Q&A Hero

Q: Type 2 diabetes affects _____ percent of Americans age 65 and older. A) 5 B) 10 C) 20 D) 35

Q: __________ is associated with more rapid cognitive declines in older people and an elevated risk of dementia, especially Alzheimer's disease. A) Osteoarthritis B) Rheumatoid arthritis C) Diabetes D) Unintentional injury

Q: Which of the following statements about rheumatoid arthritis is true? A) Almost all older adults show some signs of the condition on X-rays. B) It is sometimes called "degenerative joint disease" or "wear-and-tear" arthritis. C) Although it can strike at any age, it rises after age 60. D) Symptoms cannot be relieved with analgesic medication.

Q: Which of the following statements about osteoarthritis is true? A) Almost all older adults show some sign of the condition on X-rays. B) It involves inflammation of connective tissue in the entire body. C) Worldwide, about 2 percent of older adults have the condition. D) It often results in a serious loss of mobility and can affect the heart and lungs.

Q: Frailty A) leaves older people highly vulnerable in the face of infection, extreme temperatures, or injury. B) is mostly caused by primary rather than secondary aging. C) is a serious condition, but does not interfere with everyday competence. D) is entirely caused by aging.

Q: Which of the following is an example of secondary aging? A) a decrease in the maximum heart rate B) farsightedness from a stiffening lens C) heart disease from smoking cigarettes D) lack of menstruation after menopause

Q: Which of the following is an example of primary aging? A) blurred vision from macular degeneration B) lung cancer from smoking cigarettes C) weight gain from a sedentary lifestyle D) high blood pressure from prolonged stress

Q: Mr. Embrel has a blood clot blocking a blood vessel. This is known as A) stroke. B) emphysema. C) hypertension. D) coronary pneumonia.

Q: Mr. Tenney has difficulty breathing caused by an extreme loss of elasticity in lung tissue. This is known as A) stroke. B) emphysema. C) pneumonia. D) diabetes.

Q: Which of the following causes of disability and death is more prevalent among women than among men? A) cancer B) cardiovascular disease C) emphysema D) Alzheimer's disease

Q: After cardiovascular disease and cancer, the most common killer among the aged is/are A) strokes. B) respiratory diseases. C) Alzheimer's disease. D) osteoporosis.

Q: Which of the following statements about gender differences in death rates from cardiovascular disease and cancer is true? A) Women have higher death rates for both cardiovascular disease and cancer than men. B) Men have higher death rates for cardiovascular disease and women have higher death rates from cancer. C) There are no sex differences in the death rates from cancer or cardiovascular disease. D) Men have higher death rates for both cardiovascular disease and cancer than women.

Q: Which of the following statements about sexuality in late adulthood is true? A) A majority of older adults attribute little to no importance to sex. B) Most healthy older adult couples report continued, regular sexual enjoyment. C) Men are more likely than women to lose interest in sex. D) Health problems prevent sexual activity in nearly 80 percent of adults over age 65.

Q: Which of the following statements about exercise for older adults is true? A) "Taking it easy" is the best treatment for many chronic diseases. B) Good nutrition and physical activity are only beneficial when they are lifelong. C) As many as 75 percent of those over age 75 do not exercise regularly. D) Physically active seniors are at high risk for injury.

Q: Sedentary healthy older adults up to age 80 who begin endurance training A) show gains in vital capacity. B) should focus on non-weight-bearing activities. C) are at-risk for heart problems due to earlier inactivity. D) increase blood circulation to the brain, but risk personal injury.

Q: Daily vitamin"mineral supplements A) are recommended for all older adults. B) do not reduce the incidence of cardiovascular disease or cancer. C) can slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease. D) can result in improvements in cognitive functioning and memory.

Q: The physical changes of late life lead to an increased need for certain nutrients, including A) vitamin D to prevent free radicals. B) vitamin E to protect the bones. C) vitamin C to protect the immune system. D) calcium to protect the immune system.

Q: The public health goal of reducing the average period of diminished vigor before death as life expectancy extends is called A) compression of morbidity. B) selective optimization. C) anticipation of mortality. D) quality of life expectancy.

Q: How do men and women compare in their physical health after age 85? A) Women have fewer health problems overall. B) Men have more non-life-threatening disabling conditions. C) Women are better able to remain independent and engage in society. D) Men are less likely to be impaired because only the sturdiest men have survived.

