Across childhood and adolescence, research suggests that cognitive abilities generally:

• A. Decline due to increased academic and social pressures.
• B. Increase steadily as the brain matures and children gain more experience.
• C. Remain unchanged until adulthood is reached.
• D. Fluctuate randomly with no clear developmental pattern.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the key concept of cognitive development, which refers to the changes in thinking, problem-solving, and information processing abilities as children grow.
2. Step 2: Recognize that cognitive abilities are influenced by brain maturation and experiential learning, both of which typically improve during childhood and adolescence.
3. Step 3: Review research findings in developmental psychology that show a general trend of increasing cognitive abilities during these stages, rather than decline or random fluctuation.
4. Step 4: Consider that academic and social pressures do not cause a decline in cognitive abilities; instead, they often provide opportunities for cognitive growth and skill development.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the most supported answer is that cognitive abilities increase steadily as the brain matures and children gain more experience.