Q&A Hero

Q: Longitudinal research shows that from age 20 on, __________ decreases steadily. A) verbal ability B) inductive reasoning C) perceptual speed D) numeric ability

Q: Trends in both crystallized and fluid mental abilities reported from the Seattle Longitudinal Study indicate that middle-aged adults A) show steady increases in nonverbal IQ. B) often overestimate their intellectual abilities, sometimes with embarrassing results. C) are "in their prime," not "over the hill." D) show sharp decrements in ability, starting around age 40.

Q: Verbal IQ usually begins to decline in the A) twenties. B) forties. C) sixties. D) eighties.

Q: Which type of intelligence begins to decline in the twenties? A) kinesthetic B) crystallized C) naturalistic D) fluid

Q: On intelligence tests, spatial relations, digit span, and letter"number sequencing items measure __________ intelligence. A) fluid B) naturalistic C) crystallized D) kinesthetic

Q: __________ intelligence refers to skills that depend on accumulated knowledge and experience, good judgment, and mastery of social conventions. A) Fluid B) Crystallized C) Naturalistic D) Kinesthetic

Q: Which of the following statements about the widespread belief that intelligence inevitably declines in middle and late adulthood as the brain deteriorates is true? A) Many early cross-sectional studies showed an age-related increase in cognitive functioning. B) Cohort effects do not appear to affect the appearance of age-related intelligence declines in middle adulthood. C) Widespread testing of college students and soldiers in the 1920s revealed an age-related increase in intelligence in middle adulthood. D) When adults are followed longitudinally, their verbal scores rise during early adulthood and decline gradually during middle adulthood.

Q: One criticism of past research on cognitive aging is that it focused on intellectual A) stability. B) gains. C) competence. D) deficits.

Q: The double standard for gender and aging is A) declining. B) more relevant today than in previous generations. C) rarely evident in the media. D) adaptive at this point in history.

Q: Some evidence suggests that __________ contributes to negative judgments of a woman's physical appearance, especially by men. A) being a grandmother B) the end of a woman's ability to bear children C) being employed D) being a homemaker

Q: Which of the following statements about the double standard of gender and aging is true? A) Negative stereotypes of aging are more likely to be applied to men than to women. B) People often rate middle-aged men as less attractive than middle-aged women. C) People often rate middle-aged women as having more negative personality characteristics than middle-aged men. D) Women tend to judge aging females more harshly than men do.

Q: High-hardy individuals are likely to A) use active, problem-centered coping strategies in situations they can control. B) use emotion-centered and avoidant coping strategies. C) avoid seeking social support because they believe they can solve problems independently. D) deny that a stressful event occurred, or eat and drink to forget about it.

Q: Chrissy regards most experiences as controllable. She displays a committed approach to daily activities and views change as a normal part of life and a chance for personal growth. Chrissy fits the pattern of a __________ individual. A) Type A B) Type B C) pessimistic D) hardy

Q: What type of individual is likely to cope adaptively with stress brought on by the inevitable changes of life? A) one who views most experiences as out of her control B) one who fears change C) one who has a pessimistic outlook D) one who displays a committed, involved approach to daily activities

Q: Which of the following exercise formats is usually the most successful option for adults with highly stressful lives? A) an individual gym membership B) a home-based routine planned by a consultant C) a group class D) day-to-day modifications, such as taking the stairs instead of an elevator

Q: Maureen, an overweight 48-year-old, wants to start exercising. The format that will probably work best for her is a A) group spinning class. B) home-based routine planned by a consultant. C) gym membership. D) group swimming class.

Q: MaryAnn is taking an exercise class for the first time at age 50. MaryAnn believes she will be successful even though most of her friends quit during the first six months. MaryAnn has a A) Type A personality. B) sense of self-efficacy. C) Type B personality. D) sense of competitiveness.

Q: Which of the following statements about stress management in midlife is true? A) For people who have difficulty handling midlife's challenges, communities provide fewer social supports than for young adults or senior citizens. B) People tend to cope with stress less effectively as they move from early to middle adulthood. C) When middle-aged adults surmount a highly stressful experience, they report few lasting personal benefits. D) Community programs addressing concerns such as those of adult learners returning to college and caregivers of elderly parents fail to reduce stress.

Q: Teaching people to be __________ rather than hostile and to __________ rather than explode interrupts the intense physiological response that intervenes between psychological stress and illness. A) passive; implode B) impulsive; relax C) assertive; negotiate D) passive; avoid

Q: Ineffective coping A) is largely problem-centered. B) reduces emotional distress. C) is self-blaming, impulsive, or escapist. D) attempts to balance problem- and emotion-centered strategies.

