Answers and Explanations: Clep Psychology Practice Test

CLEP PSYCHOLOGY PRACTICE TEST
Answers and Explanations

1. The correct answer is (C). Comparative 8. The correct answer is (E). Watson was an
psychologists look for similarities between extreme behaviorist.
species.
9. The correct answer is (A). All brain cells
2. The correct answer is (D). Industrial and transmit messages.
organizational psychologists work with manage-
ment and staff in the world of business. 10. The correct answer is (C). The axon terminal
button at the end of the neuron (nerve cell)
3. The correct answer is (A). In naturalistic communicates with other neurons by secreting
observation, the researcher tries to be as incon- neurotransmitters, which cross the synaptic gap.
spicuous as possible so as not to influence the
situation. 11. The correct answer is (B). Activity within
cells is electrical and operates on the “all-or-
4. The correct answer is (C). The only way to none” principle. Chemicals called neurotransmit-
determine whether one variable causes another is ters communicate information from one neuron
to do an experiment. In an experiment, one factor to another by drifting across the synaptic gap.
(variable) is manipulated while all other vari-
ables are held constant. Non-experimental 12. The correct answer is (C). The brain and
methods yield correlational results only. Re- spinal cord make up the central nervous system;
searchers cannot make causal statements from all other parts of the body are controlled by the
correlational results. peripheral nervous system.
5. The correct answer is (A). An independent 13. The correct answer is (D). The thalamus
variable is the variable that experimenters determines which messages get sent to the
change while holding all other variables con- various parts of the brain.
stant. In this case, some participants got more
alcohol and some got less. Hitting pylons is an
14. The correct answer is (A). The limbic
outcome (dependent variable) of the amount of
system is the emotional center of the brain.
alcohol consumed. The researchers did not
manipulate individual driving ability.
15. The correct answer is (B). The sympathetic
nervous system arouses the body and activates
6. The correct answer is (D). Replication
the “fight or flight” response.
involves repeating a study to determine whether
the results are supported or whether they oc-
curred due to chance. 16. The correct answer is (B). The frontal lobes
are responsible for higher thought processes.
7. The correct answer is (A). Psychoanalytic
theory assumes that the unconscious plays a
major role in human behavior.
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CLEP-psyc-P1-answers.pmd 1 4/4/2005, 11:34 AM

17. The correct answer is (E). Eye color is 26. The correct answer is (D). An EEG is an
determined by the dominant-recessive principle. electroencephalogram. It measures the brain
Whenever a dominant gene is present, it will show wave activity that can distinguish between each
up. Both parents have brown eyes, so both have at of the stages of sleep.
least one dominant gene. A child will display a
recessive trait when he or she receives a recessive 27. The correct answer is (E). Our most vivid,
gene from both parents. Therefore, in this case, narrative-like dreams occur during REM sleep,
we know that both parents have one gene for characterized by rapid eye movement and
brown eyes and one recessive gene for blue eyes, “awake-like” brainwave patterns that will appear
which they each gave to their daughter. on an EEG.
18. The correct answer is (C). The absolute 28. The correct answer is (A). Sleep walking
threshold is the minimum amount of stimulus occurs during stage 4 sleep.
energy required to stimulate a receptor 50 percent
of the time.
29. The correct answer is (C). Delirium tremens
are a sign of physical withdrawal from alcohol
19. The correct answer is (B). If our eyes did not addiction. The “DTs” are marked by agitation,
quiver, we would eventually no longer notice tremors, nightmares, and even hallucinations.
objects in our field of vision because of the
principle of sensory adaptation.
30. The correct answer is (E). Cocaine is a
stimulant. Alcohol, heroin, and barbiturates are
20. The correct answer is (E). Rods respond to all depressants. LSD is a hallucinogen.
light; cones respond to color and motion.
31. The correct answer is (D). Not everyone can
21. The correct answer is (A). Taste is our least be hypnotized, but for those who can, hypnosis
efficient sense, and much of it depends on smell. can provide remarkable results. Caution should
be exercised about accepting the validity of
22. The correct answer is (B). The semicircular recovered memories, and hypnosis remains a
canals are filled with fluid. Movement of the fluid controversial topic in psychology.
provides feedback and helps maintain equilibrium.
32. The correct answer is (D). Experiental
23. The correct answer is (A). Similarity refers knowledge, which could have its roots in prin-
to a tendency to group similar patterns together. ciples of learning such as conditioning and
reinforcement, underlies much of our learning.
24. The correct answer is (A). Binocular vision
supplies information on two characteristics, 33. The correct answer is (A). Classical condi-
depth and distance. (“bi” means two, as in tioning involves pairing an unconditioned
“binocular”). True depth perception requires the stimulus (meat, in this case) with a previously
use of both eyes neutral stimulus (the bell) in order to build up an
association between the two stimuli.
25. The correct answer is (B). Recognition is
most likely to occur if the contexts are also
similar.
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34. The correct answer is (B). In classical 41. The correct answer is (C). Instinctual drift
conditioning, the original, unconditioned re- means that species-specific behaviors (instincts)
sponse occurs upon presentation of the original, sometime interfere with and over-ride learning.
unconditioned stimulus. In this case, cats naturally like to investigate and
survey their landscape from high places.