Q: Low-SES older adults are __________ likely than higher-SES older adults to seek medical care because __________. A) less; they are more likely to rely on holistic medicine B) less; they are less optimistic that treatment will work C) more; their medical care is paid for by the government D) more; they are more trusting of the medical profession in general

Q: Which of the following statements about health, fitness, and disability in late adulthood is true? A) The number of feared physical selves increases with age. B) The number of hoped-for physical selves increases with age. C) Because older people compare themselves to same-age peers, the majority rate their health unfavorably. D) Subjective ratings of one's own health decline in late life, even when objective assessments by health professionals are positive.

Q: In Momence, Illinois, A) a high percentage of older people report feeling useless most or all of the time. B) a status hierarchy makes the oldest man and his wife the town leaders. C) seniors hold positions of authority because of their length of residence and intimate knowledge of the community. D) children are sent to live in the homes of frail community members to provide care.

Q: Older adults fare best when they A) retain social status and opportunities for community participation, even after they become frail. B) retire from community participation around the same time that they retire from their careers. C) are treated with respect, but are relieved from positions of authority within the community. D) are encouraged to sit back and let younger community members serve them.

Q: The Shigoka family celebrated Haru's sixtieth birthday with a surprise party that recognized his senior place in the family and society. This ritual is called A) kanreki. B) isumataq. C) quincinero. D) gulabjamen.

Q: Which of the following statements about stereotypes of aging is true? A) Adults with more education are more susceptible to the detrimental effects of aging stereotypes. B) Older adults rarely appear in television programs and, when they do, typically play minor roles. C) Negative portrayals of seniors on television and in other media are common. D) People see older adults in stereotypical ways, unless they appear otherwise.

Q: Mrs. Nguyen agrees with the following statement: "As I get older, things are better than I thought they"d be." Mrs. Nguyen's self-perception A) is an example of stereotype threat. B) may help her live a longer life. C) suggests that she is in denial. D) is consistent with the prevailing Western stereotype of late adulthood.

Q: Devices like smart caps and sensor-activated room lights are A) considered essential medical equipment under U.S. and Canadian government-sponsored health-care coverage. B) not considered essential medical equipment under U.S. government-sponsored health-care coverage. C) cost-effective and available to most older adults in industrialized countries. D) too technically complicated to be useful to most older adults.

Q: Because he has mobility problems, Mr. Dow has a phone that can be dialed and answered by voice commands. This is an example of A) a smart-device. B) selective optimization with compensation. C) assistive technology. D) assisted living.

Q: Older adults who __________ adapt more favorably and feel better about it. A) see aging as inevitable and uncontrollable B) generate new, problem-centered coping strategies for aging C) use cosmetics and surgery to combat aging D) ruminate about the effects of aging

Q: Walt, age 75, says that he feels about 60 years old. Sixty is Walt's __________ age. A) skeletal B) functional C) subjective D) desired

Q: On average, by 60 to 70 years of age, __________ percent of muscle power has been lost. A) 10 to 20 B) 20 to 30 C) 30 to 40 D) 40 to 50

Q: __________ especially decline in height because of a loss of __________. A) Men; lean body mass B) Women; bone mineral content C) Men; muscle and fat D) Women; muscle and fat

Q: Which of the following statements about the physical signs of aging is true? A) The hands are especially likely to show the effects of aging. B) Oil glands that lubricate the skin become more active. C) Cigarette smokers have fewer age spots than nonsmokers. D) In men with heredity pattern baldness, hair follicles begin to produce fine, downy hair.

Q: Older adults who have trouble sleeping can reduce their difficulties by A) using the bedroom only for sleep. B) taking sleeping pills on a regular basis. C) taking frequent short naps during the day. D) cutting back on exercise.

Q: Which of the following statements about sleep apnea is true? A) It affects more women than men. B) Those who are underweight are especially prone to it. C) It affects 45 to 60 percent of older adults. D) It affects more people in early than in late adulthood.

Q: Until age 70 or 80, A) insomnia affects few older adults. B) men experience more sleep disturbances than women. C) women go to bed and wake up earlier than men. D) women are more prone to sleep apnea than men.

Q: Per day, older adults require __________ younger adults. A) less sleep than B) as much total sleep as C) an hour or two more sleep than D) several hours more sleep than

Q: Which of the following is an indicator of survival over the next two years in a very old person? A) increased lung capacity B) low T cell activity C) high cortisol activity D) high T cell activity

Q: Francesca's immune system has begun to turn against normal body tissues, which is referred to as A) selective optimization. B) primary aging. C) an autoimmune response. D) compression of morbidity.

Q: Vital capacity is reduced by half between ages 25 and 80 because A) lung tissue gradually loses its elasticity. B) the lungs shrink as their cells die. C) the blood absorbs more oxygen and gives off less carbon dioxide. D) the rib cage can no longer expand as much.

