Q.1 Which of the following best describes the primary physical changes during puberty?
Increase in muscle mass and decrease in height
Development of secondary sexual characteristics and growth spurt
Loss of bone density and reduced metabolism
Increase in fine motor skills only
Explanation - Puberty involves the development of secondary sexual characteristics (e.g., breast development, facial hair) and rapid growth in height and weight.
Correct answer is: Development of secondary sexual characteristics and growth spurt
Q.2 Which cognitive development stage do adolescents typically enter according to Piaget?
Concrete operational stage
Formal operational stage
Sensorimotor stage
Preoperational stage
Explanation - Adolescents enter Piaget's formal operational stage, which enables abstract thinking, hypothetical reasoning, and systematic problem-solving.
Correct answer is: Formal operational stage
Q.3 Erikson's stage for adolescence is characterized by the psychosocial crisis of:
Trust vs. Mistrust
Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt
Identity vs. Role Confusion
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Explanation - During adolescence, individuals explore personal identity and values; failure to establish a clear identity may result in role confusion.
Correct answer is: Identity vs. Role Confusion
Q.4 Which of the following is a common emotional challenge during adolescence?
Decreased self-consciousness
Stable mood patterns
Heightened self-consciousness and mood swings
Reduced need for peer interaction
Explanation - Adolescents experience hormonal changes and identity exploration, often leading to mood swings and increased self-consciousness.
Correct answer is: Heightened self-consciousness and mood swings
Q.5 Which factor most strongly influences adolescent peer relationships?
Parental career choice
Media exposure only
Shared interests, values, and identity exploration
Siblings’ academic achievements
Explanation - Peer relationships in adolescence are shaped by shared interests, values, and mutual support during identity exploration.
Correct answer is: Shared interests, values, and identity exploration
Q.6 What is the typical age range for early adolescence?
6-9 years
10-13 years
14-17 years
18-21 years
Explanation - Early adolescence usually spans ages 10–13, marked by initial pubertal changes and increasing social awareness.
Correct answer is: 10-13 years
Q.7 Which of the following best describes adolescent risk-taking behavior?
It is unrelated to brain development
It decreases due to frontal lobe maturation
It is partly due to an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex and heightened reward sensitivity
It is solely determined by peer pressure
Explanation - Adolescents often engage in risk-taking due to an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex, which controls judgment, and heightened reward sensitivity.
Correct answer is: It is partly due to an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex and heightened reward sensitivity
Q.8 Which type of parent-adolescent relationship is associated with the best developmental outcomes?
Authoritarian
Authoritative
Permissive
Neglectful
Explanation - Authoritative parenting, which balances warmth with appropriate boundaries, supports adolescents' emotional, social, and cognitive development.
Correct answer is: Authoritative
Q.9 Which factor is most important in adolescent moral development according to Kohlberg?
Parental rules only
Peer conformity
Progression through stages of moral reasoning
Avoidance of punishment only
Explanation - Kohlberg proposed that adolescents progress through stages of moral reasoning, moving from concrete, rule-based thinking to principled, abstract reasoning.
Correct answer is: Progression through stages of moral reasoning
Q.10 During adolescence, which brain area is last to fully mature?
Occipital lobe
Cerebellum
Prefrontal cortex
Amygdala
Explanation - The prefrontal cortex, responsible for planning, judgment, and impulse control, matures last, often into the mid-20s.
Correct answer is: Prefrontal cortex
Q.11 Which of the following best reflects an adolescent’s developing self-concept?
Stable and unchanging from childhood
Abstract, differentiated, and influenced by peers
Focused solely on academic achievements
Determined entirely by parental feedback
Explanation - Adolescents form a more complex, abstract self-concept, influenced by social comparisons and peer feedback.
Correct answer is: Abstract, differentiated, and influenced by peers
Q.12 Which hormone primarily triggers puberty in adolescents?
Insulin
Melatonin
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
Oxytocin
Explanation - GnRH stimulates the release of sex hormones from the gonads, initiating puberty and secondary sexual characteristic development.
Correct answer is: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
Q.13 Which of the following best describes the concept of 'imaginary audience' in adolescence?
