CHAPTER 8—(MC 1-200) LANGUAGE AND THOUGHT
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Cognition refers to
a. focusing awareness on a narrow range of stimuli or events
b. the use of language in a social context
c. widely shared beliefs that are transmitted socially across generations
d. the mental processes involved in acquiring and using knowledge
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 93%
REF: p. 299 OBJ: 8-1 KEY: Factual
2. During the first half of the 20th century, the study of cognition was discouraged because
a. earlier studies using the method of introspection had yielded unreliable results
b. of the theoretical dominance of psychodynamic theories
c. cognition was not considered to be a psychological function
d. language acquisition was viewed as an innate process that could not be studied empirically
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 40%
REF: p. 299 OBJ: 8-1 KEY: Factual
3. The 1950s brought a "cognitive revolution" in psychology because
a. some theorists recognized that an exclusive focus on observable behavior would yield an
incomplete picture of human functioning
b. it was finally recognized that cognition is a uniquely human capability
c. introspection became more objective and reliable as a research tool
d. behaviorists recognized that language could not be studied objectively
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 62%
REF: p. 299 OBJ: 8-1 KEY: Factual
4. Which of the following is NOT a cognitive activity?
a. remembering something
b. making a decision
c. solving a problem
d. blinking at something
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 96%
REF: p. 299 OBJ: 8-1 KEY: Concept/Applied
5. During the first half of the 20th century, the study of cognition was discouraged because
a. earlier studies using the method of introspection had reliably mapped the structure of
consciousness
b. of the theoretical dominance of behaviorism
c. cognition was not considered to be a psychological function
d. language acquisition was viewed as an innate process that could not be studied empirically
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: p. 299 OBJ: 8-1
TOP: WWW KEY: Concept/Applied
6. Which of the following theorists encouraged the study of cognitive activity which helped lead to the
cognitive revolution in the 1950s?
a. Sigmund Freud
, b. John Watson
c. Herbert Simon
d. B. F. Skinner
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: p. 299 OBJ: 8-1
KEY: Concept/Applied MSC: ** (new or revised)
7. Our ability to reason constitutes primarily
a. a behavioral activity
b. a cognitive activity
c. a learned activity
d. an objective activity
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 77%
REF: p. 299 OBJ: 8-1 KEY: Concept/Applied
8. All of the following theorists EXCEPT ____ encouraged the study of cognitive activity which helped
lead to the cognitive revolution in the 1950s.
a. Allen Newell
b. Noam Chomsky
c. Herbert Simon
d. B. F. Skinner
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: p. 299 OBJ: 8-1
KEY: Concept/Applied MSC: ** (new or revised)
9. Symbols that convey meaning, plus rules for combining those symbols that can be used to generate an
infinite variety of messages are known as
a. language
b. telegraphic speech
c. an overextension
d. semantics
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2
KEY: Factual MSC: ** (new or revised)
10. The three essential characteristics of language are that it must be
a. symbolic, phonemic, and structured
b. syntactic, generative, and semantic
c. symbolic, structured, and generative
d. generative, rule governed, and syntactic
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 63%
REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2 KEY: Factual MSC: ** (new or revised)
11. The symbols used in a language are arbitrary. In other words,
a. there is a built-in relationship between the look of the symbols and the concepts they stand
for
b. there is a built-in relationship between the sound of the symbols and the concepts they
stand for
c. the symbols have the same meaning to everyone
d. there is no built-in relationship between the symbols and the concepts they stand for
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 59%
REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2 KEY: Concept/Applied
,12. When we say that language is generative, we mean that
a. the symbols used in the language are arbitrary
b. a limited number of symbols can be combined to produce an infinite variety of messages
c. language is both written and oral
d. sentences must be structured in a limited number of ways
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2
KEY: Factual
13. The ability of language to allow a person to express new ideas refers to
a. the generative quality of language
b. the invention dimension of language
c. the constructive function of language
d. the symbolic dimension of language
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 60%
REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2 KEY: Concept/Applied
14. The fact that language has rules that govern the arrangement of words into phrases and sentences refers
to the
a. generative aspect of language
b. phonemic aspect of language
c. continuity aspect of language
d. structured aspect of language
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 87%
REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2 KEY: Concept/Applied
15. Imagine that a race of extraterrestrials came to earth. These extraterrestrials quickly learned to use
Earth words to convey meaningful messages, but they never created new combinations of words or
learned how to use rules to create meaningful sentences. Their communications would
a. not be generative or structured, but would be symbolic
b. lack all the elements of language
c. not be symbolic, but would be generative and structured
d. have all the requirements for language
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2
KEY: Critical Thinking MSC: ** (new or revised)