Q: Kandilyn is unhappy with all the stressors in her life. The best approach for dealing with her stress is to use A) an emotion-centered coping strategy. B) a mixture of problem- and emotion-centered techniques. C) a problem-centered coping strategy. D) indirect methods of stress management.

Q: Suzanne viewed life as fluid. She expected change and accepted it as inevitable. When Suzanne was faced with a problem, she identified it and decided what to do about it. Suzanne used a(n) __________ coping strategy. A) problem-centered B) emotion-centered C) relaxation-centered D) holistic

Q: The best way for hostile and dominant people to reduce their risk of high blood pressure and heart disease is to A) develop effective ways of handling stress and conflict. B) learn how to suppress their hostility. C) force themselves to take an extended vacation. D) ruminate about past anger-provoking events.

Q: __________ is associated with high blood pressure and heart disease. A) Displaying a socially submissive emotional style B) Having an optimistic outlook C) Ruminating about past anger-provoking events D) Expressing frustration and disappointment

Q: Individuals who are repeatedly enraged are more likely to be A) overweight. B) smokers. C) depressed. D) highly educated.

Q: Charlie has frequent angry outbursts. He is rude, disagreeable, critical, and condescending. Charlie exhibits A) expressed hostility. B) suppressed anger. C) passive-aggressiveness. D) a socially dominant style.

Q: Which of the following statements about the Type A behavior pattern is true? A) Individuals with the Type A behavior pattern are not as likely as Type B individuals to develop heart disease. B) Hallmarks of the Type A pattern include ambition, patience, the ability to multitask, and a relaxed sense of time. C) Women score higher than men in hostility and dominance, evident in rapid, loud, insistent speech. D) Current evidence pinpoints hostility as a toxic ingredient of Type A in both men and women.

Q: Mr. Lombardo fell and fractured his hip, and he has since been diagnosed with osteoporosis. Mr. Lombardo's doctor probably recommends A) weight-resistant exercise. B) endurance training. C) weight-bearing exercise. D) extra sodium and Vitamin D in his diet.

Q: Which of the following statements about osteoporosis is true? A) A family history of osteoporosis increases the risk of the condition. B) Overweight and obese women have an increased risk of the condition. C) By the late 60s, the decline in bone mass is two to five times greater in men than in women. D) Asian Americans are more susceptible to the condition that African Americans.

Q: The earlier a woman reaches menopause, the __________ her chances of developing __________. A) smaller; osteoporosis B) smaller; cardiovascular disease C) greater; osteoporosis D) greater; cardiovascular disease

Q: Raymond, age 52, has porous bones and a very low bone density level. Raymond is at risk for A) atherosclerosis. B) osteoporosis. C) scoliosis. D) arterial thrombosis.

Q: Symptoms of heart disease in women tend to A) be stronger than those experienced by men. B) take the form of heart attack more often than angina. C) get overlooked by doctors. D) be treated more aggressively by doctors.

Q: Janet has cardiovascular disease. Her doctor detected high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol. To relieve arterial blockage, Janet had __________, a procedure in which a surgeon threaded a needle-thin catheter into her arteries and inflated a balloon at its tip. A) angioplasty B) bypass surgery C) a pacemaker implantation D) angina pectoris

Q: Frank has intense, crushing pain in his chest. The doctors inform him that his heart is oxygen deprived. Frank has A) arterial thrombosis. B) atherosclerosis. C) arrhythmia. D) angina pectoris.

Q: When __________ persists, it can prevent the heart from pumping enough blood and result in faintness. A) BRCA2 B) arrhythmia C) osteoporosis D) angina pectoris

Q: The most extreme symptom of cardiovascular disease is A) a heart attack. B) atherosclerosis. C) angina pectoris. D) arrhythmia.

Q: Merrill has a buildup of plaque in his coronary arteries that encircle his heart and provide its muscles with oxygen and nutrients. Merrill has A) arrhythmia. B) angina pectoris. C) arterial thrombosis. D) atherosclerosis.

Q: __________ cancer is the leading malignancy for men. A) Lung B) Colon C) Prostate D) Pancreatic

Q: Women with either BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations A) are especially likely to develop breast cancer in middle to late adulthood. B) are unlikely to develop breast cancer. C) are especially likely to develop early-onset breast cancer. D) will almost certainly develop breast cancer before age 65.

