AP®︎ Psychology: Topic 3.2 Practice Test
Prepare for your quiz, test, or the AP exam with focused practice questions on Topic 3.2 of AP Psychology – Physical Development Across the Lifespan.
Questions List
Topic 3.2
Question 1 Easy
This question tests the following: 3.2.A.1
Which of the following substances is a teratogen that can affect prenatal development?
What You’re Being Tested On:
Explore the learning objectives taken directly from the College Board’s AP® Psychology Curriculum. Ensure you’re prepared for the exact topics covered on the AP® exam, in-class tests, and quizzes, and gain confidence in your mastery of the material.
Topic 3.2: Physical Development Across the Lifespan
Learning Objective: 3.2.A
Explain how physical development before birth applies to behavior and mental processes.
Essential Knowledge: 3.2.A.1
Teratogens, maternal illness, genetic mutations, hormonal, and environmental factors can influence the major physical and psychological milestones that occur during prenatal development. Exclusion Statement: The stages of prenatal development (zygote, embryo, and fetus) are outside the scope of the AP Psychology Exam.
Learning Objective: 3.2.B
Explain how physical development in infancy and childhood apply to behavior and mental processes.
Essential Knowledge: 3.2.B.1
Physical development in infancy and childhood happens in generally the same order, but the timing of the development can vary. The development of fine and gross motor coordination is among the major physical and psychological milestones that define infancy and childhood. These physical skills develop as children mature, allowing children to develop critical skills needed to become more independent.
Essential Knowledge: 3.2.B.2
Infants possess reflexes, like the rooting reflex, that indicate on-track physical and psychological milestone development.
Essential Knowledge: 3.2.B.3
Research using the visual cliff apparatus demonstrates an early ability in infants to perceive depth and an innovative way to assess infant responses.
Essential Knowledge: 3.2.B.4
Research suggests that critical or sensitive periods in infancy and childhood have strong developmental effects, especially for skills such as language. Some non-human animals will imprint on the first object they encounter as a means of survival.
Learning Objective: 3.2.C
Explain how physical development in adolescence applies to behavior and mental processes.
Essential Knowledge: 3.2.C.1
The main physical and psychological milestones that occur in adolescence are the adolescent growth spurt and puberty, in which reproductive ability develops. Adolescents develop primary and secondary sex characteristics during this time, such as menarche and spermarche.
Learning Objective: 3.2.D
Explain how physical development in adulthood applies to behavior and mental processes.
Essential Knowledge: 3.2.D.1
Adulthood spans most of the lifespan and is characterized by a general leveling off and then a varying decline in reproductive ability (i.e., menopause), mobility, flexibility, reaction time, and visual and auditory sensory acuity.
