PSYC 140 Foundations Mastery Cognitive Science Modules 1-8
PSYC 140 Foundations Mastery Cognitive Science Modules 1-8
Portage 2026/2027 - Questions and Answers 100% Verified
Detailed Rationales - Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Comprehensive mastery exam covering the history and foundations of cognitive science, research methods and
cognitive neuroscience, perception and attention, memory systems, language and communication, problem solving
and reasoning, decision making and judgment, and intelligence and cognitive development. Emphasizes deep
conceptual reasoning, synthesis across modules, and application to novel scenarios. It contains 100
multiple-choice questions, each with four distractors and a fully worked rationale that explains why the keyed
answer is correct. Questions are organized into clearly labelled sections that mirror the major content areas of
the course. Targeted learning outcomes include: Critically evaluate major theoretical frameworks and empirical
findings across all eight modules of cognitive science.; Apply cognitive science principles to analyze complex
real-world problems and design interventions.; Synthesize knowledge from multiple domains to explain cognitive
phenomena and predict outcomes.. Every item has been reviewed for clinical accuracy, current guidelines, and
clarity so that students can study with confidence and self-correct as they work through the bank. Use it as a
high-yield review immediately before the exam, or as a structured practice tool during the unit - the rationales
double as concise teaching notes. The recommended writing time is 3 hours, with a passing score of 70% (35/50).
Aligned with Aligned with APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major (Version 3.0, ) and
Cognitive Science Society curriculum recommendations (2025). Exam adheres to Portage Learning academic
Section 1: General (Questions 1-100)
1 Which concept from embodied cognition most directly challenges classical
computationalism?
A) Mental representations are amodal and symbolic.
B) Cognitive processes are shaped by bodily interactions with the environment.
C) The mind is a computer manipulating formal symbols.
D) Modularity of mind implies domain-specific processing.
Answer: B
Rationale: Embodied cognition asserts that cognitive processes are deeply rooted in
the body's interactions with the world, opposing the amodal, abstract symbol
manipulation of classical computationalism. Option A describes classical
computationalism, C is its core tenet, and D is Fodorian modularity, which is
separate from embodiment.
2 In an fMRI study, researchers observe increased BOLD signal in the fusiform face
area (FFA) when participants view faces versus houses. What does this pattern
most strongly suggest?
A) The FFA is specialized for face processing.
B) The FFA responds to any complex visual stimulus.
C) The FFA is involved in scene perception.
D) The FFA activation is an artifact of attention.
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, PSYC 140 Foundations Mastery Cognitive Science Modules 1-8
Answer: A
Rationale: The FFA shows preferential activation for faces over other visual
categories like houses, supporting domain-specific face processing. Option B is
incorrect because the FFA does not respond equally to all complex stimuli; C is
wrong because scene perception involves the parahippocampal place area; D is
unlikely given controlled contrasts.
3 Which phenomenon best illustrates top-down attentional control in visual search?
A) Pop-out effect for a single feature.
B) Attentional blink for a second target.
C) Contingent capture by a salient distractor.
D) Inattentional blindness for unexpected stimuli.
Answer: C
Rationale: Contingent capture occurs when a distractor captures attention only if it
matches the observer's top-down attentional set, demonstrating top-down control.
Pop-out (A) is bottom-up; attentional blink (B) reflects temporal limitations;
inattentional blindness (D) is a failure of awareness, not active top-down control.
4 Which memory system is most critically dependent on the hippocampus?
A) Procedural memory for motor skills.
B) Episodic memory for personal events.
C) Semantic memory for general facts.
D) Working memory for immediate recall.
Answer: B
Rationale: The hippocampus is essential for forming new episodic memories, as
evidenced by patient H.M. Procedural memory (A) relies on basal ganglia; semantic
memory (C) can be acquired independently of the hippocampus in some cases;
working memory (D) depends on prefrontal and parietal regions.