Q: Cancer death rates __________ sharply as __________ decreases. A) increase; SES B) decrease; SES C) increase; education D) decrease; education

Q: __________ directly undergo abnormal cell duplication. A) Tumor suppressor genes B) Oncogenes C) T cells D) Germline mutations

Q: __________ cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths in both genders, worldwide. A) Lung B) Breast C) Colon D) Rectal

Q: From early to middle adulthood, the death rate due to cancer A) doubles. B) triples. C) multiplies fivefold. D) multiplies tenfold.

Q: Which of the following factors strongly predicts poor health and premature death in midlife? A) being female B) economic disadvantage C) being male D) early retirement

Q: The leading causes of death in middle age are __________ and __________. A) motor vehicle collisions; cancer B) falls; motor vehicle collisions C) cancer; cardiovascular disease D) falls; cardiovascular disease

Q: A group of unmarried women in their fifties gathers every month for a book club. At one meeting, several of the members lament on the fact that they had no sexual partners during the past year. Their lack of sexual activity can most likely be attributed to A) a postmenopausal decrease in sexual desire. B) an increase in impotence among men in their fifties. C) fewer opportunities for mixed-gender social engagements during midlife. D) a lack of opportunity due to a higher male mortality rate.

Q: Thomas, age 45, has been married for 20 years. When asked about his sex life, Thomas will probably say that sex is __________ than it was in his early married life. A) less important B) more dysfunctional C) less intense D) more frequent

Q: Which of the following statements about sexuality in middle adulthood is true? A) Frequency of sexual activity among married couples tends to increase. B) Dramatic changes in sexual activity are very common. C) Couples who have sex often in early adulthood tend to see a dramatic drop in midlife. D) The best predictor of sexual frequency is marital happiness.

Q: Among the middle-aged adults who rate their health unfavorably, A) men are more likely than women to suffer from nonfatal, limiting health problems. B) men usually attribute health complaints to temporary infections. C) men are more likely than women to suffer from fatal illnesses. D) sexuality is typically excluded as a positive indicator of health.

Q: In men with high blood pressure or atherosclerosis, __________ heighten(s) the risk of constricting blood vessels in the optic nerve, permanently damaging it. A) testosterone production B) sexual stimulation C) erectile dysfunction D) medications for impotence

Q: Viagra and other medications for impotence A) decrease blood flow to the penis. B) offer permanent relief from erectile dysfunction. C) are generally safe. D) are associated with an increased risk of cancer and stroke.

Q: Episodes of impotence A) are more common in midlife. B) are a sign of serious sexual dysfunction. C) rarely occur before age 50. D) are always caused by declining testosterone.

Q: Tony, age 77, married Nichole, age 24. They are not using birth control because of Tony's advanced age. You can advise them that A) Tony probably stopped producing semen around age 70. B) Tony produces less semen and sperm, which negatively affects fertility, but he can probably still father children. C) While Tony still produces semen, he probably stopped producing sperm around age 70. D) Tony cannot maintain a sufficient erection to father a child at his age.

Q: Which of the following women is the most likely to report negative physical and emotional symptoms of menopause? A) Jennifer, a North American woman B) Aiko, a Japanese woman C) Eme, a Mayan woman D) Sophie, a rural Greek woman

Q: In Western industrialized nations, menopause is A) assumed to be a syndrome requiring treatment. B) primarily viewed as a life transition. C) a time of increased social status. D) a welcome time of life.

Q: Which group of women is most likely to experience a positive attitude toward menopause? A) Caucasian-American women B) Mexican-American women C) women with little or no college education D) women born between 1925 and 1945

Q: Melissa has a family history of both cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. Her doctor is likely to A) prescribe hormone therapy for at least five years. B) begin hormone therapy a decade or two after menopause. C) advise against hormone therapy. D) prescribe hormone therapy on a short-term basis.

Q: Women age 65 and older taking HRT A) have a decreased risk of heart attack and stroke. B) have a decreased risk of breast cancer. C) have an elevated risk of Alzheimer's disease. D) receive estrogen without progesterone.

Q: Which of the following statements about hormone therapy is true? A) It lessens the risk of breast cancer if taken for at least four years. B) It is used by approximately 75 percent of postmenopausal women. C) It is highly successful at counteracting hot flashes. D) It has little effect on improving vaginal dryness.

Q: Ainsley, who has not had a hysterectomy, is undergoing menopause. Her doctor will probably recommend A) hormone replacement therapy (HRT). B) surgical removal of the ovaries (SRO). C) estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). D) postmenopausal surgery (PMS).

Q: To reduce the physical discomforts of menopause, Mary Beth's doctor prescribes low daily doses of estrogen known as A) hormone therapy. B) antidepressants. C) gabapentin. D) black cohosh.

