,CHAPTER 1: AGING TODAY
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following is given in the text as a reason for studying aging?
a. to help oneself live the best old age possible
b. to enable people to avoid or reverse the effects of aging
c. to enable people to make old age as inexpensive a time of life as it can be
d. to learn how to work with elderly clients
ANS: D REF: 2-3 BLM: REM
2. As of 2011, what percentage of the population comprised older Canadians?
a. 16.0%
b. 15%
c. 9.1%
d. 6.8%
ANS: B REF: 2 BLM: REM
3. By 2036, approximately what percentage of the population will comprise older Canadians as predicted by
Statistics Canada?
a. 9%
b. 19%
c. 25%
d. 34%
ANS: C REF: 2 BLM: REM
4. As society ages, what will change in the Canadian social structure?
a. Poverty will increase as more people enter old age.
b. The government will face economic crisis as pension costs rise.
c. The mass media will promote ageism.
d. The healthcare system will add programs to prevent illness before it occurs.
ANS: D REF: 2 BLM: HO
5. Which of the following is an example of a social structure?
a. the education system
b. the aging process
c. the government
d. the police
ANS: A REF: 2 BLM: HO
6. What effect does an aging society have on the Canadian family?
a. an increase in the number of people living in three- and four-generation families
b. a decrease in the number of people who become grandparents during their lifetime
c. an erosion of values as extended family structures fragment
d. an increase in financial responsibility placed on elder family members
ANS: A REF: 2 BLM: HO
,7. How will the healthcare system have to adapt as Canadian society ages?
a. by decreasing the attention given to chronic ailments such as diabetes and arthritis
b. by favouring the treatment of more acute illnesses
c. by changing public opinion about old age
d. by trying to prevent illness before it happens
ANS: D REF: 2 BLM: HO
8. Dr. Clarke is conducting a research experiment that is studying the process of aging among older
Canadians. What is the name for this social science?
a. tautology
b. ageism
c. gerontology
d. aeonology
ANS: C REF: 2 BLM: HO
9. What are the two points of view that gerontologists use to study aging?
a. economics and social structures
b. the family and the education system
c. bioethics and economics
d. the individual and society
ANS: D REF: 2 BLM: REM
10. What did Unwin and colleagues’ (2008) research find out about perceptions of aging?
a. People know little about aging.
b. Old age is seen as a time of weakness and death.
c. Some attitudes towards the elderly have possibly worsened.
d. Most people’s knowledge about older people is based on myth or fear.
ANS: C REF: 3 BLM: REM
11. Your uncle Ken has just retired from the workforce, and he needs to find an activity that will keep him in
touch with his community. According to recent research found in your textbook, which of the
following activities would be a beneficial activity for your uncle?
a. reading books to his grandchildren
b. baking cookies
c. working in his woodshop
d. playing cards at a local library
ANS: D REF: 4 BLM: HO
12. Which of the following accurately describes stereotypes?
a. They prevent discrimination and ageism.
b. They force people to confront the truth about the elderly.
c. They often have some basis in reality.
d. They exaggerate and distort the bad, while ignoring the good qualities of a group of
people.
ANS: C REF: 5 BLM: HO
13. Which of the following presents a negative stereotype of aging?
a. an elderly 84 year-old gentleman who plays with his grandchildren
, b. a 95-year-old woman who drives erratically
c. a 76 year-old male who lives in a nursing home but has an alert memory
d. an 82-year-old female who learns to do yoga at her recreational centre
ANS: B REF: 5 BLM: HO
14. While playing shuffleboard at the local seniors club, Mr. Jones jokes about Mr. Smith’s poor eyesight after
Mr. Smith misses the scoring area. Mr. Jones’ derogatory comment is an example of which type of
insult?
a. the old goat curse
b. the black sheep effect
c. elderspeak
d. ageism
ANS: B REF: 6 BLM: HO
15. What do gerontologists call prejudice against older people?
a. a negative stereotype
b. geriatrics
c. age dichotomy syndrome
d. ageism
ANS: D REF: 6-7 BLM: REM
16. Which of the following describes ageism in our culture?
a. It is acquired from experience with the aged.
b. It is a social component of the biological process.
c. It is learned from a variety of sources.
d. It is useful for maintaining cultural diversity.
ANS: C REF: 8-9 BLM: HO
17. Researchers including Henneberg, Gilbert, and Ricketts (2010, 2008) have studied the treatment of older
people in literature. What have these studies found?
a. Overall, positive views of older people predominate.
b. Negative traits in literature outnumber those in philosophy by two to one.
c. Older people are stereotyped and children then hold negative views about them.
d. Mysteries often portray older people as devious or manipulative.