Q: As the years pass, A) the heart muscle becomes less rigid. B) the walls of the left ventricle thin. C) some of the cells in the heart muscle die while others enlarge. D) artery walls get thinner and softer.

Q: __________ skills are strongly correlated with older adults' tactile performance. A) Fluid B) Crystallized C) Verbal D) Auditory

Q: Researchers believe that odor perception __________ with age. A) increases B) wanes and becomes distorted C) becomes more discriminating D) does not change

Q: Yuki's reduced sensitivity to sweet, salty, sour, and bitter flavors was evident by age 60, but __________ can help make her food more attractive. A) socializing at mealtimes B) artistic arrangements C) trying new recipes D) flavor additives

Q: Most older adults do not suffer from hearing loss great enough to disrupt their daily lives until A) around age 65. B) between ages 70 and 75. C) around age 80. D) after age 85.

Q: Of all hearing difficulties, the __________ has the greatest impact on life satisfaction. A) inability to hear at high frequencies B) inability to detect soft sounds C) age-related decline in speech perception D) age-related decline in responsiveness to startling noises

Q: Although hearing loss has less impact on self-care than vision loss, it greatly affects A) enjoyment of life. B) activities of daily living. C) instrumental activities of daily living. D) employment.

Q: The leading cause of blindness among older adults is A) a decline in binocular vision. B) cataracts. C) macular degeneration. D) cell loss in the optic nerve.

Q: In late life, more women than men report being __________ impaired, and more men than women __________ impaired. A) visually; hearing B) hearing; visually C) sensory; physically D) physically; sensory

Q: One way older adults compensate for neuron loss is A) with an increase in glial cells, which myelinate neural fibers. B) to call on additional brain regions to support cognitive processing. C) with increased efficiency of the central nervous system. D) with increased efficiency of the autonomic nervous system.

Q: Wanda, age 77, has difficulty shopping for and preparing her food and paying her bills. Wanda needs help with A) instrumental activities of daily living. B) primary activities of active functioning. C) activities of daily living. D) secondary activities of active functioning.

Q: Which of the following statements about the maximum lifespan of humans is true? A) For people age 65 and older, life expectancy has increased dramatically over the past decade. B) Gains in average life expectancy are largely the result of reducing health risks in the first 20 or 30 years. C) Today, the odds of becoming a centenarian are moderate to high. D) Researchers agree that we cannot and should not add to human maximum lifespan.

Q: Robust centenarians tend to A) have a stocky build. B) exhibit a Type A personality style. C) have little to no history of community involvement. D) be toughminded.

Q: Which of the following statements about centenarians is true? A) The majority of centenarians are located in the United States. B) Only about 10 to 15 percent of centenarians are able to lead active, autonomous lives. C) Among centenarians, women outnumber men by five to one. D) The past 30 years have seen a 65 percent decrease in centenarians in the industrialized world.

Q: Once people pass __________ years, the contribution of heredity to length of life decreases in favor of environmental factors. A) 45 to 50 B) 55 to 60 C) 65 to 70 D) 75 to 80

Q: Around age 87, a life expectancy crossover occurs in that A) surviving members of low-SES ethnic minority groups live longer than members of the white majority. B) surviving members of the white majority live longer than members of low-SES ethnic minority groups. C) men outnumber women by a ratio of about 3 to 1. D) differences in rates of chronic illness between high-SES and low-SES groups increase with age.

Q: In developing nations with widespread poverty, malnutrition, disease, and armed conflict, average life expectancy hovers around _____ years. A) 45 B) 55 C) 65 D) 75

Q: Currently, an older adult in __________ can expect to live the longest in full health, without disease or injury. A) Japan B) Sweden C) the United States D) China

Q: Quality of life in old age can be predicted by estimating A) active life index. B) average healthy life expectancy. C) average life expectancy crossover. D) chronological age.

Q: David, a Caucasian American born in 2010, is likely to live 3 to 6 years __________ born the same year. A) less than Sam, an African American B) less than Evelyn, an African American C) longer than Mindy, a Caucasian American D) longer than Jason, an African American

Q: The __________ is believed to be responsible for the female advantage in average life expectancy. A) gender difference in alcohol consumption B) protective value of the extra X chromosome C) risk factor of the extra Y chromosome D) gender difference in preventative health care

Q: In the United States today, the average __________ is 78.5 yearsnearly 76 for men and 81 for women. A) brain age B) chronological age C) functional age D) life expectancy

Q: Ray's actual competence and performance in dealing with life's challenges indicate his __________ age. A) chronological B) biological C) functional D) social

Q: Late adulthood A) can be a time of continued potential. B) is a period of deterioration and isolation. C) is a period of dependency and decline. D) is best viewed as a break with earlier periods.