Q: Which of the following women is the most likely to report fewer menopausal complaints? A) Laura, an American woman B) Gerta, a European woman C) Precious, an African woman D) Noriko, an Asian woman

Q: Which of the following statements about menopause is true? A) During menopause, complaints about sexual functioning decrease. B) Hot flashes and night sweats affect only about 1 in 12 women. C) Most studies reveal no association between menopause and depression in the general population. D) Following menopause, estrogen increases, causing the reproductive organs to increase in size.

Q: Which of the following women is the most likely to reach menopause the earliest? A) Maryann, who has borne three children B) Yessica, who has borne one child C) Mei Wu, who has borne five children D) Lisa, who has not borne children

Q: The changes involved in women's fertility decline occur gradually over a 10-year period, during which A) the production of estrogen drops. B) the production of estrogen increases. C) monthly cycles gradually increase in length until menstruation stops altogether. D) menstrual cycles become irregular and the reproductive organs increase in size.

Q: Jeanine is 55. According to her doctor, Jeanine's reproductive capacity has ended. She has reached the midlife reproductive transition called A) HRT. B) the climacteric. C) senescence. D) menarche.

Q: Which of the following statements about loss of bone strength in middle adulthood is true? A) Loss in bone density usually begins in the early twenties and accelerates in the thirties. B) Environmental factors do little to slow bone loss in postmenopausal women. C) Loss of bone strength causes the disks of the spinal column to collapse. D) By the end of middle adulthood, women have lost 70 percent of their bone density.

Q: Reduction in bone density during adulthood is A) minimal. B) substantial. C) common in men but not women. D) common in women but very rare in men.

Q: Donna, who has engaged in little exercise in the past decade, wants to offset both the excess weight and muscle loss of middle adulthood. She should engage in A) weight-bearing exercise that includes resistance training. B) endurance training that focuses on raising heart rate. C) an individual exercise program instead of a group program. D) intense, vigorous activity at the onset of her exercise program.

Q: Scientists have begun to explore calorie restriction mimetics A) because very few people would be willing to maintain a substantially reduced diet for most of their lifespan. B) because they believe that they can slow aging and extend the lifespan of both nonhuman and human primates. C) such as artificial food substances, long-lasting packaged foods, and virtual exercise regiments. D) because recent generations of Okinawans show health and longevity advantages using such mimetics.

Q: Research shows that dietary calorie restriction in nonhuman primates A) increases blood glucose and insulin levels. B) slows aging, but does not extend the lifespan. C) decreases bone density. D) increases accumulation of body fat.

Q: In a study of women ages 50 to 79, a __________ diet involving __________ was associated with greater initial weight loss and success at maintaining that loss over a seven-year period. A) low-carbohydrate; no consumption of pasta, bread, and starchy vegetables B) low-fat; increased consumption of vegetables, fruits, and grains C) low-sugar; no consumption of sugar or foods that quickly turn into sugar D) liquid; consumption of nutrient-packed shakes and smoothies

Q: Terry is approaching age 50. He can anticipate an accumulation of fat in which areas of his body? A) face and legs B) lower abdomen and face C) waist and upper arms D) back and upper abdomen

Q: Women's skin ages more quickly than men's because A) women are less likely to protect their skin from sun exposure. B) of hormonal changes caused by menopause. C) women spend less time outdoors. D) the dermis of women is not as thick as that of men.

Q: Kyle, age 52, has collections of pigment under his skin, especially on his face and hands. Kyle has developed A) dermatitis. B) age spots. C) eczema. D) crow's-feet.

Q: As we age, A) the epidermis becomes more firmly attached to the dermis. B) fibers in the dermis thicken. C) fat in the hypodermis increases. D) cells in both the epidermis and dermis decline in water content.

Q: The __________ adds to the soft lines and shape of the skin. A) epidermis B) protodermis C) dermis D) hypodermis

Q: Which of the following statements about age-related hearing loss is true? A) African tribal people display little age-related hearing loss. B) Women's hearing declines earlier and more rapidly than men's. C) The first sign of hearing loss is a sharp loss at low frequencies. D) Few middle-aged adults with hearing difficulties benefit from sound amplification with hearing aids.

Q: Michael, age 50, has noticed a hearing loss, especially at high frequencies. He feels that his hearing is not as sharp as it once was. Michael probably has a condition called A) presbyopia. B) senescence. C) presbycusis. D) sensorineural hearing loss.

Q: Glaucoma A) literally means "old eyes." B) involves changes in the vitreous of the eye. C) typically progresses without noticeable symptoms. D) is caused by neural changes in the visual system.