Chapter 8 Quick Quiz
1. Physical growth during preschool years is characterized by
a. steady growth in height and weight.
b. less chubby and roundish shape.
c. growth in arms and legs and a more adult-like body proportion.
d. all of these answers.
2. Many of the motor skills and cognitive changes that occur during the preschool years are due to brain
development including
a. brain lateralization.
c. increased myelination.
b. increased neural connections
d. all of these answers.
3. About 2 a.m. Sammi awoke from a deep sleep with a scream. He was confused and not easily calmed. After
some time, Sammi went back to his regular sleep, but in the morning he reported that he remembered none of
this incident. Sammi most likely experienced
a. sleep paralysis.
c. a nightmare.
b. night terrors.
d. sleep apnea.
4. Selena is concerned that her daughter is not eating as well as she has in the past. Based on what you know about
preschool children’s development, you can help to ease her concerns by telling her not to worry because
a. too many preschool children are fat.
c. her child’s growth has decreased as well.
b. she can save money on food.
d. her child prefers candy to fruit.
5. Although minor illnesses may be somewhat distressing, they also bring benefits, including
a. building up a child’s immunity.
c. allowing the child to better understand his or her body.
b. allowing the child to develop empathy.
d. all of these answers.
6. This form of cancer causes the bone marrow to produce an excessive amount of white blood cells, including
severe anemia and, potentially, death. One of the most common forms to strike young children, this is known as
a. leukemia.
c. HIV.
b. AIDS.
d. lupus.
7. All of the following are considered psychological maltreatment EXCEPT
a. intimidation.
c. humiliation.
b. hitting the child.
d. belittling the child.
8. Generally the activity level of preschoolers is high; all of the following are factors that influence the individual
activity level of an individual child EXCEPT
a. child’s temperament.
c. enrollment in organized activities.
b. parent’s style of discipline
d. cultural expectations.
9. During the preschool years, gender differences in motor skills become more evident. Boys tend to have greater
___________ while girls tend to have greater ___________.
a. strength; coordination
c. flexibility; agility
b. coordination; flexibility
d. agility; strength
10. Children’s artwork progresses through a series of stages during the preschool years. Those stages are
a. scribbling, color, form, objects
c. linear, form, color, objects
b. scribbling, shape, design, pictorial
d. linear, shape, dimensions, objects
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Chapter 8 Quick Quiz Answers
1. Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: d
Page(s): 207, 208 Type: Conceptual
Rationale: Preschool years are characterized by all three of these changes. Height and weight continue to
increase, but in a steadier pattern than previously. The body shape changes during this period, moving from a
pot-bellied toddler to a leaner 6-year-old while the child’s body proportion becomes much more adult-like, with
lengthening arms and legs.
2. Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: d
Page(s): 208, 209 Type: Conceptual
Rationale: During the preschool years the brain continues to develop. Lateralization occurs, differentiating the
hemispheres and encouraging handedness. Increasing neural connections and myelination follow from the
higher activity levels of preschool children and encourage motor skill development and cognitive spurts.
3. Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: b
Page(s): 211
Type: Applied
Rationale: Sammi has experienced night terrors, an intense physiological arousal that causes a child to awaken
in a state of panic. It is often difficult to comfort the child and often he or she cannot remember anything about
the incident. Night terrors, less frequent than nightmares, occur in 1% to 5% of children.
4. Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: c
Page(s): 212
Type: Applied
Rationale: Many parents of preschool children become concerned about their nutrition. Children of this age eat
less because they are growing less.
5. Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: d
Page(s): 212, 213 Type: Conceptual
Rationale: Minor illnesses are really a minor inconvenience when you consider the potential benefits to the
child, including building the immune system, developing a better awareness of his or her own body, as well as
developing empathy, and teaching children to be more understanding of others.
6. Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: a
Page(s): 213
Type: Factual
Rationale: Cancer is the most frequent major illness to strike preschoolers, particularly leukemia, a form of
cancer in which the bone marrow produces an excessive amount of white blood cells. Due to advances in
treatment, today more than 70% of victims of childhood leukemia survive.
7. Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: b
Page(s): 217, 218 Type: Conceptual
Rationale: Hitting a child, while a form of child abuse, is considered physical abuse. All of the others are forms
of psychological maltreatment, which includes overt behavior and neglect. Psychological maltreatment is harm
to the child’s behavioral, cognitive, emotional and physical functioning, caused by parents or other caregivers
verbally, through their actions, or through neglect.
8. Chapter Section: Motor Development
Answer: c
Page(s): 222
Type: Factual
Rationale: Despite high activity levels, there are significant variations among children and those individual
differences are influenced by genetics (individual temperament) and by environmental factors (parental
discipline style and cultural expectations).
9. Chapter Section: Motor Development
Answer: a
Page(s): 222
Type: Applied
Rationale: Girls and boys differ in motor coordination. Boys tend to have more strength, but girls have better
coordination, particularly with their arms and legs.
152
10. Chapter Section: Motor Development
Answer: b
Page(s): 225
Type: Factual
Rationale: Children’s art proceeds through the following stages: scribbling, shape, design and pictorial stages.
