Well, this is it.  I've really enjoyed have you in my class, it seems like the semester just started.  As usual, I have included sample questions from some of the more difficult material.  Answers at the end.  Good Luck and Have a Great Break!

1. Which of the following adolescent attitudes best correlates with actual adolescent behavior?

a. "Be careful out there!"
b. "It's OK to sleep around, everyone's doing it"
c. "Sex is OK, but you should have feelings for the other person"
d. "Just say NO!"

2.  George is from a low social class family.  However, he tends to get very high grades and has just learned that he has scored in the upper quartile on the ACT.  According to the achievement research, which situation probably had the greatest impact on George's adolescent achievement?

a.  His father's decision to take a second job.
b.  His parents' decision to move to a safe neighborhood.
c.  George's decision to take a part-time job.
d.  Having parents that pushed education and achievement.

3. Bill wants to have sex with Ann but is resistant to buying condoms.  What is most likely Bill's contributing to Bill's behavior?

a.  He is worried that he will enjoy sex less.
b.  He knows that his parents do not want him to have sex.
c.  He does not know how to use a condom.
d.  He is embarrassed that someone will see him buying the condoms.

4. Shelly is going to break up with Steve.  What is the most likely reason?

a.  Shelly is interested in another person.
b.  She sees problems in the relationship that Steve is probably unaware of.
c.  She wants to devote more time to other activities (e.g., extracurricular).
d.  Her parent want her to break up with Steve.

5.  Brenda is interested in reducing risk behaviors amongst her adolescent students; however, her school district forbids the teaching of sex education.  What could Brenda do to lower risky behavior, without actually teaching sex ed?

a.  Find ways to make her students feel connected to her class.
b.  Encourage her students to watch TV programs that deal with sex ed.
c.  Have her students read stories of individuals who have gotten into trouble by engaging in risky behavior.
d.  Encourage her students to read the newspaper as a term assignment.

6.  Wanda, age 16,  learns that her father took off his clothes and ran around with a football helmet on his head at a party.  Wanda's laughs and says, "I'm not surprised!".  What aspect of autonomy has Wanda developed?
a.  value
b.  behavioral
c.  moral
d.  emotional

7.  Henry is highly concerned about his grades in his class.  He tells his teacher that he must get a good grade or his parents will punish him.  What type of belief system is operating in this example?

a. intrinsic reward system
b. mastery motivation
c. extrinsic reward system
d. mediating mechanisms

8. Paul is a "binge drinker".  While many of his friends "go out" to have a good time and meet people, Paul is solely interested in getting drunk.  He always is the one to initiate "drinking games" and sometimes drinks up to six drinks per hour.  What is most likely Pauls underling problem?

a. identity problems
b. self-esteem problems
c. intimacy problems, he is shy
d. peer pressure

9. Silvia is upset because she is having to cope with final exams, her boyfriend's family problems, and her boss at work. Silvia is most likely experiencing:

a. chronic life stress
b. daily hassles
c. major life events
d. hostile attribution bias

10. Nationally, what is the leading cause of death amongst adolescents?

a. AIDS and other STVS
b. substance abuse
c. peer violence
d. automobile accidents
 

1. C (notes and page 352).  While adolescents may show individual differences in attitudes regarding sex, the question asks which attitude actually seems to translate into real behavior.  "A" is incorrect because adolescents are actually pretty unsafe regarding sex.  Thus, the attitude may exist but it does not really correlate with behavior.  "B" & "D" are incorrect because they are not even prevailing attitudes in today's society.  Most adolescents today engage in serial monogamy (defined p. 336) and most adolescents also hold this attitude as well.

2. B (notes and box on pages 400-401).  Tough question, because all of these issues may somewhat influence achievement.  However, the material covered in class and the book stipulates that adolescent stress is a chief predictor of adolescent achievement.  A parent can push an adolescent all they want regarding achievement; however, in an unsafe environment, survival skills because more of a priority and achievement takes a back seat.

3. D (notes).   There are many reasons why adolescents do not use effective contraception; however, a chief obstacle for many adolescents is basic discomfort obtaining contraception.

4. B (notes & page 339).   Because females are often more advanced regarding intimacy development, they are more likely to spot problems in relationships, become more choosy in terms of who to date, and more likely to initiate a breakup.

5.  A (notes).  This was from the notes, the data is too recent for your textbook.  The newest study on adolescent health (NIH Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health) has found that one of the biggest predictors of adolescent risk behavior is whether or not the adolescent feels connected to their school or the classroom.

6.  D (notes and pages 293).  Seeing your parents as "people" as opposed to "Gods" is the process of de-idealization.  This is a major component of emotional autonomy.

7. C (notes and 390).  Individuals who approach learning tasks for performance goals are said to operate under an extrinsic reward system.

8. A (notes).  Most adolescents drink, however, the adolescent who are more prone to "binge drinking" are more likely to suffer from identity problems.  The adolescent who has a clear vision regarding where they are headed in life will be more resistant to factors that might de-rail this vision.

9. B (notes).  Day-to-day stressors, like final exams, are termed daily hassles.  A death in the family would be a major life event; growing up in poverty would be a chronic life stressor.

10. D (notes & p. 432).  While substance abuse, gang violence, and STDS certainly are killers, nationally, the leading cause of death are automobile accidents.