Question 1

Which of the following best describes a phoneme in language?

Accepted Answer

A category of sound our vocal apparatus produces.

Question 2

A child says, 'He runned fast' instead of 'He ran fast.' This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Overgeneralization of language rules

Question 3

According to the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis (linguistic relativity), which of the following is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

The language we speak influences how we think, understand, and perceive the world.

Question 4

Which heuristic is being used when a doctor diagnoses a patient with the flu because it is flu season, despite symptoms matching COVID-19?

Accepted Answer

Representativeness heuristic

Question 5

A judge gives a harsher sentence after hearing the prosecutor recommend a long sentence. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Anchoring heuristic

Question 6

Which of the following best illustrates the availability heuristic?

Accepted Answer

Believing shark attacks are common after seeing news reports about them.

Question 7

What is the main difference between an algorithm and a heuristic in problem solving?

Accepted Answer

Algorithms guarantee a solution if applied correctly, heuristics are shortcuts that do not guarantee a solution.

Question 8

A person continues to believe a news story is true even after it has been debunked. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Belief perseverance

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of functional fixedness?

Accepted Answer

Failing to realize a shoe can be used to hammer a nail because you only see it as footwear.

Question 10

In the context of maximizing and satisficing, which type of consumer is generally more satisfied with their choices?

Accepted Answer

Satisficers, because they settle for 'good enough' and avoid the paradox of choice.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes a morpheme?

Accepted Answer

The smallest unit of meaning in a language.

Question 12

A child is able to babble all possible phonemes but later specializes in the sounds of their native language. This process is best explained by:

Accepted Answer

Critical period hypothesis

Question 13

Which of the following is a real-world consequence of the representativeness heuristic?

Accepted Answer

Wrongful convictions based on a suspect's atypical appearance.

Question 14

Which of the following statements about bilingualism is supported by research?

Accepted Answer

The earlier a person learns a second language, the more proficient they are likely to become.

Question 15

Which of the following best illustrates the framing effect?

Accepted Answer

A patient is more likely to choose a surgery when told it has a 90% survival rate than when told it has a 10% mortality rate.

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of top-down processing in thinking?

Accepted Answer

Using prior knowledge to quickly interpret a familiar situation.

Question 17

The Guugu Yimithirr language uses cardinal directions (north, east, south, west) instead of left and right. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Linguistic relativity influencing spatial cognition.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes confirmation bias?

Accepted Answer

The tendency to search for information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs.

Question 19

A person who says, 'I knew that was going to happen' after an event occurs is demonstrating:

Accepted Answer

Hindsight bias

Question 20

Which of the following is a downside of using heuristics in decision-making?

Accepted Answer

They can lead to costly errors and reinforce stereotypes.

Language, Thinking, and Reasoning: Structured Study Notes

Study Guide - Practice Questions