Children who live in poverty perform worse on intelligence tests because they________.

• A. have a genetic predisposition for lower intelligence
• B. are less likely to be interested in academic achievement
• C. often experience chronic stress that can negatively affect cognitive development
• D. receive more individualized attention from teachers

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the question is asking for the reason why children living in poverty tend to perform worse on intelligence tests, focusing on psychological and environmental factors rather than genetic or motivational explanations.
2. Recognize that genetic predisposition is not a scientifically supported explanation for lower intelligence test performance linked to poverty, as intelligence is influenced by both genetics and environment.
3. Consider the role of chronic stress, which is common in poverty, and how it can impact brain development and cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and problem-solving skills.
4. Evaluate why lack of interest in academic achievement or receiving more individualized attention from teachers are less likely to explain the observed differences in test performance related to poverty.
5. Conclude that the most supported explanation is that chronic stress experienced by children in poverty negatively affects their cognitive development, leading to poorer performance on intelligence tests.