Understanding the Child (ages 11-14) — Hard

Q1. Consider the following statements about an 11-14 year old learner: I. Her physical growth may show a sudden rise (growth spurt) and then taper after maturity. II. Her development continues across cognitive, social and moral dimensions even after physical growth stops. III. Growth and development end together at the close of adolescence. Which statements are correct?

• A. I and II only
• B. II and III only
• C. I and III only
• D. All three

Q2. Assertion (A): When a Class 7 child first learns to write, she moves her whole arm and shoulder; with practice she begins to move only her wrist and fingers. Reason (R): Development follows the principle of integration — first the whole, then differentiated parts, then re-integration of parts into the whole.

• A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
• B. Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
• C. A is true, R is false.
• D. A is false, R is true.

Q3. An upper-primary head-teacher claims, "Once we know a child's rate of growth at age 8, we can roughly predict her rate at age 11." This claim is best supported by which principle?

• A. Principle of continuous development
• B. Principle of integration
• C. Principle of predictability of rate of development
• D. Principle of general to specific responses

Q4. A teacher in Rampur observes that her Class 7 students suddenly shoot up in height and weight between mid-Class 6 and Class 8, after a slow stretch in Class 4-5. This is the clearest evidence of which principle?

• A. Cephalo-caudal direction of development
• B. Non-uniform rate of growth and development with a renewed spike at adolescence
• C. Proximo-distal direction of development
• D. Principle of interrelationship across dimensions

Q5. A 12-year-old in a Bihar village shows a slender physique, low stamina and slow body chemistry compared with his peers. The internal factor best diagnosing this profile is

• A. Heredity factors transmitted through genes and chromosomes
• B. Biological / constitutional make-up — physique and body chemistry
• C. Social nature acquired through socialisation
• D. Quality of the neighbourhood and peer group

Q6. Under 'environment available after birth', which combination is covered? I. Open space and good living and working conditions II. Balanced diet III. Proper medical care IV. Genes and chromosomes of the parents

• A. I, II and III only
• B. I, II and IV only
• C. II, III and IV only
• D. All four

Q7. A Class 8 girl in a Bihar village reports that the treatment she and her family receive on account of their caste shapes her future opportunities. This comes under which external factor?

• A. Environment in the womb of the mother
• B. The quality of treatment made available to a child and his family with regard to caste, religion, nationality or citizenship
• C. Quality of the neighbourhood and surrounding environment
• D. The quality of educational and vocational facilities

Q8. Which of the following is NOT a separate external factor influencing growth and development?

• A. The quality of the government, laws and organisation of the society to which a child belongs
• B. The quality of the power and status enjoyed by the country to which a child belongs
• C. The quality of educational and vocational facilities available to a child
• D. The level of intelligence of the child

Q9. During later childhood (6-12) the capacity for logical thinking increases. Which statement about this thinking is NOT correct?

• A. It becomes increasingly efficient in selecting and developing cognitive operations.
• B. It applies cognitive operations in relation to concrete objects.
• C. It is fully abstract and hypothetical, untied to concrete objects.
• D. By 12, the mind can rationally analyse a problem and use a set of operations that are logical though concrete.

Q10. A Class 7 Science teacher in Rampur wants to use one new pedagogical strength of her 12-year-olds. The strength she can MOST rely upon is

• A. Their inability to attend to immediate cause-and-effect relationships
• B. Their high ability to generalise, with concern for immediate cause-and-effect and current happenings
• C. Their preference for solitary play over imaginative play
• D. Their fear of animals and noise, which keeps them disciplined

Q11. Assertion (A): During later childhood (6-12), the peer group becomes an important agent of socialisation, often outweighing the home in shaping the child's social circle. Reason (R): The process of socialisation begins to widen as the child enters school and forms peer groups of his/her own sex outside the home.

• A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
• B. Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
• C. A is true, R is false.
• D. A is false, R is true.

Q12. Regarding the social development of later childhood (6-12), which statement is NOT correct?

• A. Sex difference becomes sharp — girls play with girls, boys play with boys.
• B. Boys are more rebellious than girls, and boys' groups are more organised than girls' groups.
• C. Girls and boys play together as one mixed group with no antagonism.
• D. Girls become more antagonistic towards boys during play activities.

Q13. A Class 7 teacher in rural Bihar is unsure whether to teach a topic through abstract definitions or through concrete experiments. The best guidance is

• A. Use only abstract definitions because Class 7 children must be pushed beyond concrete thinking
• B. Match the teaching mode and level of teaching to the developmental level of the children so that subject matter is effectively conveyed
• C. Use only physical activity and avoid conceptual content at this age
• D. Replace classroom teaching entirely with peer-group learning

Q14. Consider the following statements about individual differences in the upper-primary classroom: I. Wide individual differences surface at all periods of growth and development. II. Each child should be helped within the sphere of his/her own strengths and limitations. III. The teacher should aim for uniform achievement by ignoring individual differences. Which are correct?

• A. I and II only
• B. II and III only
• C. I and III only
• D. All three

Q15. Aarti, a Class 7 teacher in Rampur, plans tasks for her students with 'enough success to encourage endeavour' and gives them 'opportunities for helpful service to others'. She is meeting which specific need of the child?

• A. Need for security through affection and accepted family place
• B. Need for accomplishment through opportunities for work, enough success and helpful service
• C. Need for early social training in manners and morals
• D. Need for vocational guidance and skill training