Suppose You Learn That Two Children, a 10-Year-Old Boy and a 10-Year-Old

question 11

Multiple Choice

Suppose you learn that two children, a 10-year-old boy and a 10-year-old girl, have brains of quite different sizes, with the boy's brain being about 40% larger than the girl's brain. Which of the following conclusions would be the best to draw from this data?

• A) The girl most likely has something wrong with her brain, because it should be at least 10% larger than the boy's brain.
• B) The girl's brain most likely has something wrong with it, because it should be very close to the same size as the boy's brain at this age.
• C) The girl most likely was malnourished in early childhood, giving rise to a smaller-than-average brain.
• D) There is no reason for concern, since children's brain sizes can vary by as much as 50% without any appreciable difference in cognitive skills.

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Definitions:

September 11

A date marking the terrorist attacks in 2001 on the United States, targeting the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon, leading to significant loss of life and global political consequences.

President Clinton

The 42nd President of the United States, in office from 1993 to 2001, known for his policies on the economy and welfare reform.

Cognitive Component

The aspect of attitude that involves beliefs, thoughts, and attributes about a subject.

Affective

Relating to moods, feelings, and attitudes; it denotes the emotional aspect of consciousness.