ANS: C REF: 8-9 BLM: REM
18. Sally has been researching mass media and the portrayal of older Canadians in the media. Her studies
have generally shown that the mass media (such as television and the newspapers) tend to create which
type of common image of older people?
a. positive
b. negative
c. neutral
d. colourful
ANS: B REF: 8-9 BLM: HO
19. What did Palmore’s study of contemporary jokes find?
a. that the elderly are always portrayed in a positive light
b. that the elderly are never referred to jokingly
c. that the elderly are stereotyped as impotent or unattractive
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following is given in the text as a reason for studying aging?
a. to help oneself live the best old age possible
b. to enable people to avoid or reverse the effects of aging
c. to enable people to make old age as inexpensive a time of life as it can be
d. to learn how to work with elderly clients
ANS: D REF: 2-3 BLM: REM
2. As of 2011, what percentage of the population comprised older Canadians?
a. 16.0%
b. 15%
c. 9.1%
d. 6.8%
ANS: B REF: 2 BLM: REM
3. By 2036, approximately what percentage of the population will comprise older Canadians as predicted by
Statistics Canada?
a. 9%
b. 19%
c. 25%
d. 34%
ANS: C REF: 2 BLM: REM
4. As society ages, what will change in the Canadian social structure?
a. Poverty will increase as more people enter old age.
b. The government will face economic crisis as pension costs rise.
c. The mass media will promote ageism.
d. The healthcare system will add programs to prevent illness before it occurs.
ANS: D REF: 2 BLM: HO
5. Which of the following is an example of a social structure?
a. the education system
b. the aging process
c. the government
d. the police
ANS: A REF: 2 BLM: HO
6. What effect does an aging society have on the Canadian family?
a. an increase in the number of people living in three- and four-generation families
b. a decrease in the number of people who become grandparents during their lifetime
c. an erosion of values as extended family structures fragment
d. an increase in financial responsibility placed on elder family members
ANS: A REF: 2 BLM: HO
,7. How will the healthcare system have to adapt as Canadian society ages?
a. by decreasing the attention given to chronic ailments such as diabetes and arthritis
b. by favouring the treatment of more acute illnesses
c. by changing public opinion about old age
d. by trying to prevent illness before it happens
ANS: D REF: 2 BLM: HO
8. Dr. Clarke is conducting a research experiment that is studying the process of aging among older
Canadians. What is the name for this social science?
a. tautology
b. ageism
c. gerontology
d. aeonology
ANS: C REF: 2 BLM: HO
9. What are the two points of view that gerontologists use to study aging?
a. economics and social structures
b. the family and the education system
c. bioethics and economics
d. the individual and society
ANS: D REF: 2 BLM: REM
10. What did Unwin and colleagues’ (2008) research find out about perceptions of aging?
a. People know little about aging.
b. Old age is seen as a time of weakness and death.
c. Some attitudes towards the elderly have possibly worsened.
d. Most people’s knowledge about older people is based on myth or fear.
ANS: C REF: 3 BLM: REM
11. Your uncle Ken has just retired from the workforce, and he needs to find an activity that will keep him in
touch with his community. According to recent research found in your textbook, which of the
following activities would be a beneficial activity for your uncle?
a. reading books to his grandchildren
b. baking cookies
c. working in his woodshop
d. playing cards at a local library
ANS: D REF: 4 BLM: HO
12. Which of the following accurately describes stereotypes?
a. They prevent discrimination and ageism.
b. They force people to confront the truth about the elderly.
c. They often have some basis in reality.
d. They exaggerate and distort the bad, while ignoring the good qualities of a group of
people.
ANS: C REF: 5 BLM: HO
13. Which of the following presents a negative stereotype of aging?
a. an elderly 84 year-old gentleman who plays with his grandchildren
, b. a 95-year-old woman who drives erratically
c. a 76 year-old male who lives in a nursing home but has an alert memory
d. an 82-year-old female who learns to do yoga at her recreational centre
ANS: B REF: 5 BLM: HO
14. While playing shuffleboard at the local seniors club, Mr. Jones jokes about Mr. Smith’s poor eyesight after
Mr. Smith misses the scoring area. Mr. Jones’ derogatory comment is an example of which type of
insult?
a. the old goat curse
b. the black sheep effect
c. elderspeak
d. ageism
ANS: B REF: 6 BLM: HO
15. What do gerontologists call prejudice against older people?
a. a negative stereotype
b. geriatrics
c. age dichotomy syndrome
d. ageism
ANS: D REF: 6-7 BLM: REM
16. Which of the following describes ageism in our culture?
a. It is acquired from experience with the aged.
b. It is a social component of the biological process.
c. It is learned from a variety of sources.
d. It is useful for maintaining cultural diversity.
ANS: C REF: 8-9 BLM: HO
17. Researchers including Henneberg, Gilbert, and Ricketts (2010, 2008) have studied the treatment of older
people in literature. What have these studies found?
a. Overall, positive views of older people predominate.
b. Negative traits in literature outnumber those in philosophy by two to one.
c. Older people are stereotyped and children then hold negative views about them.
d. Mysteries often portray older people as devious or manipulative.
ANS: C REF: 8-9 BLM: REM
18. Sally has been researching mass media and the portrayal of older Canadians in the media. Her studies
have generally shown that the mass media (such as television and the newspapers) tend to create which
type of common image of older people?
a. positive
b. negative
c. neutral
d. colourful
ANS: B REF: 8-9 BLM: HO
19. What did Palmore’s study of contemporary jokes find?
a. that the elderly are always portrayed in a positive light
b. that the elderly are never referred to jokingly
c. that the elderly are stereotyped as impotent or unattractive