16. Imagine that a race of extraterrestrials came to earth. These extraterrestrials quickly learned to use
Earth words to convey meaningful messages, and they were able to communicate effectively about
unique aspects of their planet in meaningful sentences. Their communications would
a. not be symbolic, but would be generative and structured
b. have all the requirements for language
c. not be generative or structured, but would be symbolic
d. not be generative, but would be structured and symbolic
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2
KEY: Critical Thinking MSC: ** (new or revised)
17. When the word "oat" is changed to the word "boat," the number of
a. phonemes and morphemes are both increased
b. phonemes stays the same, but the number of morphemes is increased
c. phonemes increases, but the number of morphemes stays the same
d. phonemes decreases, but the number of morphemes increases
, ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2
KEY: Concept/Applied
18. When the word "jar" is changed to the word "jars," the number of
a. phonemes increases, but the number of morphemes stays the same
b. phonemes stays the same, but the number of morphemes is increased
c. phonemes and morphemes are both increased
d. phonemes decreases, but the number of morphemes increases
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2
KEY: Concept/Applied
19. The word "unchangeable" consists of
a. nine morphemes, one for each letter of the alphabet used
b. one morpheme, for the entire word
c. four morphemes, one for each syllable
d. three morphemes: "un," "change," and "able"
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 52%
REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2 KEY: Concept/Applied
20. The word "psychology" consists of
a. ten morphemes, one for each letter of the alphabet used
b. one morpheme, for the entire word
c. three morphemes, one for each syllable
d. two morphemes: "psych," and "ology,"
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 52%
REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2 KEY: Concept/Applied
MSC: ** (new or revised)
21. Phonemes are
a. the same across all languages
b. the smallest units of sound in a spoken language
c. the smallest units of meaning in a spoken language
d. rules for combining sounds to form meaning
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: p. 301 OBJ: 8-2
TOP: WWW KEY: Factual
22. The English language uses
a. 26 phonemes, one for each letter of the alphabet
b. approximately 450,000 phonemes, one for each word
c. about 40 phonemes, corresponding to the letters of the alphabet plus several variations
d. all of the 100 or so phonemes that humans are capable of producing
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 90%
REF: p. 301 OBJ: 8-2 KEY: Factual
23. Which of the following statements is least accurate?
a. Humans are capable of producing about 100 phonemes.
b. A letter of the alphabet is represented by more than one phoneme if it has more than one
pronunciation.
c. All languages use all of the phonemes of which humans are capable.
d. Phonemes are combined into morphemes.
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Cognition refers to
a. focusing awareness on a narrow range of stimuli or events
b. the use of language in a social context
c. widely shared beliefs that are transmitted socially across generations
d. the mental processes involved in acquiring and using knowledge
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 93%
REF: p. 299 OBJ: 8-1 KEY: Factual
2. During the first half of the 20th century, the study of cognition was discouraged because
a. earlier studies using the method of introspection had yielded unreliable results
b. of the theoretical dominance of psychodynamic theories
c. cognition was not considered to be a psychological function
d. language acquisition was viewed as an innate process that could not be studied empirically
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 40%
REF: p. 299 OBJ: 8-1 KEY: Factual
3. The 1950s brought a "cognitive revolution" in psychology because
a. some theorists recognized that an exclusive focus on observable behavior would yield an
incomplete picture of human functioning
b. it was finally recognized that cognition is a uniquely human capability
c. introspection became more objective and reliable as a research tool
d. behaviorists recognized that language could not be studied objectively
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 62%
REF: p. 299 OBJ: 8-1 KEY: Factual
4. Which of the following is NOT a cognitive activity?
a. remembering something
b. making a decision
c. solving a problem
d. blinking at something
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 96%
REF: p. 299 OBJ: 8-1 KEY: Concept/Applied
5. During the first half of the 20th century, the study of cognition was discouraged because
a. earlier studies using the method of introspection had reliably mapped the structure of
consciousness
b. of the theoretical dominance of behaviorism
c. cognition was not considered to be a psychological function
d. language acquisition was viewed as an innate process that could not be studied empirically
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: p. 299 OBJ: 8-1
TOP: WWW KEY: Concept/Applied
6. Which of the following theorists encouraged the study of cognitive activity which helped lead to the
cognitive revolution in the 1950s?
a. Sigmund Freud
, b. John Watson
c. Herbert Simon
d. B. F. Skinner
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: p. 299 OBJ: 8-1
KEY: Concept/Applied MSC: ** (new or revised)
7. Our ability to reason constitutes primarily
a. a behavioral activity
b. a cognitive activity
c. a learned activity
d. an objective activity
ANS: B PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 77%
REF: p. 299 OBJ: 8-1 KEY: Concept/Applied
8. All of the following theorists EXCEPT ____ encouraged the study of cognitive activity which helped
lead to the cognitive revolution in the 1950s.