35. The correct answer is (E). If the conditioned
stimulus (CS) and the unconditional stimulus 42. The correct answer is (B). According to the
(UCS) are never presented together, the CS will principle of extinction, when a behavior is no
lose its association to the UCS and will no longer longer followed by reinforcement, the behavior
elicit the conditioned response. This is called decreases in frequency because it is no longer
extinction. being maintained by reinforcers.
36. The correct answer is (A). The child has 43. The correct answer is (B). Sensory memory
learned to tell apart (discriminate) between his holds current information recently gathered by
parents and his friends. the senses for only an instant.
37. The correct answer is (D). Classical condi- 44. The correct answer is (D). Rehearsal is the
tioning begins with unlearned (reflexive) behav- intentional repetition of information in order to
ior and pairs it with a new stimulus. In operant improve short-term memory.
conditioning, the (voluntary) behavior comes
first, and then it is followed by a reward, a 45. The correct answer is (D). Recall is a form
punishment, or by no outcome. of remembering that requires the person to bring
information out of memory without many
38. The correct answer is (A). Shaping is a retrieval cues.
technique of gradually changing behavior by
reinforcing successive approximations of the 46. The correct answer is (A). Chunking in-
behavior moving closer and closer to the target volves organizing units of information into
behavior. meaningful groups.
39. The correct answer is (A). Learning takes 47. The correct answer is (E). Phonemes are the
place faster when the behavior is rewarded every basic sounds, not necessarily meaningful in
time it occurs (continuously). Intermittent isolation, that form the building blocks of
reinforcement (partial, random, etc.) is marked language.
by slower learning but greater resistance to
extinction. According to Skinner, learning does
48. The correct answer is (C). Babies are
not take place in the absence of reinforcement.
capable of making all the sounds used in all
human languages.
40. The correct answer is (E). In behavior
modification, behavior is changed by altering the
49. The correct answer is (B). Mental Age
rewards and punishments that are maintaining
(abilities)/ Chronological age (in years) multi-
the behavior.
plied by 100.
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50. The correct answer is (A). Although identi- be seen in authoritative parenting, where parents
cal twins share 100 percent of genes, they are not encourage children’s independence, but still
identical beings. Environment does make a place limits and controls on their behavior.
difference. However, identical twins are often
reared in environments that are relatively similar 58. The correct answer is (A). The correct order
in terms of intellectual development. Therefore, from lowest to highest is: physiological needs,
it is impossible to say what percent of their safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-
progress is the result of genes, and what percent actualization.
is the result of their environments.
59. The correct answer is (A). All humans have
51. The correct answer is (D). Validity answers 46 chromosomes arranged in 23 pairs. Each pair
the question “does the test measure what it has one chromosome from the mother and one
originally set out to measure?” from the father.
52. The correct answer is (E). All emotions have 60. The correct answer is (B). Examples of
a physiological basis, cognitive awareness, a teratogens, which originate outside the mother’s
sense of goal-directedness, and possible changes body, include alcohol, drugs, viruses, infections,
in feeling. and byproducts of cigarettes.
53. The correct answer is (D). The six basic 61. The correct answer is (C). Piaget’s theory
emotions (happiness, sadness, disgust, surprise, includes the sensorimotor, preoperational, and
anger, and fear) are universally recognized, formal operational stages of children’s cognitive
suggesting that there is a biological basis for the development.
display of these emotions.
62. The correct answer is (C). Conservation is
54. The correct answer is (C). Homeostasis is a the ability to understand that certain attributes of
state of equilibrium or balance in any physiologi- objects or situations remain the same despite
cal system. superficial changes in their appearance.
55. The correct answer is (A). Females have 63. The correct answer is (E). Secondary sex
high levels of estrogen and males have high characteristics include the deepening of the voice
levels of androgens (e.g. testosterone.) in males, the growth of breasts in females, and
the growth of body hair in both sexes. They are
56. The correct answer is (E). Excitement is the not essential for reproduction.
building up of arousal, plateau is an increase in
excitement, orgasm is muscular contractions, and 64. The correct answer is (E). Eating disorders
resolution is a return to a normal non-aroused result from a complex interaction of social and
state. psychological factors.
57. The correct answer is (A). The type of 65. The correct answer is (B). Adolescents
parenting with the most typically positive struggle with developing an identity of their own
outcomes is one that rewards good performance (positive outcome) vs. failing to establish a
while admonishing bad performance. This can unique identity (confusion).
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66. The correct answer is (A). Alzheimer’s 75. The correct answer is (C). A sense of control
disease, a regressive, degenerative disorder, is an effective buffer against stress. Social
affects 2.5 million Americans over the age of 65; support is also important.
its incidence increases with age.
