PSYC 140 Module 5 | Lifespan Developmental Psych Exam
Q&A | Portage Learning
1. Middle childhood generally spans which age range?
A) 2 to 6 years
B) 6 to 11 years
C) 11 to 18 years
D) 18 to 25 years
Correct Answer: 6 to 11 years
Rationale: Middle childhood is the developmental period from approximately 6 to 11
years of age. It is characterized by significant growth in physical, cognitive, and
socioemotional domains, including the development of logical thinking, peer
relationships, and moral reasoning.
2. During middle childhood, children typically grow how much per year?
A) 1-2 inches and 2-4 pounds
B) 2-3 inches and 5-7 pounds
C) 4-5 inches and 8-10 pounds
D) 5-6 inches and 10-12 pounds
Correct Answer: 2-3 inches and 5-7 pounds
Rationale: During middle childhood, physical growth continues at a slower, steady pace.
Children typically grow about 2-3 inches per year and gain approximately 5-7 pounds
annually. Baby fat decreases while muscle mass increases during this period.
3. Which gender tends to have more advances in gross motor skills such as throwing and
kicking during middle childhood?
A) Boys
,B) Girls
C) Neither; they perform equally
D) It depends entirely on the child's individual genetics
Correct Answer: Boys
Rationale: On average, boys tend to have greater muscle mass and strength than girls
during middle childhood, which translates into better performance on gross motor skills
such as throwing, kicking, and running speed. Girls typically outperform boys on fine
motor skills and balance-related gross motor skills.
4. Which gender tends to perform better on fine motor skills such as handwriting and
drawing during middle childhood?
A) Boys
B) Girls
C) Neither; they perform equally
D) It depends entirely on the child's individual genetics
Correct Answer: Girls
Rationale: During middle childhood, girls typically outperform boys on fine motor skills
such as handwriting, drawing, and using utensils. This difference is thought to be related
to both biological and social factors, though individual variation is significant.
5. True or False? By age 8, myelination is largely complete in the motor areas of the
brain.
A) True
B) False
Correct Answer: True
,Rationale: Myelination—the process of coating axons with a fatty sheath (myelin) to
speed neural transmission—is largely complete in the motor areas of the brain by
approximately age 8. This is why 8-year-olds show significant improvements in fine
motor coordination and gross motor skills compared to younger children.
6. Cephalocaudal growth during middle childhood is characterized by:
A) The head becoming disproportionately large
B) The limbs becoming more proportional to the head
C) Continued rapid head growth
D) A decrease in overall height
Correct Answer: The limbs becoming more proportional to the head
Rationale: The cephalocaudal principle describes growth from head to toe. During
middle childhood, the limbs grow longer and become more proportional to the head and
trunk, resulting in a more adult-like body proportion. The head does not continue to
grow rapidly.
7. True or False? Peer pressure tends to peak during middle childhood.
A) True
B) False
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: Peer pressure is more commonly associated with adolescence than middle
childhood. While peer influence does increase during middle childhood, it typically
peaks during adolescence when social acceptance and conformity become particularly
important.
8. During middle childhood, the amount of adipose tissue (fat) typically:
A) Increases
B) Decreases
, C) Remains stable
D) Varies unpredictably
Correct Answer: Decreases
Rationale: During middle childhood, there is typically a decrease in adipose tissue
(baby fat). This is a normal part of physical development as children become leaner and
more muscular before the adolescent growth spurt.
9. True or False? During middle childhood, children are generally more likely to be
clumsy.
A) True
B) False
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: During middle childhood, children generally become less clumsy as their
motor skills improve and their bodies become more proportional. The "clumsy period"
is more characteristic of early childhood and adolescence, when bodies are changing
rapidly.