153
Chapter 8
Physical Development in the Preschool Years
Multiple Choice Questions
8.1
Two years after birth, the average child in the United States weighs between ___________ pounds and is
close to ___________ inches tall.
a. 7 to 9; 20
c. 25 to 30; 36
b. 15 to 20; 30
d. 5 to 7; 21
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: c
Page(s): 207
Type: Factual
Rationale: Two years after birth, the average child in the United States weighs 23 to 30 pounds and is close to 36
inches tall—around half the height of the average adult.
8.2
Trevor is almost 36 inches tall and weighs between 25 to 30 pounds; he is probably ___________ years old.
a. 2
c. 5
b. 4
d. 6
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: a
Page(s): 207
Type: Factual
Rationale: Two years after birth, the average child in the United States weighs 23 to 30 pounds and is close to 36
inches tall—around half the height of the average adult.
8.3
Children grow steadily during the preschool period, and by the time they are 6 years old, they weigh, on
average, about ___________ pounds and stand ___________ inches tall.
a. 36; 36
c. 46; 46
b. 40; 40
d. 50; 50
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: c
Page(s): 207
Type: Factual
Rationale: By the time children are 6 years old, they weigh, on average, about 46 pounds and stand 46 inches tall.
8.4
Because of ___________, 10% of 6-year-olds weigh 55 pounds or more, and 10% weigh 36 pounds or less.
a. individual differences
c. individual nutrition
b. family genetics
d. active lifestyles
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: a
Page(s): 207
Type: Factual
Rationale: The average height and weight mask the individual differences, represented by 10% of 6-year-olds
weighing 55 pounds or more, and 10% weighing 36 pounds or less.
8.5
Henry weighs about 46 pounds and stands 46 inches tall. Henry is about __________ years old.
a. 2
c. 6
b. 4
d. 8
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: c
Page(s): 207
Type: Factual
Rationale: By the time children are 6 years old, they weigh, on average, about 46 pounds and stand 46 inches tall.
154
8.6
On average, during the preschool years, boys start becoming ___________ and ___________ than girls.
a. shorter; quicker
c. taller; heavier
b. shorter; heavier
d. taller; slower
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: c
Page(s): 207
Type: Factual
Rationale: During preschool years, boys start becoming taller and heavier, on average, than girls.
8.7
Approximately ___________ percent of 6-year-olds weigh 36 pounds or less.
a. 10
c. 25
b. 20
d. 30
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: a
Page(s): 207
Type: Factual
Rationale: The average height and weight mask the individual differences, represented by 10% of 6-year-olds
weighing 55 pounds or more, and 10% weighing 36 pounds or less.
8.8
The average Swedish 4-year-old is as tall as the average 6-year-old in Bangladesh. The difference in height is
accounted for by better ___________ and ___________.
a. nutrition; health care.
c. nutrition; physical fitness.
b. eating habits; exercise.
d. nutrition; vitamins.
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: a
Page(s): 207
Type: Factual
Rationale: Global economies affect the average heights and weights. For example, due to better nutrition and health
care, the average Swedish 4-year-old is as tall as the average 6-year-old in Bangladesh.
8.9
In the preschool years, the bodies of children vary not only in height and weight, but also in
a. build.
c. hair growth.
b. shape.
d. number of teeth.
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: b
Page(s): 207, 208 Type: Factual
Rationale: When comparing the bodies of a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old, the bodies vary not only in height and
weight, but also in shape. During preschool years, children become less chubby and roundish and more slender.
8.10 Patrick has lost his chubby baby look. His stomach is flat and the size of his head in relation to his body has
become more adultlike. Patrick is a(n)
a. late toddler.
c. early teenager.
b. late preschooler.
d. early adult.
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: b
Page(s): 208
Type: Conceptual
Rationale: A 6-year-old (late preschooler) the child has lost his or her potbelly and his or her proportions are quite
similar to those of an adult.
8.11 During preschool years the ___________ moves from a parallel to more angular position. During this time,
this may sometimes lead to an increase in the frequency of earaches.
a. eustachian tube
c. hammer
b. ear drum
d. anvil
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: a
Page(s): 208
Type: Factual
Rationale: The Eustachian tube in the ear, which carries sounds from the external part of the ear to the internal part,
moves from a position that is almost parallel to the ground at birth to a more angular position. This change
sometimes leads to an increase in the frequency of earaches during the preschool years.
155
8.12 The ___________ grow(s) at a faster rate than any other part of the body.
a. legs
c. arms
b. brain
d. trunk
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: b
Page(s): 208
Type: Factual
Rationale: The brain grows at a faster rate than does any other part of the body.
8.13 By age 5, children’s brains weigh ___________of average adult brain weight.
a. 60%
c. 80%
b. 70%
d. 90%
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: d
Page(s): 208
Type: Factual
Rationale: By age 5, children’s brains weigh about 90% of the average adult brain.
8.14 In 5-year-olds, cognitive skills, as well as motor skills, increase because neural pathways become more
connected and ___________ increases.
a. axon
c. myelination
b. soma
d. dendrte
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: c
Page(s): 208
Type: Factual
Rationale: During this period of rapid brain growth, the amount of myelin, the protective insulation that surrounds
the axons of the neuron, increases, which speeds the transmission of electrical impulses along brain cells, and also
increases the weight of the brain.
8.15 By the end of the preschool period, the __________, a bundle of nerve fibers that connect the two
hemispheres of the brain, becomes considerably thicker.
a. myelination
c. corpus callosum
b. dendrite
d. medulla
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: c
Page(s): 208
Type: Factual
Rationale: By the end of the preschool years some parts of the brain have undergone considerable growth, including
the corpus callosum, which links the two hemispheres of the brain together. It becomes thicker and helps coordinate
functioning between the hemispheres.
