GRE psychology practice test questions &
ANSWERS(RATED A+)
The ability of a postsynaptic neuron to respond to the presence of a particular
neurotransmitter that is released from a neighboring presynaptic neuron is
dependent on which of the following conditions?
a. the storage of the neurotransmitter in the presynaptic neuron
b. the ability of the neurotransmitter to penetrate the membrane of the postsynaptic
neuron
c. the presence of receptors on the postsynaptic neuron that have an affinity for that
particular neurotransmitter
d. whether or not the nts is excitatory or inhibitory
e. whether or not the postsynaptic neuron has an axon that is myelinated -
ANSWERThe presence of receptors on the postsynaptic neuron that have an affinity
for that particular neurotransmitter
Critics have argued that projective tests are too...
a. brief
b. concrete
c. quantitative
d. objective
e. subjective - ANSWERsubjective
Organizing the string of letters B-F-J-T-A-V-K-C into JFK-TV-CAB is an example of...
a. simplifying
b. clustering
c. seriating
d. chunking
e. paraphrasing - ANSWERchunking
clustering definition and example - ANSWERmethod used to identify subgroups or
profiles of individuals within the larger population that share similar patterns on a set
of variables
ex. memories out into related groupings during recall
The ability to put things in order based on quantity or magnitude - ANSWERseriation
When persuasive communications follow the peripheral route, they focus on which of
the following?
a. beliefs
b. facts
c. values
d. emotions
,e. cognitions - ANSWERemotions
What is the persuasion theory in social psychology? - ANSWERmass
communication theory that deals with messages aimed at subtly changing the
attitudes of receivers
elaboration likelihood model - ANSWERconsiders the variables of attitude change
approach (the source of the persuasive message, contents, characteristics of
audience and uses that to determine the type of attitude change that will occur
peripheral route persuasion - ANSWERthe audience is not motivated or analytical,
processing is low effort and persuaded by outside messages, temporary change in
attitude; relies on positive characteristics and emotions
central route of persuasion - ANSWERaudience is motivated and analytical, high
effort processing and evaluate message, and persuasion is lasting for attitude
change; logic driven using data and facts, focuses on quality of info
Consider the sentence "The dishwasher is running." Which of the following is true?
a. it can have more than one surface structure
b. it can have more than one deep structure
c. it is grammatically incorrect
d. it can have more than one syntax
e. it violates the rules of bottom up processing - ANSWERit can have more than one
deep structure
deep structure - ANSWERwhat you wish to express
surface structure - ANSWERhow a sentence is worded
According to the DSM-5, children with separation anxiety disorder often experience
which of the following symptoms in addition to excessive fear or anxiety over
separation from attachment figures?
a. excessive concern about the safety and well being of attachment figures
b. persistent desire to develop relationships with adults other than those who serve
as major attachment figures
c. pervasive anxiety about failure in school or social situations
d. perceptual delusion that the child's parents have been replaced by physically
identical imposters
e. irresistible urges to perform and repeat a certain act over and over again -
ANSWERexcessive concern about the safety and well being of attachment figures
seperation anxiety - ANSWERA. developmentally inappropriate and excessive fear
or anxiety concerning separation from those to whom the individual is attached
following at least three:1. persistent and excessive worry about losing major
attachment figures
2. persistent and excessive worry about experiencing and untoward event that
causes separation from figure
, 3. recurrent excessive distress from anticipating separation
4. persistent reluctance or refusal to go out bc of fear of separation
5. fear of being alone
6. refusal to go to sleep without being near attachment figure
7. repeated nightmares involving theme of separation
8. physical symptoms (headaches, stomachaches, nausea) when separation from
major attachment figures or in anticipation of it
B. lasting at least 4 weeks in children and 6 months or more in adults
C. distress
D. not better explained by another diagnosis
patients with bilateral damage to the hippocampal formation are tested on motor
learning tasks such as the tower of hanoi. Studies show that the patients improve
their performance w/ repeated exposures. When asked whether they have ever seen
the task, even after numerous test sessions with it, they typically report not having
seen it before. Such results have led to which of the following conclusions?
a. patients w hippocampal injury suffer from confabulation similar to Korsakoff's
patients
b. the inability to remember the tower of hanoi reflected a fundamental lesion-
induced inability to name objects
c. although procedural memory may not rely on normal hippocampal functioning,
declarative memory does
d. hippocampal injury enhances the acquisition of tasks relying on motor learning
e. whereas procedural memory is severely impaired after hippocampal injury,
reference memory is intact - ANSWERalthough procedural memory may not rely on
normal hippocampal functioning, declarative memory does
What is the function of the hippocampal formation? - ANSWERplays a role in
memory, spatial navigation, and control of attention; integral part of limbic system
playing a vital role in regulating learning, memory encoding, memory consolidation,
and spatial navigation
what occurs when there is bilateral damage to the hippocampus? -
ANSWERproduces moderately severe anterograde memory impairment, affecting
memory processing
which of the following is chemically similar to opiates, has the ability to reduce pain,
and is blocked by the action of naloxone?
a. norepinephrine
b acetylcholine
c. serotonin
d. endorphin
e. dopamine - ANSWERd. endorphin
Norepinephrine - ANSWERboth a neurotransmitter and a hormone; plays an
important role in the body's fight or flight response; used as a medication to increase
and maintain blood pressure in limited short term serious health situations
ANSWERS(RATED A+)
The ability of a postsynaptic neuron to respond to the presence of a particular
neurotransmitter that is released from a neighboring presynaptic neuron is
dependent on which of the following conditions?