5 According to the dual-route model of reading, which process is used for irregular
words like 'yacht'?
A) Phonological route via grapheme-to-phoneme conversion.
B) Lexical route via direct visual word recognition.
C) Both routes equally.
D) Neither route; irregular words are learned by rote.
Answer: B
Rationale: Irregular words cannot be correctly pronounced using
grapheme-to-phoneme conversion (the phonological route), so they must be
Page 2 of 33
, PSYC 140 Foundations Mastery Cognitive Science Modules 1-8
accessed via the lexical route that retrieves whole-word pronunciations from
memory. Option A would lead to incorrect pronunciation; C is incorrect because the
lexical route dominates; D is not part of the dual-route model.
6 Which heuristic best explains why people overestimate the frequency of rare
causes of death?
A) Representativeness heuristic.
B) Availability heuristic.
C) Anchoring and adjustment.
D) Base-rate neglect.
Answer: B
Rationale: The availability heuristic leads people to judge frequency based on how
easily examples come to mind; rare but vivid causes of death (e.g., shark attacks) are
overestimated because they are highly memorable. Representativeness (A) is about
category judgments; anchoring (C) involves initial values; base-rate neglect (D) is a
related but distinct bias.
7 In problem solving, what is the primary obstacle in the 'candle problem'?
A) Lack of domain knowledge.
B) Functional fixedness.
C) Mental set from prior experience.
D) Insufficient working memory capacity.
Answer: B
Rationale: The candle problem requires using a box of tacks as a platform, but
functional fixedness prevents seeing the box as anything other than a container for
tacks. Mental set (C) involves persisting with a previous strategy, not the core issue
here; A and D are not the main barriers.
8 Which finding supports the idea that language shapes thought (linguistic
relativity)?
A) Infants can discriminate all phonemes initially.
B) Bilinguals show enhanced executive control.
C) Speakers of languages with absolute directions outperform others on spatial
tasks.
D) Aphasia impairs language but not nonverbal reasoning.
Answer: C
Rationale: Speakers of languages that use absolute cardinal directions (e.g.,
north/south) perform better on spatial reasoning tasks requiring absolute reference
Page 3 of 33
, PSYC 140 Foundations Mastery Cognitive Science Modules 1-8
frames, supporting linguistic relativity. Option A is about perceptual narrowing; B is
a bilingual advantage; D suggests independence of language and thought.
9 In a signal detection experiment, a participant's d' remains constant but criterion
shifts. What does this indicate?
A) Sensitivity improved.
B) Response bias changed.
C) Attention increased.
D) Memory strength increased.
Answer: B
Rationale: d' measures sensitivity, while criterion (c) reflects response bias. A
constant d' with a shifting criterion indicates a change in bias, such as becoming
more liberal or conservative. Options A, C, and D would typically affect d' or other
measures, not just criterion.
10 Which developmental pattern is characteristic of Piaget's concrete operational
stage?
A) Egocentric thinking.
B) Conservation of quantity.
C) Abstract hypothetical reasoning.
D) Object permanence.
Answer: B
Rationale: Conservation of quantity is a hallmark of the concrete operational stage
(approximately ages 7-11). Egocentric thinking (A) and lack of object permanence
(D) are preoperational and sensorimotor, respectively; abstract hypothetical
reasoning (C) emerges in the formal operational stage.
11 Which finding most directly falsifies the classical view that concepts are
definitional?
A) Typicality gradients in categorization speed for natural-kind terms
B) Faster verification of 'a robin is a bird' than 'a bird is a robin'
C) Semantic priming between associatively related word pairs
D) Categorical perception of phoneme boundaries in speech
Answer: A
Rationale: Definitional theories predict all-or-none category membership, so graded
typicality effects (robin vs. penguin) directly contradict them. Reversal effects (B)
reflect sentence structure, priming (C) is associative, and categorical perception (D)
is perceptual, not conceptual.