8.16 The ___________ hemisphere of the brain develops strengths in nonverbal areas such as comprehension of
spatial relationships, recognition of patterns and drawings, music, and emotional expression.
a. left
c. right
b. middle
d. back
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: c
Page(s): 208
Type: Factual
Rationale: During this period of brain development, the two hemispheres become increasingly specialized.
Lateralization occurs and the left hemisphere tends to specialize in verbal skills while the right hemisphere develops
strengths in nonverbal areas.
156
8.17 The ___________ hemisphere of the brain concentrates on tasks that necessitate verbal competence, such as
speaking, reading, thinking, and reasoning.
a. left
c. right
b. middle
d. back
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: a
Page(s): 208
Type: Factual
Rationale: During this period of brain development, the two hemispheres become increasingly specialized.
Lateralization occurs and the left hemisphere tends to specialize in verbal skills while the right hemisphere develops
strengths in nonverbal areas.
8.18 The process in which certain functions are located more in one hemisphere of the brain than the other is
known as
a. plasticity.
c. lateralization.
b. hemispherical shift.
d. reticular formation.
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: c
Page(s): 208
Type: Factual
Rationale: During this period of brain development, the two hemispheres become increasingly specialized.
Lateralization occurs and the left hemisphere tends to specialize in verbal skills while the right hemisphere develops
strengths in nonverbal areas.
8.19 For the majority of right-handed individuals, the left hemisphere of the brain concentrates on tasks that
necessitate
a. comprehension of spatial relationships.
c. emotional expression
b. recognition of patterns.
d. verbal competence.
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: d
Page(s): 208
Type: Factual
Rationale: During this period of brain development, the two hemispheres become increasingly specialized.
Lateralization occurs and the left hemisphere tends to specialize in verbal skills while the right hemisphere develops
strengths in nonverbal areas.
8.20 For the majority of right-handed individuals, the right hemisphere is responsible for an individuals’ ability to
a. draw.
c. speak.
b. read.
d. reason.
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: a
Page(s): 208
Type: Factual
Rationale: During this period of brain development, the two hemispheres become increasingly specialized.
Lateralization occurs and the left hemisphere tends to specialize in verbal skills while the right hemisphere develops
strengths in nonverbal areas.
8.21 Each of the two hemispheres also begins to process information in a slightly different manner. Whereas the
___________ hemisphere considers information sequentially, one piece of data at a time, the ___________
hemisphere processes information in a more global manner, reflecting on it as a whole.
a. right; left
c. left; middle
b. left; right
d. right; middle
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: b
Page(s): 208
Type: Factual
Rationale: The left hemisphere considers information sequentially, one piece of data at a time; the right hemisphere
processes information in a more global manner, reflecting on it as a whole.
157
8.22 Left-handed or ambidextrous individuals often have language centered in their ___________ hemisphere or
have no specific language center.
a. left
c. right
b. front
d. rear
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: c
Page(s): 208
Type: Factual
Rationale: There are individual differences in lateralization. For example, left-handed or ambidextrous individuals
often have language centered in their right hemisphere or have no specific language center.
8.23 Males tend to show greater lateralization of language in the
a. cerebellum.
c. left hemisphere.
b. medulla.
d. right hemisphere.
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: c
Page(s): 209
Type: Factual
Rationale: Boys tend to show greater specialization of language in the left hemisphere.
8.24 Girls tend to process language in
a. both hemispheres.
b. the right hemisphere.
c. the left hemisphere.
d. neither hemisphere.
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: a
Page(s): 209
Type: Factual
Rationale: Among females, language is more evenly divided between the two hemispheres.
8.25 Females’ language development proceeds at a faster rate in comparison to males’ language development
because ___________ for this task.
a. females use the right hemisphere and males use the left hemisphere
b. females use the left hemisphere and males use the right hemisphere
c. females use both the left and right hemispheres and males use the left hemisphere
d. females use both hemispheres and males use the right hemisphere
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: c
Page(s): 209
Type: Factual
Rationale: Boys tend to process language in the left hemisphere, while girls’ language processing is more evenly
divided among the two hemispheres. This difference may help to explain why girls’ language development occurs at
a more rapid pace than boys’.
8.26 One explanation for differences in language processing based on gender suggests that the brain may be
structured differently in boys and girls. This would suggest that gender differences in brain lateralization are
the result of ___________ factors.
a. heredity
c. synaptic
b. environment
d. nurture
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: a
Page(s): 209
Type: Conceptual
Rationale: While there are more than one explanation for differences in lateralization based on gender, this
explanation suggests a heredity base that accounts for a different brain structure.
158
8.27 One explanation for differences in language processing based on gender suggest that parents tend to provide
greater encouragement for verbalization in girls than in boys. This would suggest that gender differences in
brain lateralization are the result of ___________ factors.
a. environmental
c. genetic
b. nature
d. biological
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: a
Page(s): 209
Type: Conceptual
Rationale: While there are more than one explanation for differences in lateralization based on gender, this
explanation suggests an environmental base that accounts for learned changes.