a. the storage of the neurotransmitter in the presynaptic neuron
b. the ability of the neurotransmitter to penetrate the membrane of the postsynaptic
neuron
c. the presence of receptors on the postsynaptic neuron that have an affinity for that
particular neurotransmitter
d. whether or not the nts is excitatory or inhibitory
e. whether or not the postsynaptic neuron has an axon that is myelinated -
ANSWERThe presence of receptors on the postsynaptic neuron that have an affinity
for that particular neurotransmitter
Critics have argued that projective tests are too...
a. brief
b. concrete
c. quantitative
d. objective
e. subjective - ANSWERsubjective
Organizing the string of letters B-F-J-T-A-V-K-C into JFK-TV-CAB is an example of...
a. simplifying
b. clustering
c. seriating
d. chunking
e. paraphrasing - ANSWERchunking
clustering definition and example - ANSWERmethod used to identify subgroups or
profiles of individuals within the larger population that share similar patterns on a set
of variables
ex. memories out into related groupings during recall
The ability to put things in order based on quantity or magnitude - ANSWERseriation
When persuasive communications follow the peripheral route, they focus on which of
the following?
a. beliefs
b. facts
c. values
d. emotions
,e. cognitions - ANSWERemotions
What is the persuasion theory in social psychology? - ANSWERmass
communication theory that deals with messages aimed at subtly changing the
attitudes of receivers
elaboration likelihood model - ANSWERconsiders the variables of attitude change
approach (the source of the persuasive message, contents, characteristics of
audience and uses that to determine the type of attitude change that will occur
peripheral route persuasion - ANSWERthe audience is not motivated or analytical,
processing is low effort and persuaded by outside messages, temporary change in
attitude; relies on positive characteristics and emotions
central route of persuasion - ANSWERaudience is motivated and analytical, high
effort processing and evaluate message, and persuasion is lasting for attitude
change; logic driven using data and facts, focuses on quality of info
Consider the sentence "The dishwasher is running." Which of the following is true?
a. it can have more than one surface structure
b. it can have more than one deep structure
c. it is grammatically incorrect
d. it can have more than one syntax
e. it violates the rules of bottom up processing - ANSWERit can have more than one
deep structure
deep structure - ANSWERwhat you wish to express
surface structure - ANSWERhow a sentence is worded
According to the DSM-5, children with separation anxiety disorder often experience
which of the following symptoms in addition to excessive fear or anxiety over
separation from attachment figures?
a. excessive concern about the safety and well being of attachment figures
b. persistent desire to develop relationships with adults other than those who serve
as major attachment figures
c. pervasive anxiety about failure in school or social situations
d. perceptual delusion that the child's parents have been replaced by physically
identical imposters
e. irresistible urges to perform and repeat a certain act over and over again -
ANSWERexcessive concern about the safety and well being of attachment figures
seperation anxiety - ANSWERA. developmentally inappropriate and excessive fear
or anxiety concerning separation from those to whom the individual is attached
following at least three:1. persistent and excessive worry about losing major
attachment figures
2. persistent and excessive worry about experiencing and untoward event that
causes separation from figure
, 3. recurrent excessive distress from anticipating separation
4. persistent reluctance or refusal to go out bc of fear of separation
5. fear of being alone
6. refusal to go to sleep without being near attachment figure
7. repeated nightmares involving theme of separation
8. physical symptoms (headaches, stomachaches, nausea) when separation from
major attachment figures or in anticipation of it
B. lasting at least 4 weeks in children and 6 months or more in adults
C. distress
D. not better explained by another diagnosis
patients with bilateral damage to the hippocampal formation are tested on motor
learning tasks such as the tower of hanoi. Studies show that the patients improve
their performance w/ repeated exposures. When asked whether they have ever seen
the task, even after numerous test sessions with it, they typically report not having
seen it before. Such results have led to which of the following conclusions?
a. patients w hippocampal injury suffer from confabulation similar to Korsakoff's
patients
b. the inability to remember the tower of hanoi reflected a fundamental lesion-
induced inability to name objects
c. although procedural memory may not rely on normal hippocampal functioning,
declarative memory does
d. hippocampal injury enhances the acquisition of tasks relying on motor learning
e. whereas procedural memory is severely impaired after hippocampal injury,
reference memory is intact - ANSWERalthough procedural memory may not rely on
normal hippocampal functioning, declarative memory does
What is the function of the hippocampal formation? - ANSWERplays a role in
memory, spatial navigation, and control of attention; integral part of limbic system
playing a vital role in regulating learning, memory encoding, memory consolidation,
and spatial navigation
what occurs when there is bilateral damage to the hippocampus? -
ANSWERproduces moderately severe anterograde memory impairment, affecting
memory processing
which of the following is chemically similar to opiates, has the ability to reduce pain,
and is blocked by the action of naloxone?
a. norepinephrine
b acetylcholine
c. serotonin
d. endorphin
e. dopamine - ANSWERd. endorphin
Norepinephrine - ANSWERboth a neurotransmitter and a hormone; plays an
important role in the body's fight or flight response; used as a medication to increase
and maintain blood pressure in limited short term serious health situations