76. The correct answer is (A). Although not all
67. The correct answer is (E). Freud developed mental disorders are biologically-based, many
psychodynamic (or psychoanalytic) theory in the are, including schizophrenia, bi-polar disorder,
late 1800s. some anxiety disorders, and depression in many
people. Whether an individual with a biological
68. The correct answer is (D). Freud believed that predisposition actually develops a disorder
the unconscious mind was largely hidden from depends on life experiences and coping skills.
awareness and only showed up in disguised fashion
in unconscious motivation, defense mechanisms, 77. The correct answer is (A). Schizophrenics
Freudian slips (parapraxes), and dreams. tend to have an excess of dopamine in certain
areas of the brain.
69. The correct answer is (D). The ego is the
executive of the personality. It operates on the 78. The correct answer is (C). Being manic is an
reality principle and finds ways to satisfy the extreme high, often characterized by behaviors
demands of both the id and the superego. that do not reflect reality. At the end of the manic
episode, the person often swings the other way
70. The correct answer is (B). The defense into a severe depression.
mechanism of identification protects the ego
from unacceptable thoughts by identifying with 79. The correct answer is (D). Anxiety disorders
the same-sex parent and giving up the desire to are the most frequently occurring disorders and
possess the opposite-sex parent. include generalized anxiety disorder, phobias,
PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and obses-
71. The correct answer is (C). Adler said that we sive-compulsive disorder. Mood disorders are the
attempt to overcome feeling of inferiority by second most frequently occurring disorders.
striving to be superior (i.e., to self-actualize).
80. The correct answer is (A). Also known as
72. The correct answer is (E). According to Carl sociopaths or psychopaths, people with antiso-
Rogers, unconditional positive regard means cial personality disorder have no conscience and
accepting and valuing a person regardless of the no sense of remorse. They view other people
person’s behavior. opportunistically.
73. The correct answer is (A). Social learning 81. The correct answer is (A). Dissociative
theory was developed by Albert Bandura; it identity disorder is a newer term for multiple
emphasizes observational, or vicarious, learn- personality disorder.
ing—also known as modeling.
82. The correct answer is (E). Psychodynamic
74. The correct answer is (B). An approach- (Freudian) treatment relies heavily on under-
approach conflict is caused by having to choose standing early life experiences and conflicts, and
between two attractive alternatives. uncovering the roots of unconscious motivation.
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83. The correct answer is (A). Although modern 90. The correct answer is (A). When attitudes
psychodynamic therapists still regard early are inconsistent with action, it creates tension
experience and unconscious conflicts as impor- (cognitive dissonance) and a corresponding drive
tant, they are more likely to give weight to the to reduce that tension, often by changing either
patient’s social and cultural environment. the attitudes or the behavior to make them more
consistent with one another.
84. The correct answer is (D). Empathy consists
of trying to see the world the way the client sees it. 91. The correct answer is (C). A source with low
credibility is not very persuasive.
85. The correct answer is (A). In aversive
conditioning, the therapist attempts to change the 92. The correct answer is (D). Situational or
client’s behavior by pairing an undesirable external attributions explain events by assuming
behavior with an aversive (unpleasant) stimulus they are caused by something in the environ-
to decrease the behavior’s frequency. ment. Dispositional or internal attributions
explain events by assuming they are caused by
86. The correct answer is (A). Systematic something about the individual.
desensitization consists of constructing a fear
hierarchy and gradually having the client 93. The correct answer is (D). A self-fulfilling
progress through the hierarchy while practicing prophecy is a prediction that comes true not
relaxation, which is incompatible with fear. necessarily because it was correct, but more
because it was made in the first place. Once
87. The correct answer is (B). Self-help groups people have an expectation about events, they
are usually led by a para-professional, who has tend to engage in behavior that increases the
been given minimal training by a mental health probability of the event’s occurrence.
professional.
94. The correct answer is (D). Research has
88. The correct answer is (D). De-institutional- suggested that the Japanese culture tends to place
ization has been a problem because many people a greater emphasis on the whole of society than
who are released without proper supervision on separate individuals.
forget to take the prescribed drugs and deterio-
rate back into poor mental health or psychosis. 95. The correct answer is (D). In this famous
Others are able to control the illness effectively experiment designed to demonstrate the power of
via medication. suggestion and the willingness to “obey” and
adhere to authority, nearly two thirds of the
89. The correct answer is (A). Electroconvulsive subjects delivered what they believed to be a
shock is a treatment of last resort for severely maximum shock of 450 volts.
depressed people who have not responded to
anti-depressants or therapy. Its effectiveness is 96. The correct answer is (B). Social loafing is
comparable to drug therapy and psychotherapy. most likely when there is no individual account-
ability of effort and all share equally in the
outcome. Loafing is less likely as goals become
more compelling.
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97. The correct answer is (C). Cognitive factors 99. The correct answer is (D). In a normal curve
include, for example, perception of intent, of distribution, most scores will cluster around
controllability, and magnitude. the mean score, or around the middle of the
range.
98. The correct answer is (C). A normal distribu-
tion of scores above and below the mean is also 100. The correct answer is (C). A correlation
known as a bell-shaped curve. does not prove causation, but it can establish
relation. It is therefore difficult to separate
heredity from environment in determining
exactly why people are intelligent.
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Answers and Explanations: Clep Psychology Practice Test

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