8.28 Researchers have found that spurts in electrical activity in the brain are related to ___________ development.
a. social
c. emotional
b. cognitive
d. enviornmental
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: b
Page(s): 209, 210 Type: Factual
Rationale: By recording the electrical activity spurts in the brain, researchers are able to link them with the
corresponding spurts of cognitive development (e.g. language development).
8.29 Between 1 to 2 years of age there is an increased level of brain activity. This spurt in brain electrical activity
supports ___________ development.
a. motor skill
c. language
b. higher level thinking skills
d. social skill
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: c
Page(s): 209, 210 Type: Factual
Rationale: Measurements of brain electrical activity seem to hit a peak period between 1.5 and 2 years of age. It is
during this time that language abilities increase rapidly.
8.30 Advances in cognitive development and the rapid increase in the weight of the brain may both result, in part,
from greater ___________.
a. synaptic pruning
c. lateralization
b. myelination
d. sensory development
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: b
Page(s): 210
Type: Conceptual
Rationale: An increase in myelin, the protective insulation that surrounds the parts of the neuron, speeds the
transmission of electrical impulses along brain cells, and increases the weight of the brain.
8.31 Preschoolers and adults look at objects differently; preschoolers tend to focus on ___________ and adults
tend to focus on ___________.
a. individual parts; overall organization
c. global cues; partial cues
b. overall organization; individual parts
d. global parts; global organization
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: a
Page(s): 210
Type: Factual
Rationale: Preschool-age children view objects made up of multiple parts differently than older children and adults.
Preschool-age children focus on the individual parts, while the adult tends to focus on the overall organization.
159
8.32 Conner and his father went to an art museum. When they got back Conner told his mother about his favorite
picture. Conner described in detail every single aspect of the picture. He gave so many details that his mother
could not begin to guess what the picture was. Conner’s descriptive style is the result of young children
a. liking to get their parents’ undivided attention and keep it.
b. liking to keep their parents guessing.
c. being unable to focus on overall organization and instead seeing only parts.
d. seeing things globally, but breaking them apart to make them interesting to adults.
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: c
Page(s): 210
Type: Applied
Rationale: Preschool-age children view objects by focusing on the individual parts. Therefore Conner’s description
is accurate of the detail that he noticed when viewing the picture.
8.33 Three- to 4-month-old babies and 3- to 4-year-old children are alike in that both age groups tend to spend
most of their time visually scanning the
a. perimeter of an object.
c. picture as a whole object.
b. boundaries of object.
d. internal details of an object.
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: d
Page(s): 210
Type: Conceptual
Rationale: Until the age of 3 or 4, preschool children tend to devote most of their looking to the insides of twodimensional objects they are scanning, concentrating on the internal details and largely ignoring the perimeter of the
figure.
8.34 As many as ___________ percent of preschool age children have difficulty getting to and staying asleep.
a. 20 to 30
c. 40 to 50
b. 30 to 40
d. 50 to 60
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: a
Page(s): 211
Type: Factual
Rationale: Although most children settle down to sleep fairly easily, as many as 20 to 30% of preschool-age
children experience difficulties lasting more than an hour in getting to sleep.
8.35 Intense physiological arousals that cause a child to wake up in a severe state of panic are
a. night terrors.
c. bad dreams.
b. nightmares.
d. night frights.
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: a
Page(s): 211
Type: Factual
Rationale: Night terrors produce intense physiological arousal and cause a child to wake up in an intense state
of panic.
8.36 Three-year-old Trent woke one night screaming and shaking with fright. It took his parents a great deal of
time to calm him down. The next morning, he could not recall the event. Trent experienced a case of the
a. night terrors.
c. bad dreams.
b. nightmares.
d. night frights.
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Answer: a
Page(s): 211
Type: Conceptual
Rationale: After waking from a night terror, children are not easily comforted, they cannot say why they are so
disturbed, and they cannot recall having a bad dream. But the following morning, they cannot remember anything
about the incident.
160
8.37 The major threats to health and wellness during the preschool years are the result of
a. environmentally acquired illnesses.
c. accidental injuries.
b. genetically acquired illnesses.
d. autoimmune system malfunctions.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: c
Page(s): 212
Type: Factual
Rationale: The major threats to health and wellness come not from disease but from injuries due to accidents.
8.38 The greatest threat to 5-year-old Gavin’s health and wellness comes from
a. environmentally acquired illnesses.
c. accidental injuries.
b. genetically acquired illnesses.
d. autoimmune system malfunctons.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: c
Page(s): 212
Type: Conceptual
Rationale: The major threats to health and wellness come not from disease but from injuries due to accidents.
8.39 A decline in appetite during the preschool years
a. suggests that children are staying up too late and do not have the energy to eat.
b. suggests that children are not active and should spend more time running around.
c. indicates that children’s growth rate has slowed.
d. indicates that the children may be ill.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: c
Page(s): 211
Type: Factual
Rationale: Often parents of preschool age children worry that the decline in appetite indicates a problem or lack of
good nutrition. In fact, the decline in appetite can be attributed to a slowing of growth during the preschool years.
8.40 Preschoolers’ rate of growth is slower than it has ever been; as a result they need ___________ food to
maintain their growth.
a. the same amount of
c. a great amount of
b. more
d. less
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: d
Page(s): 211
Type: Conceptual
Rationale: Children’s growth has declined substantially from the rapid growth that occurred previously; therefore,
children need less food to maintain their growth.
