authors described a hypothetical tomato plant experiment. Based on this experiment it would be accurate to conclude that:

Accepted Answer

A)  if differences within groups are at least partly genetic in origin, then differences between groups are also genetic. 
B)  the heritability differences between groups is 100% even though the within-group difference is due entirely to the environment. 
C)  the variation within each group will result from genetic differences, but the between-group difference is explained by the different care received. 
D)  heritability estimates are valid in regard to group differences, but not in regard to the variance found within a group.

Question 5

Distinguish between intersexual and intrasexual selection.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Distinguish between intersexual and intrasexual selection....

Question 6

Evolution is:

Accepted Answer

A)  a result of the ability of organisms to pass on acquired characteristics to their offspring. 
B)  a change in gene frequencies within a population over many generations. 
C)  caused by major climatic changes that cause some species to become extinct. 
D)  a result of interbreeding of closely related species.

Question 7

There is no way to estimate the heritability of a trait or behaviour directly, and so scientists must infer it. Explain, in detail, two approaches that are used.

Accepted Answer

The answer of There is no way to estimate the...

Question 8

An example of a human tendency that is either present at birth, or develops rapidly during maturation, is a preference for familiar objects.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 9

According to Chomsky, the surface structure of a sentence refers to:

Accepted Answer

A)  the way a sentence is actually spoken or signed. 
B)  the intonation used as a sentence is spoken. 
C)  the way a sentence is to be understood. 
D)  the gestures used when speaking a sentence.

Question 10

It is clear that the kind of intelligence that produces high IQ scores is only weakly heritable.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The central distinction between human language and other communication systems is that language:

Accepted Answer

A)  is spoken. 
B)  allows for the generation of an infinite number of new utterances. 
C)  is learned through explicit training by parents. 
D)  expresses meaning directly through its surface structure.

Question 12

Match these achievements with the appropriate person.
-He viewed heredity as the chief factor in determining human nature.

Accepted Answer

A) John B. Watson 
B) Edward O. Wilson 
C) Edward Thorndike 
D) Noam Chomsky 
E) Charles Darwin

Question 13

In regard to heredity and environment, it would be accurate to say that, overall, environment causes our IQ scores.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

How might you determine whether flute-playing ability is a highly heritable trait? If you want to improve your flute playing and someone tells you that musical ability is heritable, should you stop practicing?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How might you determine whether flute-playing ability...

Question 15

Professor Chung has designed a computer model to determine how children might be able to acquire linguistic features without an inborn language acquisition device. She is likely to view infants as:

Accepted Answer

A)  grammarians. 
B)  lexicologists. 
C)  psycholinguists. 
D)  statisticians.

Question 16

________ emphasizes the evolutionary mechanisms that might help explain similarities in behaviour.

Accepted Answer

A)  Nativism 
B)  Empiricism 
C)  Evolutionary psychology 
D)  Behavioural genetics

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT one of the important facts about heritability?

Accepted Answer

A)  Estimates of heritability apply to variations within a group regardless of environment. 
B)  Estimates apply only to a particular group living in a particular place. 
C)  Estimates do not apply to individuals, but only to variations within a group. 
D)  Even when a trait is highly heritable, it can still be modified by the environment.

Question 18

Match these achievements with the appropriate person.
-He proposed that humans possess an innate language acquisition device.

Accepted Answer

A) John B. Watson 
B) Edward O. Wilson 
C) Edward Thorndike 
D) Noam Chomsky 
E) Charles Darwin

Question 19

For many years, psychologists addressing questions about human differences tended to fall into two camps. Those who emphasized the role of genes in human diversity were called:

Accepted Answer

A)  empiricists. 
B)  behaviourists. 
C)  nativists. 
D)  psychoanalysts.

Question 20

Match these descriptions with the appropriate concept.
-A statistical estimate of the proportion of the total variance in some trait that is attributable to genetic differences among individuals within a group.

Accepted Answer

A) natural selection 
B) evolution 
C) empiricism 
D) heritability 
E) nativism

Exam 3: Genes, Evolution, and Environment

Once a particular gene is located, it is relatively easy for researchers to identify its function.

Darwin suggested that language develops as the brain makes probability decisions that one word is likely to follow another.

Which of the following is true with regard to the heritability of intelligence?

In order to explain principles of the differences in intelligence between and within groups, the authors described a hypothetical tomato plant experiment. Based on this experiment it would be accurate to conclude that:

Distinguish between intersexual and intrasexual selection.

Evolution is:

There is no way to estimate the heritability of a trait or behaviour directly, and so scientists must infer it. Explain, in detail, two approaches that are used.

An example of a human tendency that is either present at birth, or develops rapidly during maturation, is a preference for familiar objects.

According to Chomsky, the surface structure of a sentence refers to:

It is clear that the kind of intelligence that produces high IQ scores is only weakly heritable.

The central distinction between human language and other communication systems is that language:

Match these achievements with the appropriate person. -He viewed heredity as the chief factor in determining human nature.

In regard to heredity and environment, it would be accurate to say that, overall, environment causes our IQ scores.

How might you determine whether flute-playing ability is a highly heritable trait? If you want to improve your flute playing and someone tells you that musical ability is heritable, should you stop practicing?

Professor Chung has designed a computer model to determine how children might be able to acquire linguistic features without an inborn language acquisition device. She is likely to view infants as:

________ emphasizes the evolutionary mechanisms that might help explain similarities in behaviour.

Which of the following is NOT one of the important facts about heritability?

Match these achievements with the appropriate person. -He proposed that humans possess an innate language acquisition device.

For many years, psychologists addressing questions about human differences tended to fall into two camps. Those who emphasized the role of genes in human diversity were called:

Match these descriptions with the appropriate concept. -A statistical estimate of the proportion of the total variance in some trait that is attributable to genetic differences among individuals within a group.