,PSYC101/PSYC 101 Module Exam 2 | General
Psychology | Portage Learning | Q & A | 2026 Edition
(PDF)
1. The central nervous system (CNS) is composed of which of the following?
A) The brain and spinal cord
B) All nerves outside the brain and spinal cord
C) Only the brain
D) The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
Correct Answer: The brain and spinal cord
Rationale: The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and the spinal cord. All nerves outside
the brain and spinal cord make up the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The sympathetic and
parasympathetic systems are subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system, which is part of the PNS.
2. Which subdivision of the peripheral nervous system controls voluntary muscle movements?
A) Autonomic nervous system
B) Sympathetic nervous system
C) Somatic nervous system
D) Parasympathetic nervous system
Correct Answer: Somatic nervous system
Rationale: The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles. The
autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary functions such as heartbeat and digestion. The
sympathetic and parasympathetic are branches of the autonomic nervous system.
3. A student is startled by a loud noise during a lecture. Which branch of the autonomic nervous system
is primarily activated?
A) Parasympathetic nervous system
,B) Somatic nervous system
C) Sympathetic nervous system
D) Central nervous system
Correct Answer: Sympathetic nervous system
Rationale: The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response, which is
activated during stressful or startling situations. It prepares the body for action by increasing heart rate,
dilating pupils, and redirecting blood flow to muscles.
4. After eating a large meal, which branch of the autonomic nervous system is primarily active?
A) Sympathetic nervous system
B) Parasympathetic nervous system
C) Somatic nervous system
D) Central nervous system
Correct Answer: Parasympathetic nervous system
Rationale: The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "rest and digest" response. It
promotes activities that occur when the body is at rest, such as digestion, salivation, and slowing the
heart rate.
5. Which part of the neuron receives incoming signals from other neurons?
A) Axon
B) Myelin sheath
C) Dendrite
D) Axon terminal
Correct Answer: Dendrite
, Rationale: Dendrites are the branch-like extensions of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons.
They direct these incoming signals toward the cell body (soma).
6. The neuron's cell body is also known as the:
A) Axon terminal
B) Soma
C) Myelin sheath
D) Dendrite
Correct Answer: Soma
Rationale: The soma, or cell body, contains the nucleus and other organelles. It integrates the signals
received from the dendrites and generates the output signal if the threshold is reached.
7. Which part of the neuron transmits electrical impulses away from the cell body?
A) Dendrite
B) Soma
C) Axon
D) Synapse
Correct Answer: Axon
Rationale: The axon is a long, slender projection that conducts electrical impulses (action potentials)
away from the cell body toward the axon terminals, where neurotransmitters are released.
8. The fatty layer that covers axons and speeds neural transmission is called the:
A) Soma
B) Axon terminal
C) Myelin sheath
D) Dendrite
Psychology | Portage Learning | Q & A | 2026 Edition
(PDF)
1. The central nervous system (CNS) is composed of which of the following?
A) The brain and spinal cord
B) All nerves outside the brain and spinal cord
C) Only the brain
D) The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems
Correct Answer: The brain and spinal cord
Rationale: The central nervous system (CNS) consists of the brain and the spinal cord. All nerves outside
the brain and spinal cord make up the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The sympathetic and
parasympathetic systems are subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system, which is part of the PNS.
2. Which subdivision of the peripheral nervous system controls voluntary muscle movements?
A) Autonomic nervous system
B) Sympathetic nervous system
C) Somatic nervous system
D) Parasympathetic nervous system
Correct Answer: Somatic nervous system
Rationale: The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles. The
autonomic nervous system regulates involuntary functions such as heartbeat and digestion. The
sympathetic and parasympathetic are branches of the autonomic nervous system.
3. A student is startled by a loud noise during a lecture. Which branch of the autonomic nervous system
is primarily activated?
A) Parasympathetic nervous system
,B) Somatic nervous system
C) Sympathetic nervous system
D) Central nervous system
Correct Answer: Sympathetic nervous system
Rationale: The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response, which is
activated during stressful or startling situations. It prepares the body for action by increasing heart rate,
dilating pupils, and redirecting blood flow to muscles.
4. After eating a large meal, which branch of the autonomic nervous system is primarily active?
A) Sympathetic nervous system
B) Parasympathetic nervous system
C) Somatic nervous system
D) Central nervous system
Correct Answer: Parasympathetic nervous system
Rationale: The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "rest and digest" response. It
promotes activities that occur when the body is at rest, such as digestion, salivation, and slowing the
heart rate.
5. Which part of the neuron receives incoming signals from other neurons?
A) Axon
B) Myelin sheath
C) Dendrite
D) Axon terminal
Correct Answer: Dendrite
, Rationale: Dendrites are the branch-like extensions of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons.
They direct these incoming signals toward the cell body (soma).
6. The neuron's cell body is also known as the:
A) Axon terminal
B) Soma
C) Myelin sheath
D) Dendrite
Correct Answer: Soma
Rationale: The soma, or cell body, contains the nucleus and other organelles. It integrates the signals
received from the dendrites and generates the output signal if the threshold is reached.
7. Which part of the neuron transmits electrical impulses away from the cell body?
A) Dendrite
B) Soma
C) Axon
D) Synapse
Correct Answer: Axon
Rationale: The axon is a long, slender projection that conducts electrical impulses (action potentials)
away from the cell body toward the axon terminals, where neurotransmitters are released.
8. The fatty layer that covers axons and speeds neural transmission is called the:
A) Soma
B) Axon terminal
C) Myelin sheath
D) Dendrite
