Exam #1 (Psy of Aging)

Question 1

What is the fastest growing age group? [ch 1]
a) Young-old 65-75
b) Old-old 75+
c) Middle-aged
d) Oldest-old 85+

Answer 1

D. Oldest-old 85+

Question 2

Dr. Garza is conducting a study on the effects of sensory declines on participants who are at least 85 years old. These participants are in what “aging phase”?
A. None of the above
B. Oldest old
C. Old old
D. Young old

Answer 2

B. Oldest old

Question 3

All of the following statements regarding longitudinal research are true except:
A. The studies show only how aging occurs in one cohort
B. The studies offer too pessimistic a picture of normal aging
C. The studies are expensive, difficult, and time-consuming
D. The studies confound age change and time-of-measurement effects

Answer 3

B. The studies offer too pessimistic a picture of normal aging

Question 4

In which year is the population pyramid graph shaped most like a pyramid?
A. 2000
B. 1960
C. 2030
D. 1900

Answer 4

D. 1900

Question 5

Which condition is considered an acute disease:
A. Diabetes
B. Tuberculosis
C. Arthritis
D. Hypertension

Answer 5

B. Tuberculosis

Question 6

Which of the following terms is used for the theory that the body ages because of continued use and accumulated “results”
A. tertiary
B. programmed
C. primary
D. wear-and-tear

Answer 6

D. wear-and-tear

Question 7

Males have a longer life expectancy than females, true or false?

Answer 7

False

Question 8

Dana studies how peoples’ goals change as they age, and how they maintain and enhance the goals they choose. Which model does
A. the ecological model
B. the social-cognitive model
C. the selective optimization with compensation model
D. the epigenetic model

Answer 8

C. the selective optimization with compensation model

Question 9

Compared to programmed theories of aging, stochastic theories are better able to explain how lifestyle factors affect an individual’s rate of aging and chances of living a long life, true or false?

Answer 9

True

Question 10

The baby boom generation refers to individuals born between
A. 1981-1990
B. 1929-1940
C. 1990-2000
D. 1946-1964

Answer 10

D. 1946-1964

Question 11

The Hayflick limit refers to the:
A. minimum amount of nutrients a person’s diet requires to remain healthy
B. upper limit on the amount of stress that the human body can withstand
C. biological limit on the number of times cells will divide
D. upper limit of the human life expectancy

Answer 11

C. biological limit on the number of times cells will divide

Question 12

According to the text, Useful Field of View (UFOV)
A. can be improved only with surgery to the lens of the eye
B. can be improved with glasses that correct near-sightedness
C. is a significant predictor of driving performance and crash frequency
D. is superior in older adults as compared to younger adults

Answer 12

C. is a significant predictor of driving performance and crash frequency

Question 13

Which kind of aging is most strongly influenced by diet and exercise?
A. Process aging
B. Programmed aging
C. Secondary aging
D. Primary aging

Answer 13

C. Secondary aging

Question 14

Nature/nurture is an important theme in developmental psychology. Nature refers to __ and nurture refers to __.
A. genetic factors; environmental factors
B. environmental factors; life experiences
C. biological factors; life experiences
D. life experience; hereditary factors

Answer 14

A. genetic factors; environmental factors

Question 15

A majority of older adults are functionally dependent. True/False

Answer 15

False

Question 16

Smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol are all risk factors for developing heart disease. What do they have in common?
A. They are more common among women than men
B. They are more common among younger adults than older adults
C. They have a high degree of heritability
D. They can be modified by life style changes

Answer 16

D. They can be modified by life style changes

Question 17

Osteoporosis
A. can be reversed with daily doses of lithium
B. is a disorder in which bones become thin and brittle
C. none of the above
D. is most prevalent in black women

Answer 17

B. is a disorder in which bones become thin and brittle

Question 18

Sarah has developed opaque areas in the lenses of her eyes. She probably
A. is farsighted
B. has cataracts
C. has glaucoma
D. has presbyopia

Answer 18

B. has cataracts

Question 19

According to the ecological model of aging, people adapt best
A. to environments that present a low degree of challenge or press
B. when environmental press is tailored to their own level of competence
C. to environments that present a high degree of challenge or press
D. when other people shape their environment for them

Answer 19

B. when environmental press is tailored to their own level of competence

Question 20

Approximately __ of the U.S. population is currently over the age of 65; by 2030 this figure is projected to be approximately __.
A. 15%; 20%
B. 1%; 4%
C. 5%; 10%
D. 20%; 30%

Answer 20

A. 15%; 20%

Question 21

Which of the following is the best example of a basic activity of daily living (ADL)?
A. shopping
B. driving
C. bathing
D. cooking

Answer 21

C. bathing

Question 22

Secondary prevention refers to efforts to control illness by intervening once a disease has struck. True/False

Answer 22

False

Question 23

Which of the following is a programmed theory of aging?
A. Time clock (cellular) theory
B. Accumulation theory
C. Wear and tear theory
D. Free radical theory

Answer 23

A. Time clock (cellular) theory

Question 24

One problem with cross-sectional studies is the confounding of:
A. age effects and practice effects (from repeated testing)
B. age effects and time-of-measurement effects
C. age effects and socioeconomic status
D. cohort effects and time-of-measurement effects
E. age effects and cohort effects