8.41 Isaac’s parents are concerned that their son does not eat enough. They often tell him that he ate more as a
baby than he does at the age of 6. You can reassure Isaac’s parents by telling them that Isaac does not eat as
much as he did when he was a baby because he
a. has become a picky eater.
b. would rather be out playing with his friends.
c. is not growing as fast and does not require so many calories.
d. does not have the desire to eat.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: c
Page(s): 211
Type: Applied
Rationale: Children’s growth has declined substantially from the rapid growth that occurred before preschool age;
therefore, children need less food to maintain their growth.
161
8.42 A body weight more than 20% higher than the average weight for a person of a given age and height is
known as
a. fatness.
c. obesity.
b. baby fat.
d. chubby.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: c
Page(s): 211
Type: Factual
Rationale: Obesity is defined as body weight more than 20% above the average weight for that age and height.
8.43 The average preschooler has ___________ minor colds and other minor respiratory illnesses in each of the
years from ages 3 to 5.
a. 3 to 5
c. 12 to 15
b. 7 to 10
d. 16 to 20
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: b
Page(s): 211
Type: Factual
Rationale: The average preschooler has 7 to 10 minor colds and other minor respiratory illnesses in each of the
years from ages 3 to 5.
8.44 According to your textbook, the most frequent major illness to strike preschoolers is
a. AIDS.
c. scarlet fever.
b. smallpox.
d. cancer.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: d
Page(s): 213
Type: Factual
Rationale: The most frequent major illness to strike preschoolers is cancer, particularly in the form of leukemia.
8.45 While being sick is unpleasant, it may have some unexpected benefits as well. All of the following except one
is a benefit to being ill.
a. Illness builds immunity.
b. Illness enables children to better understand their bodies.
c. Illness enables children to better understand how others feel when they are sick.
d. Illnesses builds antibodies that attack the body, making it weaker.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: d
Page(s): 210, 211 Type: Factual
Rationale: Illness helps children build up immunity to more severe illnesses. Some researchers argue that minor
illness permits children to understand their bodies better. It also may permit them to learn coping skills that will help
them deal more effectively with future, more severe diseases. Finally, it gives them the ability to understand better
what others who are sick are going through.
8.46 The ability to put oneself in another’s shoes is known as
a. empathy.
c. commissary.
b. sympathy.
d. pity.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: a
Page(s): 213
Type: Factual
Rationale: Being sick may give the preschool-age child the ability to understand better what others who are sick are
going through. This is a means to develop empathy, or the ability to put oneself in another’s shoes.
162
8.47 In the United States, many children lack adequate health care. This is in part due to
a. economics.
b. the cultural tradition that children are the complete responsibility of their parents, not of the government or
of other individuals in the culture.
c. attitudes towards medical care.
d. the belief that children are healthy and do not need such services.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: b
Page(s): 213
Type: Factual
Rationale: When one considers all the resources available in the United States, it may be difficult to believe that we
don’t provide universal health care for our children. This is attributed to our cultural values about family and
responsibility for the care of children. In the United States, an individualistic country, there is a value that families
are responsible for their children, contrasted with collectivist countries where the responsibility is shared.
8.48 In the United States people feel that it is up to the family to provide for its own; however, in other cultures
child-rearing is seen more as a
a. burden, thus only people with children should share in the responsibility.
b. government responsibility, not a family issue.
c. shared, collective responsibility.
d. shared responsibility between groups of children.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: c
Page(s): 213
Type: Factual
Rationale: This cultural difference can be attributed to the values of individualistic culture (United States) and other
collectivist countries, where responsibilities are shared.
8.49 The most frequent major illness to strike preschoolers is
a. AIDS.
c. asthma.
b. pneumonia.
d. cancer.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: d
Page(s): 213
Type: Factual
Rationale: The most frequent major illness to strike preschoolers is cancer, particularly in the form of leukemia.
8.50 An excessive production of white blood cells that leads to severe anemia, and potentially to death is called
a. leukemia.
c. asthma.
b. sickle-cell anemia.
d. sickle-cell anemia.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: a
Page(s): 213
Type: Factual
Rationale: This is a common form of cancer to strike preschool age children. It causes the bone marrow to produce
an excessive amount of white blood cells, inducing severe anemia and potentially death.
8.51 Children with ___________ are often shunned even though there is virtually no risk of spreading the disease
through everyday contact.
a. AIDS
c. asthma
b. pneumonia
d. cancer
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: a
Page(s): 213
Type: Factual
Rationale: Even today there is a tendency for children with AIDS to be shunned, even though there is virtually no
risk of spreading the disease through everyday contact.
163
8.52 For 2- to 4-year-old children who spend time in the hospital, the most frequent reaction is
a. anxiety.
c. relief.
b. joy.
d. sadness.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: a
Page(s): 213
Type: Factual
Rationale: The most typical reaction of 2 to 4-year old children who spend time in the hospital is anxiety, brought
on by the separation from parents.
8.53 Some experts suggest that the increase in the number of children being treated with drugs for emotional
disorders may be due to
a. doctors over-prescribing medicine.
b. parents and teachers who want a quick fix for behavioral problems.
c. the increase in the number of pharmaceutical commercials.
d. the acceptance of drugs in our society.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: b
Page(s): 213
Type: Conceptual
Rationale: Although there is no clear explanation for the increase in the number of children being treated with drugs
for emotional disorders, some experts suggest that it may be due to parents and teachers wanting a fix for behavioral
problems. Often these behavioral problems are normal for the particular age.
