PSYC 101 Exam 2 V3 | PSYC 101 General
Psychology | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(PSYC101 Exam 2) | Portage Learning
1. In the context of sensation, which of the following defines the ‘Absolute Threshold’?
A. The largest amount of a stimulus that a person can tolerate before pain occurs.
B. The constant proportion of change needed to perceive a difference between two stimuli.
C. The minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time.
D. The psychological process of organizing and interpreting sensory information.
Correct Answer: C
The absolute threshold represents the boundary of our sensory capabilities for a specific
stimulus. It is scientifically measured as the point where a person can detect the signal half
of the time. This concept is fundamental to understanding how we begin to interact with
the environment through our five senses.
2. Which of the following are considered the five primary taste sensations according to
modern psychology? Select all that apply.
A. Sweet
B. Spicy
C. Sour
D. Umami
,E. Salty
F. Bitter
Correct Answer: A, C, D, E, F
Psychologists and biologists recognize five specific taste receptors on the tongue including
sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. Spicy is not considered a primary taste but rather a
pain or temperature signal sent to the brain via the trigeminal nerve. Each primary taste
served an evolutionary purpose, such as detecting energy-rich foods or potential toxins.
3. The process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent
stimulus energies from our environment is known as:
A. Sensation
B. Perception
C. Top-down processing
D. Transduction
Correct Answer: A
Sensation is the initial step of capturing raw data from the external world. It involves the
physical activation of sensory organs by environmental energy. Perception, by contrast, is
the higher-level mental process that gives meaning to these sensations.
4. Which structure of the eye is responsible for converting light energy into neural impulses?
A. Cornea
, B. Lens
C. Iris
D. Retina
Correct Answer: D
The retina acts as the light-sensitive inner surface of the eye containing rods and cones.
These photoreceptors trigger chemical changes that spark neural signals to the brain. Other
structures like the lens and cornea are primarily involved in focusing the light rather than
transduction.
5. In Pavlov’s original experiments with dogs, the meat powder served as the:
A. Unconditioned Stimulus (US)
B. Conditioned Response (CR)
C. Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
D. Unconditioned Response (UR)
Correct Answer: A
The meat powder is an unconditioned stimulus because it naturally and automatically
triggers a physiological response without prior learning. In this case, the response is
salivation, which is the unconditioned response. Pavlov used this biological association to
demonstrate how a neutral stimulus could become a conditioned stimulus.
Psychology | Actual Q&A with Rationale
(PSYC101 Exam 2) | Portage Learning
1. In the context of sensation, which of the following defines the ‘Absolute Threshold’?
A. The largest amount of a stimulus that a person can tolerate before pain occurs.
B. The constant proportion of change needed to perceive a difference between two stimuli.
C. The minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time.
D. The psychological process of organizing and interpreting sensory information.
Correct Answer: C
The absolute threshold represents the boundary of our sensory capabilities for a specific
stimulus. It is scientifically measured as the point where a person can detect the signal half
of the time. This concept is fundamental to understanding how we begin to interact with
the environment through our five senses.
2. Which of the following are considered the five primary taste sensations according to
modern psychology? Select all that apply.
A. Sweet
B. Spicy
C. Sour
D. Umami
,E. Salty
F. Bitter
Correct Answer: A, C, D, E, F
Psychologists and biologists recognize five specific taste receptors on the tongue including
sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. Spicy is not considered a primary taste but rather a
pain or temperature signal sent to the brain via the trigeminal nerve. Each primary taste
served an evolutionary purpose, such as detecting energy-rich foods or potential toxins.
3. The process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent
stimulus energies from our environment is known as:
A. Sensation
B. Perception
C. Top-down processing
D. Transduction
Correct Answer: A
Sensation is the initial step of capturing raw data from the external world. It involves the
physical activation of sensory organs by environmental energy. Perception, by contrast, is
the higher-level mental process that gives meaning to these sensations.
4. Which structure of the eye is responsible for converting light energy into neural impulses?
A. Cornea
, B. Lens
C. Iris
D. Retina
Correct Answer: D
The retina acts as the light-sensitive inner surface of the eye containing rods and cones.
These photoreceptors trigger chemical changes that spark neural signals to the brain. Other
structures like the lens and cornea are primarily involved in focusing the light rather than
transduction.
5. In Pavlov’s original experiments with dogs, the meat powder served as the:
A. Unconditioned Stimulus (US)
B. Conditioned Response (CR)
C. Conditioned Stimulus (CS)
D. Unconditioned Response (UR)
Correct Answer: A
The meat powder is an unconditioned stimulus because it naturally and automatically
triggers a physiological response without prior learning. In this case, the response is
salivation, which is the unconditioned response. Pavlov used this biological association to
demonstrate how a neutral stimulus could become a conditioned stimulus.