Page 4 of 33
PSYC 140 Foundations Mastery Cognitive Science Modules 1-8
Portage 2026/2027 - Questions and Answers 100% Verified
Detailed Rationales - Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Comprehensive mastery exam covering the history and foundations of cognitive science, research methods and
cognitive neuroscience, perception and attention, memory systems, language and communication, problem solving
and reasoning, decision making and judgment, and intelligence and cognitive development. Emphasizes deep
conceptual reasoning, synthesis across modules, and application to novel scenarios. It contains 100
multiple-choice questions, each with four distractors and a fully worked rationale that explains why the keyed
answer is correct. Questions are organized into clearly labelled sections that mirror the major content areas of
the course. Targeted learning outcomes include: Critically evaluate major theoretical frameworks and empirical
findings across all eight modules of cognitive science.; Apply cognitive science principles to analyze complex
real-world problems and design interventions.; Synthesize knowledge from multiple domains to explain cognitive
phenomena and predict outcomes.. Every item has been reviewed for clinical accuracy, current guidelines, and
clarity so that students can study with confidence and self-correct as they work through the bank. Use it as a
high-yield review immediately before the exam, or as a structured practice tool during the unit - the rationales
double as concise teaching notes. The recommended writing time is 3 hours, with a passing score of 70% (35/50).
Aligned with Aligned with APA Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major (Version 3.0, ) and
Cognitive Science Society curriculum recommendations (2025). Exam adheres to Portage Learning academic
Section 1: General (Questions 1-100)
1 Which concept from embodied cognition most directly challenges classical
computationalism?
A) Mental representations are amodal and symbolic.
B) Cognitive processes are shaped by bodily interactions with the environment.
C) The mind is a computer manipulating formal symbols.
D) Modularity of mind implies domain-specific processing.
Answer: B
Rationale: Embodied cognition asserts that cognitive processes are deeply rooted in
the body's interactions with the world, opposing the amodal, abstract symbol
manipulation of classical computationalism. Option A describes classical
computationalism, C is its core tenet, and D is Fodorian modularity, which is
separate from embodiment.
2 In an fMRI study, researchers observe increased BOLD signal in the fusiform face
area (FFA) when participants view faces versus houses. What does this pattern
most strongly suggest?
A) The FFA is specialized for face processing.
B) The FFA responds to any complex visual stimulus.
C) The FFA is involved in scene perception.
D) The FFA activation is an artifact of attention.
Page 1 of 33
, PSYC 140 Foundations Mastery Cognitive Science Modules 1-8
Answer: A
Rationale: The FFA shows preferential activation for faces over other visual
categories like houses, supporting domain-specific face processing. Option B is
incorrect because the FFA does not respond equally to all complex stimuli; C is
wrong because scene perception involves the parahippocampal place area; D is
unlikely given controlled contrasts.
3 Which phenomenon best illustrates top-down attentional control in visual search?
A) Pop-out effect for a single feature.
B) Attentional blink for a second target.
C) Contingent capture by a salient distractor.
D) Inattentional blindness for unexpected stimuli.
Answer: C
Rationale: Contingent capture occurs when a distractor captures attention only if it
matches the observer's top-down attentional set, demonstrating top-down control.
Pop-out (A) is bottom-up; attentional blink (B) reflects temporal limitations;
inattentional blindness (D) is a failure of awareness, not active top-down control.
4 Which memory system is most critically dependent on the hippocampus?
A) Procedural memory for motor skills.
B) Episodic memory for personal events.
C) Semantic memory for general facts.
D) Working memory for immediate recall.
Answer: B
Rationale: The hippocampus is essential for forming new episodic memories, as
evidenced by patient H.M. Procedural memory (A) relies on basal ganglia; semantic
memory (C) can be acquired independently of the hippocampus in some cases;
working memory (D) depends on prefrontal and parietal regions.