8.54 The leading cause of death among preschoolers is
a. illness.
c. accidental injuries.
b. poor nutrition.
d. lack of immunizations.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: c
Page(s): 213
Type: Factual
Rationale: Before the age of 10, children have twice the likelihood of dying from an injury than an illness.
8.55 Before the age of 10, children are ___________ times more likely to die from an accidental injury than from
an illness.
a. five
c. three
b. four
d. two
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: d
Page(s): 213
Type: Factual
Rationale: Before the age of 10, children have twice the likelihood of dying from an injury than an illness.
8.56 ___________ million children are at risk for lead poisoning due to exposure to potentially toxic levels of
lead.
a. Five
c. Ten
b. Seven
d. Fourteen
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: d
Page(s): 215
Type: Factual
Rationale: Fourteen million children are at risk for lead poisoning due to exposure to potentially toxic levels
of lead.
164
8.57 All of the following children except one are at considerable risk of injury:
a. 3-year-old Michael, who likes to climb on furniture to reach for dangerous objects.
b. 4-year-old Sean, who likes to climb trees and pretend he is a monkey.
c. 5-year-old Angelica, who likes to jump and flips on the trampoline in her backyard.
d. 6-year-old Chen, who likes to play on the teeter-totter with his mother.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: d
Page(s): 215
Type: Conceptual
Rationale: All three children are engaged in normal, but risky behaviors for pre-school children, except Chen who
is playing with his mother present to supervise and to teach Chen the safety rules.
8.58 Lead poisoning can be acquired in all of the following ways except for
a. peeling and chipped lead-based paint.
c. air pollution, particularly from gasoline fumes.
b. living in a rural environment.
d. ceramics.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: b
Page(s): 215
Type: Conceptual
Rationale: All of the answers are ways that lead poisoning can be acquired, except for living in a rural environment.
It is more likely that a child living in an urban environment is at risk for lead poisoning.
8.59 All of the following children except one are at considerable risk of lead poisoning:
a. Bianca, who lives with her mother in an abandoned apartment building.
b. Griffin, whose parents have just bought an old farmhouse and plan to renovate it.
c. Gabriella, whose parents live in a new development where the residents bike to work.
d. Davy, whose mother lets him help her in her stain-glass factory.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: c
Page(s): 215
Type: Applied
Rationale: Gabriella is the least at risk for lead poisoning. She is living in a new housing development; therefore,
we can assume a new house, without high risk for lead poisoning.
8.60 Exposure to lead has been linked to all of the following EXCEPT
a. lower intelligence.
c. problems in verbal and auditory processing.
b. hyperactivity.
d. asthma.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: d
Page(s): 215
Type: Factual
Rationale: Exposure to lead has been linked to lower intelligence, problems in verbal an auditory processing, and
both hyperactivity and distractibility. High lead levels have also been linked to higher levels of antisocial behavior
including aggression and delinquency.
8.61 Each year more than ___________ children in the United States are the victims of child abuse, the physical or
psychological maltreatment or neglect of children.
a. 3 thousand
c. 3 million
b. 30 thousand
d. 3 billion
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: c
Page(s): 215
Type: Factual
Rationale: About 3 million children in the United States are victims of child abuse, the physical and psychological
maltreatment or neglect of children.
165
8.62 A survey found that approximately ___________ percent of mothers with children under the age of 4 have
spanked their child in the previous week. This occurs even though physical abuse of any sort is not
recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
a. 10
c. 70
b. 30
d. 50
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: d
Page(s): 217
Type: Factual
Rationale: According to surveys, in the United States, almost half of mothers with children less than 4 years of age
have spanked their child in the previous week, and close to 20% of mothers believe that it is appropriate to spank a
child less than 1 year of age.
8.63 Abused children are more likely to
a. be fussy, resistant to control, and not readily adaptable to new situations.
b. have more headaches and stomachaches, experience more bed wetting, and be generally more anxious.
c. show developmental delays.
d. all of these answers.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: d
Page(s): 216
Type: Factual
Rationale: Abused children are more likely to be fussy, resistant to control, and not readily adaptable to new
situations. They have more headaches and stomachaches, experience more bed wetting, are generally more anxious,
and may show developmental delays.
8.64 Statistics show that ___________ of the people abused as children do not turn out to be child abusers.
a. 25%
c. 50%
b. 33%
d. 66%
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: d
Page(s): 217
Type: Factual
Rationale: Statistics show that only about one third of people who were abused or neglected as children abuse their
own children.
8.65 All the following would be considered psychological maltreatment EXCEPT
a. hitting.
c. threatening.
b. name calling.
d. neglect.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: a
Page(s): 217
Type: Conceptual
Rationale: All of the answers represent psychological maltreatment except hitting, which would constitute
physical abuse.
8.66 Marsha’s father often tells her he wishes she was never born. His comments would be considered
a. threatening.
c. teasing.
b. psychological maltreatment.
d. child abuse.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: b
Page(s): 217
Type: Conceptual
Rationale: Marsha’s father is using psychological maltreatment, harm to children’s behavioral, cognitive,
emotional, or physical functioning caused by parents or other caregivers verbally, through their actions, or through
neglect.