Answer 24

E. age effects and cohort effects

Question 25

By "rectangularization" of the survival curve, we mean: A. compression of mortality B. expansion of mortality C. expansion of morbidity D. compression of morbidity

Answer 25

A. compression of mortality

Question 26

Sequential designs are used in order to A. complete research studies quickly and efficiently B. follow the same group of people over time C. test people from only one age group D. disentangle the effects of age, cohort, and time of measurement

Answer 26

D. disentangle the effects of age, cohort, and time of measurement

Question 27

Morbidity refers to __, whereas mortality refers to __. A. chronic illness; acute illness B. length of life; quality of life C. longevity; disease D. illness; death

Answer 27

D. illness; death

Question 28

Which statement is closest to the lifespan development perspective? A. There are gains and losses over the life span with a shift in proportion in older adulthood toward more gains than losses B. Up to the point of young adulthood there are only gains, after which there are losses in every aspect of functioning C. People make steady gains from young to older adulthood and there are never any losses D. There are gains and losses over the life span with a shift in older adulthood toward a greater proportion of losses than gains

Answer 28

D. There are gains and losses over the life span with a shift in older adulthood toward a greater proportion of losses than gains

Question 29

Which biological theory of aging postulates that by-products of cell metabolism may damage and cause mutations in cells? A. Cross-linking theory B. Accumulation theory C. Wear and tear theory D. Free radical theory E. Time-clock (cellular) theory

Answer 29

D. Free radical theory

Question 30

Compared with American men, American women tend to A. have fewer years of poor health B. have a higher quality of life in old age C. live longer D. all of the above

Answer 30

C. live longer

Question 31

Which event is most likely to be considered a normative age-graded influence on development? A. winning the lottery B. losing a job in an economic recession C. being diagnosed with heart disease at the age of 35 D. job retirement at the age of 65

Answer 31

D. job retirement at the age of 65

Question 32

The ability to tolerate heat and cold: A. does not change over the lifespan B. decreases with age C. is the most common decline with age D. increases with age

Answer 32

B. decreases with age

Question 33

Compared to young adults, older adults have __ for smell, taste, and touch sensitivity. A. a higher threshold B. the same threshold C. a lower threshold

Answer 33

A. a higher threshold

Question 34

Aging that is accompanied by clear evidence of illness such as Alzheimer's Disease is called A. unsuccessful aging B. negative aging C. normal aging D. pathological aging E. optimal aging

Answer 34

D. Pathological aging

Question 35

The most common chronic health problem of older adults is: A. arthritis B. osteoporosis C. vision loss D. dementia

Answer 35

B. osteoporosis

Question 36

Which type of sensory change in older adulthood is most likely to affect mental health? A. Motor Performance B. Smell C. Taste D. Vision E. Hearing

Answer 36

E. Hearing

Question 37

According to the selective optimization with compensation (SOC) model, people who adapt best to the aging process are those who A. sit back, relax, and let other people take the lead on everything. B. put their energies into as many skills and activities as possible C. hold the highest standards and expectations in all areas of functioning D. choose a few skills and activities on which to focus their energies

Answer 37

D. choose a few skills and activities on which focus to focus their energies

Question 38

What term is used for the average number of years that people in a particular cohort are likely to live A. Longitudinality B. Life span C. Hayflick limit D. Life expectancy

Answer 38

D. Life expectancy

Question 39

Which of the following changes are true regarding the age structure of America? (select all that apply) A. the dependency ratio is decreasing B. the absolute number of older adults is staying fairly constant C. the relative proportion of older adults is increasing D. life expectancy has increased over the past century

Answer 39

C. the relative proportion of older adults is increasing D. life expectancy has increased over the past century

Question 40

In normative aging, which of the following statements are true regarding the Cardiovascular System? (select all that apply) A. Arteriosclerosis increases, affected by lifestyle B. Many problems with this system are the result of disease, not aging C. Atherosclerosis increases, affected by lifestyle D. Heart gains 1% pumping capacity each year after age 30 E. Diastolic blood pressure increases F. Systolic blood pressure increases G. Heart shrinks in size H. Blood remains healthy

Answer 40

B. Many problems with this system are the result of disease, not aging F. Systolic blood pressure increases H. Blood remains healthy

Question 41

In normative aging, which of the following changes are expected in the Immune System? (select all that apply) A. Fewer antibodies are made B. Improved built-up tolerance to viral infections C. Autoimmune diseases increase D. The thymus shrinks by 5%

Answer 41

C. Autoimmune diseases increase D. The thymus shrinks by 5%

Question 42

In normative aging, which of the following changes are expected in terms of the Muscular and Skeletal systems? (select all that apply) A. Joints lose flexibility B. Decrease in muscle mass, strength and tone C. Redistribution of body fat D. Declines can be minimized with exercise

Answer 42

A. Joints lose flexibility B. Decrease in muscle mass, strength and tone C. Redistribution of body fat D. Declines can be minimized with exercise

Question 43

Consider morbidity and mortality. Currently, in the United States, we are (select all that apply) A. experiencing longer periods of illness/disability B. living longer C. delaying the onset of illness D. focusing all our efforts on prevention, as opposed to treatment or cure E. increasing adherence to preventative health behaviors F. dying after periods of prolonged disability G. spending fewer years suffering from illness-related disability

Answer 43

B. living longer C. delaying the onset of illness D. focusing all our efforts on prevention, as opposed to treatment or cure G. spending fewer years suffering from illness-related disability