WGU D664 Learners and Learning Science Exam 2 - Questions
with Correct Answers (Verified Update)
56 questions
1. A teacher schedules short movement breaks every 20 minutes in a primary classroom. The
best research-based justification is that:
A. Movement replaces the need for direct instruction
B. Physical activity increases blood flow and helps attention and self-regulation
C. Children cannot learn while seated
D. Breaks reduce the amount of content that must be taught
Correct Answer: B. Physical activity increases blood flow and helps attention and
self-regulation
Rationale: Brief physical activity supports arousal, attention and executive function, especially in young
learners.
2. Which statement about sleep and learning is most accurate?
A. Sleep helps consolidate newly learned information into long-term memory
B. Sleep has no effect on memory
C. Adolescents need less sleep than adults
D. Memory consolidation happens only while awake
Correct Answer: A. Sleep helps consolidate newly learned information into long-term memory
Rationale: During sleep the brain replays and stabilizes new memories; chronic sleep loss impairs
attention and memory.
3. Adolescents are more likely than adults to take risks in front of peers mainly because:
A. Their brains have finished developing
B. They lack any capacity for reasoning
C. The reward-sensitive limbic system matures before the prefrontal control system
D. Their hippocampus is underdeveloped
Correct Answer: C. The reward-sensitive limbic system matures before the prefrontal control
system
Rationale: The 'dual systems' gap between an early-maturing reward system and a later-maturing
prefrontal cortex heightens risk-taking, especially with peers.
4. A period during which the brain is especially responsive to certain experiences, but learning
is still possible later, is called a:
A. Critical window that closes permanently
B. Latent stage
C. Sensitive period
D. Plateau
Correct Answer: C. Sensitive period
Rationale: Most educational skills have sensitive, not strictly critical, periods; learning remains possible
later with more effort.
5. Which classroom practice best uses the link between emotion and memory?
A. Using fear of failure to motivate
B. Connecting content to students' interests and real-life experiences
C. Removing all discussion from lessons
D. Teaching facts in isolation
Correct Answer: B. Connecting content to students' interests and real-life experiences
Rationale: Moderate positive emotional engagement strengthens encoding; high fear and stress impair
learning.
, 6. Which claim about the brain is a 'neuromyth' not supported by evidence?
A. The brain changes with learning
B. Sleep supports memory
C. Stress can impair working memory
D. People use only 10% of their brains
Correct Answer: D. People use only 10% of their brains
Rationale: Brain imaging shows activity across virtually all regions; the 10% claim is a common
neuromyth, as is 'left-brain vs. right-brain learners.'
7. A second grader can solve 8 - 3 using counters but struggles with it written abstractly. Which
teaching approach best fits Piaget's theory?
A. Teach only abstract symbols
B. Skip the skill until high school
C. Use timed drills only
D. Use concrete manipulatives before moving to symbols
Correct Answer: D. Use concrete manipulatives before moving to symbols
Rationale: Concrete operational learners reason best with tangible objects; the
concrete-representational-abstract sequence builds understanding.
8. Piaget's concept of equilibration refers to:
A. The drive to resolve the imbalance between existing schemes and new experiences
B. Copying a model's behavior
C. Removing an unpleasant stimulus
D. Balancing work and play time
Correct Answer: A. The drive to resolve the imbalance between existing schemes and new
experiences
Rationale: Disequilibrium motivates assimilation and accommodation, which restore balance and
advance thinking.
9. A teacher presents a surprising demonstration that contradicts students' predictions. Piaget
would say this deliberately creates:
A. Learned helplessness
B. Extinction
C. Overjustification
D. Cognitive disequilibrium
Correct Answer: D. Cognitive disequilibrium
Rationale: Discrepant events produce disequilibrium, prompting students to revise their mental models.