10. A child who is in middle childhood and has poor motor skills may be more likely to
experience:
A) Improved academic performance
B) Social rejection by peers
C) Increased self-esteem
D) Better physical health
Correct Answer: Social rejection by peers
Q&A | Portage Learning
1. Middle childhood generally spans which age range?
A) 2 to 6 years
B) 6 to 11 years
C) 11 to 18 years
D) 18 to 25 years
Correct Answer: 6 to 11 years
Rationale: Middle childhood is the developmental period from approximately 6 to 11
years of age. It is characterized by significant growth in physical, cognitive, and
socioemotional domains, including the development of logical thinking, peer
relationships, and moral reasoning.
2. During middle childhood, children typically grow how much per year?
A) 1-2 inches and 2-4 pounds
B) 2-3 inches and 5-7 pounds
C) 4-5 inches and 8-10 pounds
D) 5-6 inches and 10-12 pounds
Correct Answer: 2-3 inches and 5-7 pounds
Rationale: During middle childhood, physical growth continues at a slower, steady pace.
Children typically grow about 2-3 inches per year and gain approximately 5-7 pounds
annually. Baby fat decreases while muscle mass increases during this period.
3. Which gender tends to have more advances in gross motor skills such as throwing and
kicking during middle childhood?
A) Boys
,B) Girls
C) Neither; they perform equally
D) It depends entirely on the child's individual genetics
Correct Answer: Boys
Rationale: On average, boys tend to have greater muscle mass and strength than girls
during middle childhood, which translates into better performance on gross motor skills
such as throwing, kicking, and running speed. Girls typically outperform boys on fine
motor skills and balance-related gross motor skills.
4. Which gender tends to perform better on fine motor skills such as handwriting and
drawing during middle childhood?
A) Boys
B) Girls
C) Neither; they perform equally
D) It depends entirely on the child's individual genetics
Correct Answer: Girls
Rationale: During middle childhood, girls typically outperform boys on fine motor skills
such as handwriting, drawing, and using utensils. This difference is thought to be related
to both biological and social factors, though individual variation is significant.
5. True or False? By age 8, myelination is largely complete in the motor areas of the
brain.
A) True
B) False
Correct Answer: True
,Rationale: Myelination—the process of coating axons with a fatty sheath (myelin) to
speed neural transmission—is largely complete in the motor areas of the brain by
approximately age 8. This is why 8-year-olds show significant improvements in fine
motor coordination and gross motor skills compared to younger children.
6. Cephalocaudal growth during middle childhood is characterized by:
A) The head becoming disproportionately large
B) The limbs becoming more proportional to the head
C) Continued rapid head growth
D) A decrease in overall height
Correct Answer: The limbs becoming more proportional to the head
Rationale: The cephalocaudal principle describes growth from head to toe. During
middle childhood, the limbs grow longer and become more proportional to the head and
trunk, resulting in a more adult-like body proportion. The head does not continue to
grow rapidly.
7. True or False? Peer pressure tends to peak during middle childhood.
A) True
B) False
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: Peer pressure is more commonly associated with adolescence than middle
childhood. While peer influence does increase during middle childhood, it typically
peaks during adolescence when social acceptance and conformity become particularly
important.
8. During middle childhood, the amount of adipose tissue (fat) typically:
A) Increases
B) Decreases
, C) Remains stable
D) Varies unpredictably
Correct Answer: Decreases
Rationale: During middle childhood, there is typically a decrease in adipose tissue
(baby fat). This is a normal part of physical development as children become leaner and
more muscular before the adolescent growth spurt.
9. True or False? During middle childhood, children are generally more likely to be
clumsy.
A) True
B) False
Correct Answer: False
Rationale: During middle childhood, children generally become less clumsy as their
motor skills improve and their bodies become more proportional. The "clumsy period"
is more characteristic of early childhood and adolescence, when bodies are changing
rapidly.
10. A child who is in middle childhood and has poor motor skills may be more likely to
experience:
A) Improved academic performance
B) Social rejection by peers
C) Increased self-esteem
D) Better physical health
Correct Answer: Social rejection by peers