Adolescents believe everyone is watching and evaluating them
Adolescents ignore social feedback
Adolescents become highly self-sufficient
Adolescents have no concern for social norms
Explanation - The 'imaginary audience' refers to adolescents’ heightened self-consciousness and belief that their behavior is constantly observed.
Correct answer is: Adolescents believe everyone is watching and evaluating them
Q.14 Which type of identity status involves exploration without commitment according to Marcia?
Identity diffusion
Identity foreclosure
Moratorium
Identity achievement
Explanation - In the moratorium status, adolescents actively explore different identities but have not yet made firm commitments.
Correct answer is: Moratorium
Q.15 Adolescents often experience conflict with parents because of:
Desire for independence and identity formation
Lack of cognitive development
Poor social skills
Decreased peer influence
Explanation - Adolescents negotiate independence and self-identity, which may lead to temporary conflict with parents.
Correct answer is: Desire for independence and identity formation
Q.16 Which of the following is considered a secondary sexual characteristic in males?
Testes enlargement
Penis enlargement
Facial hair growth
Sperm production
Explanation - Secondary sexual characteristics are visible traits that develop during puberty but are not directly involved in reproduction, e.g., facial hair, voice deepening.
Correct answer is: Facial hair growth
Q.17 Which aspect of peer relationships tends to increase during adolescence?
Emotional support and intimacy
Parental monitoring
Siblings’ guidance
Teacher approval
Explanation - Adolescents increasingly rely on peers for emotional support, shared experiences, and intimacy.
Correct answer is: Emotional support and intimacy
Q.18 Which sleep pattern change is common during adolescence?
Earlier bedtime and earlier wake-up
Later bedtime and later wake-up
No change in sleep patterns
Constant napping throughout the day
Explanation - Hormonal changes shift adolescents’ circadian rhythms, leading to delayed sleep onset and preference for later wake times.
Correct answer is: Later bedtime and later wake-up
Q.19 Which of the following is an example of formal operational thinking in adolescence?
Understanding concrete, observable events only
Considering hypothetical situations and abstract concepts
Learning through reflexes
Repeating actions without reasoning
Explanation - Formal operational thinking allows adolescents to reason abstractly, consider hypotheticals, and engage in systematic problem-solving.
Correct answer is: Considering hypothetical situations and abstract concepts
Q.20 Which factor is most strongly linked to adolescent depression?
Balanced peer relationships
Parental support
Genetic vulnerability and environmental stressors
High self-esteem
Explanation - Adolescent depression often arises from a combination of genetic predispositions and stressful life events or environments.
Correct answer is: Genetic vulnerability and environmental stressors
Q.21 Which of the following best describes the 'personal fable' in adolescence?
Belief in uniqueness and invulnerability
Awareness of social norms
Reliance on parental guidance
Acceptance of peer criticism
Explanation - The 'personal fable' is an adolescent’s belief that their experiences are unique and they are immune to harm or consequences.
Correct answer is: Belief in uniqueness and invulnerability
Q.22 Which social factor is most influential in adolescent risk-taking behaviors?
Teacher expectations
Peer influence
Parental monitoring alone
Media literacy
Explanation - Peers strongly influence adolescents’ decision-making and willingness to take risks, especially in social settings.
Correct answer is: Peer influence
Q.23 Which stage of moral reasoning is typically observed in late adolescence according to Kohlberg?
Preconventional
Conventional
Postconventional
Unconventional
Explanation - In late adolescence, some individuals develop postconventional moral reasoning, guided by abstract principles and ethics beyond rules and laws.
Correct answer is: Postconventional
Q.24 Which of the following best reflects cognitive changes in adolescence?
Decrease in working memory capacity
Emergence of metacognition and abstract reasoning
Reliance solely on concrete experiences
Decline in problem-solving skills
Explanation - Adolescents develop metacognition (thinking about thinking) and the ability to reason about abstract concepts and hypothetical situations.
Correct answer is: Emergence of metacognition and abstract reasoning
Q.25 Which factor is associated with a positive adolescent identity development?
Supportive family environment and exploration of values
Authoritarian parenting alone
Peer rejection
Excessive academic pressure only
Explanation - A supportive environment that encourages exploration and autonomy promotes healthy identity development.
Correct answer is: Supportive family environment and exploration of values