Q: Which of the following statements to an adult child is the most likely to promote positive ties? A) "Drive carefully on the freeway." B) "Let us know if we can help." C) "Be sure to wear your sweaterit is cold out there." D) "Be sure to drink plenty of water."

Q: After all five of her children struck out on their own, Naomi made sure everyone stayed in touch by creating a family blog. She also took charge of gathering the family for celebrations. Naomi is her family's A) social secretary. B) relationship guardian. C) kinkeeper. D) organizational arranger.

Q: Which of the following statements about midlifers' relationships with grown children is true? A) When warm, supportive relationships endure, intimacy between parents and children increases over the adult years. B) When children marry, parents generally experience a more distant relationship with the couple. C) Support in Western countries typically flows "upstream." D) Consistent with the saying, parents are usually as happy as their most happy child.

Q: Throughout middle adulthood, parents' relationships with their young adult children tend to involve A) receiving more assistance than they give. B) giving more assistance than they receive. C) careful monitoring and awareness of day-to-day activities. D) escalating tensions and little communication.

Q: Which of the following parents are the most likely to give positive reports of their own psychological well-being? A) the Jones, who have two children, one successful and one problematic B) the Meyers, who have four children, three successful and one problematic C) the Heruzzis, who have a successful only child D) the Rashads, who have three children, one successful and two problematic

Q: Which of the following factors can prompt parental strain as children depart from the home? A) a child who was born after the parents turned 30 B) a higher SES C) a strong orientation toward work D) a child who is "off-time" in development

Q: More Italian young adults reside with their parents until marriage than in other Western nations because A) young adults must financially contribute to the family's welfare before moving on. B) Italian parents grant their adolescent children extensive freedoms within the parental home. C) parents believe that moving out without a "justified" reason signifies that something is wrong in the family. D) Italian young adults are expected to serve as family kinkeepers.

Q: Which of the following statements about launching children and moving on is true? A) The age at which midlifers experience their children's departure is typically 40 to 45. B) Most parents adjust well to their children's departure from the home. C) A strong home orientation, especially, predicts gains in life satisfaction after children depart from the home. D) Parents who have a greater difficulty with launching their children have more positive relationships with their grown children.

Q: Little is known about long-term adjustment following divorce among middle-aged men, perhaps because A) so few men divorce in middle adulthood. B) they often die within 5"10 years after divorce. C) how well they adjust depends on the reasons for the divorce. D) most enter new relationships and remarry within a short time.

Q: Following her divorce, 48-year-old Donna reevaluated what she considered important in a healthy relationship. She most likely places A) greater weight on passionate love. B) greater weight on equal friendship. C) less emphasis on communication. D) more emphasis on financial security.

Q: Fifty-year-old James filed for divorce from his wife of 25 years. It is likely that he A) is comfortable with uncertainty and has a self-reliant personality. B) is frustrated with the lack of communication in his marriage. C) is already involved romantically with someone else. D) placed more weight on passionate love than his wife.

Q: Which of the following statements about divorce in midlife is true? A) Women are more likely than men to admit that their emotional inattentiveness played a major role in marital failure. B) Middle-aged adults with little or no education are more likely to divorce than highly educated midlifers. C) Women are more likely than men to initiate divorce, and those who do fare somewhat better in psychological well-being. D) Women who initiate a split often already have another romantic involvement to turn to after the divorce.

Q: The gender gap in poverty is A) lower in the United States than in other Western industrialized nations. B) virtually nonexistent in the United States, but exists in many nonindustrialized nations. C) a trend of the past that has been successfully overcome by strong public policies safeguarding women. D) higher in the United States than in other Western industrialized nations.

Q: The __________ of poverty is a trend in which women who support themselves or their families have become the majority of the adult poverty population. A) emasculation B) gender equalization C) feminization D) glass ceiling

Q: The divorce rate of U.S. 50- to 65-year-olds A) is the lowest for the highly educated. B) has fallen over the past 25 years. C) has doubled over the past two decades. D) is less than half as among remarried couples.

Q: Which of the following statements about "launching children and moving on" is true? A) Many contemporary parents launch children a decade or more before retirement, then seek other rewarding activities. B) For most parents, the period of launching children and moving on is filled with feelings of emptiness and regret. C) Many contemporary parents regard launching children as their last major goal in life, as well as their most important one. D) The period of launching children and moving on is marked by the smallest number of exits and entries of family members.