HUMAN GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT
Across the Lifespan
2025 Practice Edition
90 Multiple-Choice Questions with Answers and Rationales
Original HOSA-aligned health science practice assessment; not an official HOSA
examination
Page 1 of 33
,Table of Contents
Section 1: Foundations & Theories of Human Development (Questions 1–12)
........................................ 3
Section 2: Prenatal Development, Birth & Infancy (Questions 13–24) ........................................ 7
Section 3: Early Childhood & Middle Childhood (Questions 25–36) ........................................ 11
Section 4: Adolescence & Puberty (Questions 37–48) ........................................ 15
Section 5: Early Adulthood & Middle Adulthood (Questions 49–60) ........................................ 19
Section 6: Late Adulthood, Aging & End-of-Life (Questions 61–72) ........................................ 23
Section 7: Health, Safety, Nutrition & Family Dynamics Across the Lifespan (Questions 73–82)
........................................ 27
Section 8: Developmental Assessment, Milestones & HOSA Competencies (Questions 83–90)
........................................ 31
Page 2 of 33
,Section 1: Foundations & Theories of Human Development (Questions
1–12)
Q1: A student observes that an infant repeatedly drops a spoon and watches an adult
retrieve it. Which Piagetian stage is most associated with learning through sensorimotor
exploration?
A. Sensorimotor stage [CORRECT]
B. Preoperational stage
C. Concrete operational stage
D. Formal operational stage
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The sensorimotor period (birth to about age 2) centers on learning through senses
and actions; symbolic and abstract reasoning emerge later.
Q2: A 4-year-old says the moon follows the family car. Which Piagetian concept best
explains this reasoning?
A. Object permanence in the sensorimotor stage
B. Egocentrism in the preoperational stage [CORRECT]
C. Conservation in the concrete operational stage
D. Hypothetical deduction in the formal operational stage
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Preschool children often interpret events from their own perspective and use
intuitive reasoning; conservation and formal logic develop later.
Q3: A 9-year-old understands that water remains the same amount when poured into a
taller, thinner glass. This demonstrates:
A. Egocentrism in the preoperational stage
B. Abstract hypothesis testing in formal operations
C. Conservation in the concrete operational stage [CORRECT]
D. Object permanence in the sensorimotor stage
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: School-age children typically develop concrete logical operations such as
conservation; the other concepts describe different developmental abilities.
Page 3 of 33
, Q4: A 15-year-old debates hypothetical ethical situations and considers possible futures.
Which Piagetian stage is most consistent?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational only
D. Formal operational [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Formal operations involve abstract and hypothetical reasoning, usually emerging
in adolescence; younger stages rely more on action or concrete representation.
Q5: A responsive caregiver comforts an infant consistently when distressed. In Erikson’s
theory, this primarily supports:
A. Trust versus mistrust [CORRECT]
B. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
C. Initiative versus guilt
D. Industry versus inferiority
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Reliable responsive care supports basic trust in infancy; autonomy, initiative, and
industry are later psychosocial tasks.
Q6: A toddler insists on feeding themself and choosing a shirt. Which Erikson task is
most relevant?
A. Intimacy versus isolation
B. Autonomy versus shame and doubt [CORRECT]
C. Identity versus role confusion
D. Generativity versus stagnation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Toddlers develop independence and self-control; supportive opportunities promote
autonomy, while excessive shaming can undermine it.
Page 4 of 33
Across the Lifespan
2025 Practice Edition
90 Multiple-Choice Questions with Answers and Rationales
Original HOSA-aligned health science practice assessment; not an official HOSA
examination
Page 1 of 33
,Table of Contents
Section 1: Foundations & Theories of Human Development (Questions 1–12)
........................................ 3
Section 2: Prenatal Development, Birth & Infancy (Questions 13–24) ........................................ 7
Section 3: Early Childhood & Middle Childhood (Questions 25–36) ........................................ 11
Section 4: Adolescence & Puberty (Questions 37–48) ........................................ 15
Section 5: Early Adulthood & Middle Adulthood (Questions 49–60) ........................................ 19
Section 6: Late Adulthood, Aging & End-of-Life (Questions 61–72) ........................................ 23
Section 7: Health, Safety, Nutrition & Family Dynamics Across the Lifespan (Questions 73–82)
........................................ 27
Section 8: Developmental Assessment, Milestones & HOSA Competencies (Questions 83–90)
........................................ 31
Page 2 of 33
,Section 1: Foundations & Theories of Human Development (Questions
1–12)
Q1: A student observes that an infant repeatedly drops a spoon and watches an adult
retrieve it. Which Piagetian stage is most associated with learning through sensorimotor
exploration?
A. Sensorimotor stage [CORRECT]
B. Preoperational stage
C. Concrete operational stage
D. Formal operational stage
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The sensorimotor period (birth to about age 2) centers on learning through senses
and actions; symbolic and abstract reasoning emerge later.
Q2: A 4-year-old says the moon follows the family car. Which Piagetian concept best
explains this reasoning?
A. Object permanence in the sensorimotor stage
B. Egocentrism in the preoperational stage [CORRECT]
C. Conservation in the concrete operational stage
D. Hypothetical deduction in the formal operational stage
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Preschool children often interpret events from their own perspective and use
intuitive reasoning; conservation and formal logic develop later.
Q3: A 9-year-old understands that water remains the same amount when poured into a
taller, thinner glass. This demonstrates:
A. Egocentrism in the preoperational stage
B. Abstract hypothesis testing in formal operations
C. Conservation in the concrete operational stage [CORRECT]
D. Object permanence in the sensorimotor stage
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: School-age children typically develop concrete logical operations such as
conservation; the other concepts describe different developmental abilities.
Page 3 of 33
, Q4: A 15-year-old debates hypothetical ethical situations and considers possible futures.
Which Piagetian stage is most consistent?
A. Sensorimotor
B. Preoperational
C. Concrete operational only
D. Formal operational [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Formal operations involve abstract and hypothetical reasoning, usually emerging
in adolescence; younger stages rely more on action or concrete representation.
Q5: A responsive caregiver comforts an infant consistently when distressed. In Erikson’s
theory, this primarily supports:
A. Trust versus mistrust [CORRECT]
B. Autonomy versus shame and doubt
C. Initiative versus guilt
D. Industry versus inferiority
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Reliable responsive care supports basic trust in infancy; autonomy, initiative, and
industry are later psychosocial tasks.
Q6: A toddler insists on feeding themself and choosing a shirt. Which Erikson task is
most relevant?
A. Intimacy versus isolation
B. Autonomy versus shame and doubt [CORRECT]
C. Identity versus role confusion
D. Generativity versus stagnation
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Toddlers develop independence and self-control; supportive opportunities promote
autonomy, while excessive shaming can undermine it.
Page 4 of 33