10. A criticism of Piaget's theory supported by later research is that he:
A. Overestimated the role of reinforcement
B. Ignored stages altogether
C. Focused only on adults
D. Underestimated young children's abilities and the role of culture
Correct Answer: D. Underestimated young children's abilities and the role of culture
Rationale: Studies show children can display abilities earlier than Piaget proposed, and development
varies with culture and experience.
with Correct Answers (Verified Update)
56 questions
1. A teacher schedules short movement breaks every 20 minutes in a primary classroom. The
best research-based justification is that:
A. Movement replaces the need for direct instruction
B. Physical activity increases blood flow and helps attention and self-regulation
C. Children cannot learn while seated
D. Breaks reduce the amount of content that must be taught
Correct Answer: B. Physical activity increases blood flow and helps attention and
self-regulation
Rationale: Brief physical activity supports arousal, attention and executive function, especially in young
learners.
2. Which statement about sleep and learning is most accurate?
A. Sleep helps consolidate newly learned information into long-term memory
B. Sleep has no effect on memory
C. Adolescents need less sleep than adults
D. Memory consolidation happens only while awake
Correct Answer: A. Sleep helps consolidate newly learned information into long-term memory
Rationale: During sleep the brain replays and stabilizes new memories; chronic sleep loss impairs
attention and memory.
3. Adolescents are more likely than adults to take risks in front of peers mainly because:
A. Their brains have finished developing
B. They lack any capacity for reasoning
C. The reward-sensitive limbic system matures before the prefrontal control system
D. Their hippocampus is underdeveloped
Correct Answer: C. The reward-sensitive limbic system matures before the prefrontal control
system
Rationale: The 'dual systems' gap between an early-maturing reward system and a later-maturing
prefrontal cortex heightens risk-taking, especially with peers.
4. A period during which the brain is especially responsive to certain experiences, but learning
is still possible later, is called a:
A. Critical window that closes permanently
B. Latent stage
C. Sensitive period
D. Plateau
Correct Answer: C. Sensitive period
Rationale: Most educational skills have sensitive, not strictly critical, periods; learning remains possible
later with more effort.
5. Which classroom practice best uses the link between emotion and memory?
A. Using fear of failure to motivate
B. Connecting content to students' interests and real-life experiences
C. Removing all discussion from lessons
D. Teaching facts in isolation
Correct Answer: B. Connecting content to students' interests and real-life experiences
Rationale: Moderate positive emotional engagement strengthens encoding; high fear and stress impair
learning.
, 6. Which claim about the brain is a 'neuromyth' not supported by evidence?
A. The brain changes with learning
B. Sleep supports memory
C. Stress can impair working memory
D. People use only 10% of their brains
Correct Answer: D. People use only 10% of their brains
Rationale: Brain imaging shows activity across virtually all regions; the 10% claim is a common
neuromyth, as is 'left-brain vs. right-brain learners.'
7. A second grader can solve 8 - 3 using counters but struggles with it written abstractly. Which
teaching approach best fits Piaget's theory?
A. Teach only abstract symbols
B. Skip the skill until high school
C. Use timed drills only
D. Use concrete manipulatives before moving to symbols
Correct Answer: D. Use concrete manipulatives before moving to symbols
Rationale: Concrete operational learners reason best with tangible objects; the
concrete-representational-abstract sequence builds understanding.
8. Piaget's concept of equilibration refers to:
A. The drive to resolve the imbalance between existing schemes and new experiences
B. Copying a model's behavior
C. Removing an unpleasant stimulus
D. Balancing work and play time
Correct Answer: A. The drive to resolve the imbalance between existing schemes and new
experiences
Rationale: Disequilibrium motivates assimilation and accommodation, which restore balance and
advance thinking.
9. A teacher presents a surprising demonstration that contradicts students' predictions. Piaget
would say this deliberately creates:
A. Learned helplessness
B. Extinction
C. Overjustification
D. Cognitive disequilibrium
Correct Answer: D. Cognitive disequilibrium
Rationale: Discrepant events produce disequilibrium, prompting students to revise their mental models.
10. A criticism of Piaget's theory supported by later research is that he:
A. Overestimated the role of reinforcement
B. Ignored stages altogether
C. Focused only on adults
D. Underestimated young children's abilities and the role of culture
Correct Answer: D. Underestimated young children's abilities and the role of culture
Rationale: Studies show children can display abilities earlier than Piaget proposed, and development
varies with culture and experience.