a. Allen Newell
b. Noam Chomsky
c. Herbert Simon
d. B. F. Skinner
ANS: D PTS: 1 REF: p. 299 OBJ: 8-1
KEY: Concept/Applied MSC: ** (new or revised)
9. Symbols that convey meaning, plus rules for combining those symbols that can be used to generate an
infinite variety of messages are known as
a. language
b. telegraphic speech
c. an overextension
d. semantics
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2
KEY: Factual MSC: ** (new or revised)
10. The three essential characteristics of language are that it must be
a. symbolic, phonemic, and structured
b. syntactic, generative, and semantic
c. symbolic, structured, and generative
d. generative, rule governed, and syntactic
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 63%
REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2 KEY: Factual MSC: ** (new or revised)
11. The symbols used in a language are arbitrary. In other words,
a. there is a built-in relationship between the look of the symbols and the concepts they stand
for
b. there is a built-in relationship between the sound of the symbols and the concepts they
stand for
c. the symbols have the same meaning to everyone
d. there is no built-in relationship between the symbols and the concepts they stand for
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 59%
REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2 KEY: Concept/Applied
,12. When we say that language is generative, we mean that
a. the symbols used in the language are arbitrary
b. a limited number of symbols can be combined to produce an infinite variety of messages
c. language is both written and oral
d. sentences must be structured in a limited number of ways
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2
KEY: Factual
13. The ability of language to allow a person to express new ideas refers to
a. the generative quality of language
b. the invention dimension of language
c. the constructive function of language
d. the symbolic dimension of language
ANS: A PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 60%
REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2 KEY: Concept/Applied
14. The fact that language has rules that govern the arrangement of words into phrases and sentences refers
to the
a. generative aspect of language
b. phonemic aspect of language
c. continuity aspect of language
d. structured aspect of language
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 87%
REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2 KEY: Concept/Applied
15. Imagine that a race of extraterrestrials came to earth. These extraterrestrials quickly learned to use
Earth words to convey meaningful messages, but they never created new combinations of words or
learned how to use rules to create meaningful sentences. Their communications would
a. not be generative or structured, but would be symbolic
b. lack all the elements of language
c. not be symbolic, but would be generative and structured
d. have all the requirements for language
ANS: A PTS: 1 REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2
KEY: Critical Thinking MSC: ** (new or revised)
16. Imagine that a race of extraterrestrials came to earth. These extraterrestrials quickly learned to use
Earth words to convey meaningful messages, and they were able to communicate effectively about
unique aspects of their planet in meaningful sentences. Their communications would
a. not be symbolic, but would be generative and structured
b. have all the requirements for language
c. not be generative or structured, but would be symbolic
d. not be generative, but would be structured and symbolic
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2
KEY: Critical Thinking MSC: ** (new or revised)
17. When the word "oat" is changed to the word "boat," the number of
a. phonemes and morphemes are both increased
b. phonemes stays the same, but the number of morphemes is increased
c. phonemes increases, but the number of morphemes stays the same
d. phonemes decreases, but the number of morphemes increases
, ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2
KEY: Concept/Applied
18. When the word "jar" is changed to the word "jars," the number of
a. phonemes increases, but the number of morphemes stays the same
b. phonemes stays the same, but the number of morphemes is increased
c. phonemes and morphemes are both increased
d. phonemes decreases, but the number of morphemes increases
ANS: C PTS: 1 REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2
KEY: Concept/Applied
19. The word "unchangeable" consists of
a. nine morphemes, one for each letter of the alphabet used
b. one morpheme, for the entire word
c. four morphemes, one for each syllable
d. three morphemes: "un," "change," and "able"
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 52%
REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2 KEY: Concept/Applied
20. The word "psychology" consists of
a. ten morphemes, one for each letter of the alphabet used
b. one morpheme, for the entire word
c. three morphemes, one for each syllable
d. two morphemes: "psych," and "ology,"
ANS: D PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 52%
REF: p. 300 OBJ: 8-2 KEY: Concept/Applied
MSC: ** (new or revised)
21. Phonemes are
a. the same across all languages
b. the smallest units of sound in a spoken language
c. the smallest units of meaning in a spoken language
d. rules for combining sounds to form meaning
ANS: B PTS: 1 REF: p. 301 OBJ: 8-2
TOP: WWW KEY: Factual
22. The English language uses
a. 26 phonemes, one for each letter of the alphabet
b. approximately 450,000 phonemes, one for each word
c. about 40 phonemes, corresponding to the letters of the alphabet plus several variations
d. all of the 100 or so phonemes that humans are capable of producing
ANS: C PTS: 1 DIF: Correct = 90%
REF: p. 301 OBJ: 8-2 KEY: Factual
23. Which of the following statements is least accurate?
a. Humans are capable of producing about 100 phonemes.
b. A letter of the alphabet is represented by more than one phoneme if it has more than one
pronunciation.
c. All languages use all of the phonemes of which humans are capable.
d. Phonemes are combined into morphemes.