5 According to the dual-route model of reading, which process is used for irregular
words like 'yacht'?
A) Phonological route via grapheme-to-phoneme conversion.
B) Lexical route via direct visual word recognition.
C) Both routes equally.
D) Neither route; irregular words are learned by rote.
Answer: B
Rationale: Irregular words cannot be correctly pronounced using
grapheme-to-phoneme conversion (the phonological route), so they must be
Page 2 of 33
, PSYC 140 Foundations Mastery Cognitive Science Modules 1-8
accessed via the lexical route that retrieves whole-word pronunciations from
memory. Option A would lead to incorrect pronunciation; C is incorrect because the
lexical route dominates; D is not part of the dual-route model.
6 Which heuristic best explains why people overestimate the frequency of rare
causes of death?
A) Representativeness heuristic.
B) Availability heuristic.
C) Anchoring and adjustment.
D) Base-rate neglect.
Answer: B
Rationale: The availability heuristic leads people to judge frequency based on how
easily examples come to mind; rare but vivid causes of death (e.g., shark attacks) are
overestimated because they are highly memorable. Representativeness (A) is about
category judgments; anchoring (C) involves initial values; base-rate neglect (D) is a
related but distinct bias.
7 In problem solving, what is the primary obstacle in the 'candle problem'?
A) Lack of domain knowledge.
B) Functional fixedness.
C) Mental set from prior experience.
D) Insufficient working memory capacity.
Answer: B
Rationale: The candle problem requires using a box of tacks as a platform, but
functional fixedness prevents seeing the box as anything other than a container for
tacks. Mental set (C) involves persisting with a previous strategy, not the core issue
here; A and D are not the main barriers.
8 Which finding supports the idea that language shapes thought (linguistic
relativity)?
A) Infants can discriminate all phonemes initially.
B) Bilinguals show enhanced executive control.
C) Speakers of languages with absolute directions outperform others on spatial
tasks.
D) Aphasia impairs language but not nonverbal reasoning.
Answer: C
Rationale: Speakers of languages that use absolute cardinal directions (e.g.,
north/south) perform better on spatial reasoning tasks requiring absolute reference
Page 3 of 33
, PSYC 140 Foundations Mastery Cognitive Science Modules 1-8
frames, supporting linguistic relativity. Option A is about perceptual narrowing; B is
a bilingual advantage; D suggests independence of language and thought.
9 In a signal detection experiment, a participant's d' remains constant but criterion
shifts. What does this indicate?
A) Sensitivity improved.
B) Response bias changed.
C) Attention increased.
D) Memory strength increased.
Answer: B
Rationale: d' measures sensitivity, while criterion (c) reflects response bias. A
constant d' with a shifting criterion indicates a change in bias, such as becoming
more liberal or conservative. Options A, C, and D would typically affect d' or other
measures, not just criterion.
10 Which developmental pattern is characteristic of Piaget's concrete operational
stage?
A) Egocentric thinking.
B) Conservation of quantity.
C) Abstract hypothetical reasoning.
D) Object permanence.
Answer: B
Rationale: Conservation of quantity is a hallmark of the concrete operational stage
(approximately ages 7-11). Egocentric thinking (A) and lack of object permanence
(D) are preoperational and sensorimotor, respectively; abstract hypothetical
reasoning (C) emerges in the formal operational stage.
11 Which finding most directly falsifies the classical view that concepts are
definitional?
A) Typicality gradients in categorization speed for natural-kind terms
B) Faster verification of 'a robin is a bird' than 'a bird is a robin'
C) Semantic priming between associatively related word pairs
D) Categorical perception of phoneme boundaries in speech
Answer: A
Rationale: Definitional theories predict all-or-none category membership, so graded
typicality effects (robin vs. penguin) directly contradict them. Reversal effects (B)
reflect sentence structure, priming (C) is associative, and categorical perception (D)
is perceptual, not conceptual.
Page 4 of 33