166
8.67 Culture plays a key role in the prevalence of child abuse. Austria, Germany, Israel, and Sweden ___________
any form of physical punishment directed toward a child.
a. outlaw
c. allow
b. condone
d. accept
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: a
Page(s): 217
Type: Factual
Rationale: In many countries there are strong social norms against hitting children, but Austria, Germany, Israel,
and Sweden outlaw any form of physical punishment directed toward a child.
8.68 The brains of victims of physical abuse and psychological maltreatment may undergo permanent changes to
the ___________ and ___________, both part of the limbic system.
a. thalamus; amygdala
c. hippocampus; corpus callosum
b. amygdala; hippocampus
d. corpus callosum; cerebellum
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: b
Page(s): 218
Type: Factual
Rationale: Childhood maltreatment (physical and psychological) can lead to reduction in the hippocampus and
amygdala, part of the limbic system, in adulthood.
8.69 The ability to overcome circumstances that place a child at high risk for psychological or physical damage
is called
a. resistance.
c. recovering.
b. resilience.
d. regressing.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: b
Page(s): 219
Type: Factual
Rationale: Resilience is the ability to overcome circumstances that place a child at high risk for psychological or
physical damage.
8.70 Resilient school-age children have all of the following attributes EXCEPT
a. low intelligence.
c. independence.
b. pleasantness.
d. an outgoing nature.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Answer: a
Page(s): 219
Type: Factual
Rationale: The most resilient school-age children are those who are socially pleasant, outgoing, and have good
communication skills. They tend to be relatively intelligent, and they are independent, feeling that they can shape
their own fate and are not dependent on others or luck.
8.71 Advances in gross motor skills are related to brain development and the ___________ of neurons in areas of
the brain related to balance and coordination.
a. number
c. size
b. myelination
d. organization
Chapter Section: Motor Development
Answer: b
Page(s): 222
Type: Factual
Rationale: The advances in gross motor skill are related to brain development and myelination of neurons in areas
of the brain related to balance and coordination.
167
8.72 Fine motor skills encompass such varied activities as
a. using a fork and spoon.
c. tying one’s shoelaces.
b. cutting with scissors.
d. all of these answers.
Chapter Section: Motor Development
Answer: d
Page(s): 223
Type: Conceptual
Rationale: Fine motor skills involve smaller, more delicate body movements and encompass varied activities such
as those listed in the question.
8.73 Three-year-old Zoe can perform all of the following EXCEPT
a. undressing.
c. using a spoon.
b. putting a simple puzzle together.
d. using a thin pencil to write her name.
Chapter Section: Motor Development
Answer: d
Page(s): 223
Type: Conceptual
Rationale: It is not until a child is 5 years old that he or she has the fine motor skill development to properly
manipulate a thin pencil.
8.74 The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that toilet training should be put off until the child shows
signs of readiness. All of the following are signs of readiness EXCEPT
a. staying dry for two-hour periods during the day.
b. waking up dry from naps.
c. resisting sitting on a potty chair.
d. the ability to follow simple directions.
Chapter Section: Motor Development
Answer: c
Page(s): 223, 224 Type: Factual
Rationale: The signs of readiness are numerous, but they do not include resisting sitting on a potty chair. In fact, if
the child is resistant to potty training, it may indicate the child is not ready emotionally.
8.75 Most children develop handedness by age
a. 2
b. 3
c. 5
d. 7
Chapter Section: Motor Development
Answer: c
Page(s): 224
Type: Factual
Rationale: While some signals of handedness are shown in early infancy, many children show no preference until
the end of the preschool years.
8.76 Art teaches children all of the following EXCEPT
a. the importance of planning.
c. self-correction.
b. restraint.
d. carelessness.
Chapter Section: Motor Development
Answer: d
Page(s): 225
Type: Factual
Rationale: Production of art involves mastery of tools, but in addition, art also teaches children the importance of
planning, restraint, and self-correction.
168
Essay Questions
8.77 What is the major difference between a nightmare and a night terror?
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Page(s): 211
Type: Factual
Answer: A good answer would include the following key points:
 Nightmares are vivid bad dreams
 They occur toward morning
 Are usually occasional and not a matter of concern
 Repeated nightmares may indicate some other problem
 Night terrors are an intense physiological arousal
 Child wakes in a state of panic
 Child is not easily comforted
 Child cannot say why he or she is disturbed and cannot recall a “bad dream”
 In the morning, child does not remember the incident
 Much less frequent than nightmares
8.78 Describe the different forms of child abuse.
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Page(s): 215–218
Type: Conceptual
Answer: A good answer would include the following key points:
 Physical abuse
 Most frequent in families living in stressful environments
 More likely in families with a history of violence between spouses
 Abused children are likely to be fussy, resistant to control, and not readily adaptable
 Abused children have more headaches and stomachaches and experience more bedwetting
 Consideration of permissible and impermissible physical punishment
 Psychological Maltreatment
 Harm children’s behavioral, cognitive, emotional, or physical functioning
 May be overt behavior or neglect
 May include frightening, belittling, or humiliating children
 May include intimidation and harassment
 May cause negative consequences and permanent alteration of the brain structure
8.79 What are the nutritional needs of preschool children, and what causes obesity?
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Page(s): 212
Type: Conceptual
Answer: A good answer would include the following key points:
 Preschool children do not grow as quickly as they did previously, so as a result, they need less food
and may not eat as much
 Parents should offer preschool children a variety of foods and healthy snacks
 High-iron foods should be included to avoid iron-deficiency, one of the prevalent nutritional
disorders in the U.S.
