Cognition II

Processing every possible combination of the letters DBRI to arrive at the word BIRD is an example of the use of:

• a heuristic

• a hypothesis

• an inference rule

• an expert system

• an algorithm

According to Benjamin Whorf’s linguistic relativity hypothesis, which of the following is true?

• children learn quantifying words such as “more” and “further” sooner than they do absolutes such as “every” and “all”

• different languages predispose those individuals who speak them to think about the world in different ways

• children learn their first language from their relatives and their peer group

• individuals learn positive instances of concepts faster than they learn negative instances

• individuals have a natural predisposition to learn language

Noam Chomsky’s view of language proposes that:

• language is learned principally through verbal reinforcement

• language acquisition can be explained by social modeling

• different levels of language ability are hereditarily determined

• there is an inherent language acquisition device

• thinking is merely sub-vocal language

On a fishing trip with his father, Dr. Rajter realizes that he has mistakenly packed his mom’s sewing box instead of the tackle box. He wants to fish but returns home because he does not have any line or hooks. The failure to realize that sewing thread can be used as a fishing line and that a bent needle can be used as a hook is an example of:

• poor problem representation

• cognitive accommodation

• backward masking

• functional fixedness

• proactive interference

All of the following are accurate regarding the history of intelligence tests EXCEPT:

• Psychological tests can be easily categorized between aptitude and achievement tests

• Traditional IQ is poorly adapted to the measurement of adult intelligence

• Mental retardation is marked by both IQ lower than 70 and difficulty adapting to everyday life situations

• Lewis Terman’s motivations for developing the modern intelligence test included manipulation of the human gene pool

• Alfred Binet hoped to use intelligence tests as a tool for educational improvement

Heritability is best defined as which of the following?

• the extent to which variation between two different groups can be explained by genetic factors

• the characteristics of the environment which play a role in the expression of traits

• the extent to which variation among various individuals may be attributed to genetic factors

• the extent to which an individual’s characteristics may be attributed to genetic factors

• The degree to which socio-economic status plays a role in the expression of traits such as intelligence

A dessert recipe that gives you the ingredients, their amounts and the steps to follow is an example of a(n):

• prototype

• algorithm

• heuristic

• mental set

Natasha fills out a personality inventory several times over the course of one year. The results of each administration of the test are extremely different. Natasha’s situation suggests that this personality inventory may not be

• heritable

• projective

• normed

• valid

• reliable

Because she believes that boys are naughtier than girls, Izzy, a child psychologist, watches boys more closely than she watches girls for any signs of misbehavior. This surveillance strategy best illustrates:

• the framing effect

• the representativeness heuristic

• functional fixedness

• confirmation bias

• the availability heuristic

Which of the following is not one of Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences?

• Linguistic

• Spatial

• Interpersonal

• Musical

• Practical