Portage Learning PSYC 140 Module 4 Exam: Lifespan
Development (Early Childhood, Middle Childhood, and
Adolescence)
Questions 1–50: Early Childhood (Ages 2-6) – Physical and Cognitive Development
1. According to Piaget, the preoperational stage of cognitive development occurs between what ages?
- A. Birth to 2 years
- B. 2 to 7 years
- C. 7 to 11 years
- D. 11 years and older
Answer: B
Explanation: The preoperational stage is the second stage in Piaget's theory, spanning from
approximately age 2 to age 7. During this stage, children use symbols to represent words, images, and
ideas, which is why children in this stage engage in pretend play.
2. Which Piagetian concept refers to the tendency of preoperational children to focus on one
characteristic of an object or situation at a time?
- A. Conservation
- B. Centration
- C. Accommodation
- D. Assimilation
Answer: B
,Explanation: Centration is the tendency for preoperational children to focus on one characteristic of an
object or situation at a time, which prevents them from understanding conservation tasks.
3. What is the Piagetian term for the ability to understand that altering the physical appearance of a
substance does not necessarily change the amount of that substance?
- A. Centration
- B. Reversibility
- C. Conservation
- D. Egocentrism
Answer: C
Explanation: Conservation refers to the logical thinking ability that allows a person to determine that a
certain quantity will remain the same despite adjustment of the container, shape, or apparent size. This
ability typically develops during the concrete operational stage (ages 7-11).
4. According to Vygotsky, the range of tasks that a child can perform with assistance but not yet
independently is called the:
- A. Zone of proximal development
- B. Scaffolding zone
- C. Assisted learning zone
- D. Cognitive development zone
Answer: A
,Explanation: Vygotsky's zone of proximal development (ZPD) is defined as the difference between what
a learner can do without help and what they can achieve with guidance and encouragement from a
skilled partner.
5. During the preoperational stage, children are able to engage in what type of play?
- A. Parallel play only
- B. Pretend play using symbols
- C. Cooperative play with complex rules
- D. Competitive play with scoring
Answer: B
Explanation: In the preoperational stage, children use symbols to represent words, images, and ideas,
which is why children in this stage engage in pretend play. Symbolic representation is a hallmark of this
developmental period.
6. Which researcher emphasized the role of the teacher and expert in learning, believing that children
cannot reach higher cognitive levels without instruction from more learned individuals?
- A. Piaget
- B. Vygotsky
- C. Erikson
- D. Freud
Answer: B
, Explanation: Vygotsky emphasized the role of social interaction in cognitive development. He believed
that children should be taught in the zone of proximal development, where they can perform tasks with
assistance but not yet on their own.
7. In the preoperational stage, children's thinking is characterized by:
- A. Abstract reasoning
- B. Logical operations
- C. Symbolic thinking with limited logic
- D. Hypothetical-deductive reasoning
Answer: C
Explanation: Preoperational children use symbols to represent thoughts and ideas but lack logical
reasoning abilities. They perceive things from only their own point of view (egocentrism) and have
difficulty with conservation tasks.
8. A child who calls all four-legged animals "doggies" is demonstrating Piaget's concept of:
- A. Accommodation
- B. Assimilation
- C. Equilibration
- D. Organization
Answer: B
Explanation: Assimilation involves fitting new information into an existing schema. When a child calls all
four-legged animals "doggies," they are assimilating new animals into their existing dog schema.
Development (Early Childhood, Middle Childhood, and
Adolescence)
Questions 1–50: Early Childhood (Ages 2-6) – Physical and Cognitive Development
1. According to Piaget, the preoperational stage of cognitive development occurs between what ages?
- A. Birth to 2 years
- B. 2 to 7 years
- C. 7 to 11 years
- D. 11 years and older
Answer: B
Explanation: The preoperational stage is the second stage in Piaget's theory, spanning from
approximately age 2 to age 7. During this stage, children use symbols to represent words, images, and
ideas, which is why children in this stage engage in pretend play.
2. Which Piagetian concept refers to the tendency of preoperational children to focus on one
characteristic of an object or situation at a time?
- A. Conservation
- B. Centration
- C. Accommodation
- D. Assimilation
Answer: B
,Explanation: Centration is the tendency for preoperational children to focus on one characteristic of an
object or situation at a time, which prevents them from understanding conservation tasks.
3. What is the Piagetian term for the ability to understand that altering the physical appearance of a
substance does not necessarily change the amount of that substance?
- A. Centration
- B. Reversibility
- C. Conservation
- D. Egocentrism
Answer: C
Explanation: Conservation refers to the logical thinking ability that allows a person to determine that a
certain quantity will remain the same despite adjustment of the container, shape, or apparent size. This
ability typically develops during the concrete operational stage (ages 7-11).
4. According to Vygotsky, the range of tasks that a child can perform with assistance but not yet
independently is called the:
- A. Zone of proximal development
- B. Scaffolding zone
- C. Assisted learning zone
- D. Cognitive development zone
Answer: A
,Explanation: Vygotsky's zone of proximal development (ZPD) is defined as the difference between what
a learner can do without help and what they can achieve with guidance and encouragement from a
skilled partner.
5. During the preoperational stage, children are able to engage in what type of play?
- A. Parallel play only
- B. Pretend play using symbols
- C. Cooperative play with complex rules
- D. Competitive play with scoring
Answer: B
Explanation: In the preoperational stage, children use symbols to represent words, images, and ideas,
which is why children in this stage engage in pretend play. Symbolic representation is a hallmark of this
developmental period.
6. Which researcher emphasized the role of the teacher and expert in learning, believing that children
cannot reach higher cognitive levels without instruction from more learned individuals?
- A. Piaget
- B. Vygotsky
- C. Erikson
- D. Freud
Answer: B
, Explanation: Vygotsky emphasized the role of social interaction in cognitive development. He believed
that children should be taught in the zone of proximal development, where they can perform tasks with
assistance but not yet on their own.
7. In the preoperational stage, children's thinking is characterized by:
- A. Abstract reasoning
- B. Logical operations
- C. Symbolic thinking with limited logic
- D. Hypothetical-deductive reasoning
Answer: C
Explanation: Preoperational children use symbols to represent thoughts and ideas but lack logical
reasoning abilities. They perceive things from only their own point of view (egocentrism) and have
difficulty with conservation tasks.
8. A child who calls all four-legged animals "doggies" is demonstrating Piaget's concept of:
- A. Accommodation
- B. Assimilation
- C. Equilibration
- D. Organization
Answer: B
Explanation: Assimilation involves fitting new information into an existing schema. When a child calls all
four-legged animals "doggies," they are assimilating new animals into their existing dog schema.