 Obesity is a body weight of 20% above the average weight for a person of a given age and height
 Encouraging preschool children to eat when not hungry may cause overeating or eating when not
hungry and lead to obesity
169
8.80 What are child abuse and psychological maltreatment, what factors contribute to them, and can anything be
done about them?
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Page(s): 215–218
Type: Conceptual
Answer: A good answer would include the following key points:
 Child abuse is the physical and psychological maltreatment or neglect of children.
 Physical abuse would include physical hitting or punishment
 Psychological maltreatment is more subtle forms of abuse and may include overt behaviors (i.e.
belittling, intimidation) and/or neglect
 Factors that contribute to child abuse include
 Stressful environments
 History of violence between spouses
 Less adaptable, fussy, and resistant to control children are at higher risk as are children with
frequent stomachaches, headaches and bedwetting
 Two considerations in terms of child abuse in the United States is the question of permissible
violence (spanking) and the cultural values of family responsibility for discipline versus collectivist
cultures’ shared responsibility
 Parents may have unrealistic expectations for the child in terms of developmentally appropriate
behaviors
 Cycle-of-abuse hypothesis suggests that those abused will abuse their own children; research shows
only about 33% of those abused will abuse their own children.
8.81 What are some advances in gross motor development during the preschool years?
Chapter Section: Motor Development
Page(s): 222
Type: Factual
Answer: A good answer would include the following key points:
 During the preschool years both the development of the brain (specifically myelination) and the
repeated practice of gross motor skills encourages their development
 Preschool children become more precise in their running, jumping, turning, and stopping
 They can jump longer distances
 They are more adept at stairs
 They become better at hopping
8.82 What changes in the body and the brain do children experience in the preschool years?
Chapter Section: Physical Growth
Page(s): 208–210
Type: Factual
Answer: A good answer would include the following key points:
 Preschool is a time of rapid brain development
 More connections are formed
 Myelination increases the transmission speed
 Corpus callosum becomes considerably thicker, increasing communication between hemispheres
 Brain lateralization occurs with each hemisphere taking on specific strengths
 Changes in physical development
 Acquisition of gross and fine motor skills builds connections and promotes myelination
 Changes in cognitive development
 Brain growth spurts are linked with cognitive milestones (i.e. language development, attention)
170
8.83 What threats to their health and wellness do preschool children experience?
Chapter Section: Health and Wellness
Page(s): 212–218
Type: Conceptual
Answer: A good answer would include the following key points:
 For the average child the preschool years are relatively noneventful, but the following are threats to
health and wellness
 Nutrition
 Most prevalent nutritional disorder in U.S. is iron-deficiency anemia
 Concerns for obesity
 Major Illnesses
 Most prevalent major illness to strike preschool children is cancer, usually leukemia
 AIDS is a threat to preschool children, both in terms of the disease in the child and the
disruption to family when it affects other family members
 Emotional Illnesses
 There is an increase in the number of preschool children medicated for emotional illness
 Injuries
 The greatest risk is injury
 Increased risk because children are active but still practicing the finer aspects of motor
development
 Lead poisoning and other environmental toxins
 Child abuse – Physical and psychological
8.84 When should a parent begin toilet training?
Chapter Section: Motor Development
Page(s): 224
Type: Conceptual
Answer: A good answer would include the following key points:
 There are competing philosophies regarding the timing of toilet training with some advocating an
early process and others suggesting parents wait until the child indicates a readiness
 Physical considerations
 No bladder or bowel control until 12 months
 Only slight control between 12 and 18 months
 Readiness may be indicated between 18 and 24 months, others as late as 30 months
 Readiness signs
 Staying dry at least two hours at a time during day or waking up dry after naps
 Regular and predictable bowel movements
 Words or facial expressions that convey the need to urinate or move bowels
 Ability to follow simple directions; to dress and undress
 Emotional readiness – no resistance to the process
8.85 In what ways do children’s gross and fine motor skills develop during the preschool years?
Chapter Section: Motor Development
Page(s): 222–225
Type: Conceptual
Answer: A good answer would include the following key points:
 Activity Level
 The activity level is higher at age 3 than at any other time
 Activity (practice) and brain development (neural connections and myelination) are closely linked
 Genetic and environmental factors may encourage or discourage activity levels
 Gender Differences
 Boys have greater muscle strength
 Boys generally have greater activity level than girls
 Girls surpass boys in coordination of their arms and legs
 Other differences in motor skills
 Social factors, including gender appropriate activities
171
 Practice of motor skills
8.86 Do you think environmental influences can overcome the strength advantages of boys and the coordination
advantages of girls? Would this be desirable? Why or why not?
Chapter Section: Motor Development
Page(s): 222, 223
Type: Applied
Answer: This is a good question for critical thinking and allows the student to take a position and build supporting
evidence for his or her position. Some considerations that may be included are the following key points:
 Gender differences in muscle strength and coordination
 Boys have greater muscle strength
 Boys generally have greater activity level than girls
 Girls surpass boys in coordination of their arms and legs
 Social factors
 Societal determined appropriate activities
172