AP PSYCHOLOGY Test Booklet
Unit 1 part 1
1. Darrin is watching a horror movie. When the evil main character makes a surprise appearance, Darrin jumps out of
his seat, his heart rate accelerates, and he screams.
Which of the following pathways most directly contributes to his ability to calm down after this startle response?
(A) The reflex arc
(B) The somatic nervous system
(C) The sympathetic nervous system
(D) The parasympathetic nervous system
2. Johanna, a high school senior, starts experiencing disruptions in her movement when she cannot contract certain
muscles. Which of the following neurotransmitters is most likely involved in this disruption of the muscle
contraction?
(A) Acetylcholine
(B) GABA
(C) Serotonin
(D) Endorphins
3. A common psychological effect of alcohol intake is
(A) reduced inhibition
(B) anxiety
(C) psychosis
(D) heightened creativity
4.
Which psychological principle is represented in the area highlighted in the graph?
(A) The variable-interval schedule of reinforcement.
(B) The forgetting curve.
(C) The refractory period of the neural transmission process.
(D) Spontaneous recovery of a classically conditioned response
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5. In terms of the effect on the central nervous system, alcohol is most accurately classified as which of the following
types of drug?
(A) Depressant
(B) Narcotic
(C) Psychoactive
(D) Stimulant
6. The argument over the relative contributions of heredity and environment in the development of various behaviors
and personality traits is known as which of the following controversies?
(A) Continuous versus discrete
(B) Nature versus nurture
(C) Active versus passive
(D) Critical period versus sensitive period
7. Which of the following is classified as an antagonist?
(A) Cocaine, because it floods the brain with dopamine.
(B) Marijuana, because they lead to increased central nervous system activity.
(C) An antidepressant, because they block serotonin and norepinephrine receptors.
(D) Lithium, because it blocks the reuptake of serotonin.
8. Based on its effects on the central nervous system, alcohol can be classified as which of the following concepts?
(A) a hallucinogen
(B) a depressant
(C) an antagonist
(D) a neurotransmitter
9. Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system results in which of the following?
(A) An increase in pupil dilation
(B) An increase in respiratory rate
(C) A decrease in digestion
(D) A decrease in heart rate
10. The autonomic nervous system is most directly involved in
(A) driving a car
(B) sensing painful stimuli
(C) digesting food
(D) experiencing pain
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Unit 1 part 1
11. Ben was enjoying a walk in the woods on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. As he went around a curve, he noticed a
bear walking toward him. Immediately his pupils dilated, he began to perspire, and his heart accelerated. These
changes are most closely related to the function of which of the following?
(A) Hippocampus
(B) Parasympathetic nervous system
(C) Sympathetic nervous system
(D) Vestibular sense
12.
Autonomic Nervous Part A Autonomic Nervous Part B
Pupils are dilated Pupils contract
Heartbeat Accelerates Heartbeat slows
Digestion Stops Digestion continues
Relaxes bladder Bladder Contracts
Which branch of the autonomic nervous system is described by the functions listed in Part B of the table?
(A) Parasympathetic nervous system
(B) Sympathetic nervous system
(C) Central nervous system
(D) Somatic nervous system
13. Richard is in a substance abuse treatment center because of his addiction to stimulants. He is experiencing
withdrawal symptoms, so he drinks several large caffeinated sodas throughout the day to curb his symptoms.
Caffeine is in the same class as which of the following drugs?
(A) Marijuana
(B) Heroin
(C) Cocaine
(D) Alcohol
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14.
Which of the following identifies the part of the nervous system the arrows are pointing toward?
(A) Limbic
(B) Sympathetic
(C) Parasympathetic
(D) Central
15. Which of the following is the correct sequence of the reflex arc of events set in motion by an environmental
stimulus?
(A) Receptors, sensory neurons, interneurons, motor neurons
(B) Receptors, motor neurons, interneurons, sensory neurons
(C) Interneurons, receptors, sensory neurons, motor neurons
(D) Receptors, sensory neurons, motor neurons, interneurons
16. Curare blocks action at acetylcholine synapses and causes paralysis. This drug is an example of an
(A) antagonist
(B) agonist
(C) inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)
(D) excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP)
17. An individual who drinks alcohol daily finds it necessary to drink increasing amounts to achieve the state of well-
being attained in the past. This individual is showing
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Unit 1 part 1
(A) withdrawal symptoms
(B) alcohol-induced psychosis
(C) state-dependent learning
(D) alcohol tolerance
18. Which scenario best exemplifies the theory of natural selection?
(A) Aaron has larger muscles than Earl because Aaron lifts weights and Earl does not.
(B) A natural disaster wipes out all of the living creatures on a particular island.
(C) An ape learns how to use a new tool by observing another ape use that tool.
A mutation in a species of lizards that allows them to better blend into their surroundings leads to greater
(D)
survival and more offspring possessing this mutation in a later generation.
19. Mrs. Downing is 80 years old and lives in an assisted living facility. She often stops speaking in the middle of
sentences because she can't remember the topic being discussed. She also tries on most days to leave the facility so
she can get home to cook dinner for her family. The depletion of which of the following neurotransmitters is most
closely associated with the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease that Mrs. Downing is likely experiencing?
(A) Dopamine
(B) Acetylcholine
(C) Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
(D) Norepinephrine
20. The division of the nervous system that most directly allows voluntary muscle movement is the
(A) midbrain
(B) sympathetic
(C) parasympathetic
(D) somatic
21. The drugs that block the reabsorption of neurotransmitters in the synapse during neural transmission are best
identified as which of the following concepts?
(A) reuptake inhibitors
(B) antipsychotics
(C) antihistamines
(D) stimulants
22. Dopamine, norepinephrine, and acetylcholine are all
(A) hormones excreted by the endocrine glands
(B) secretions of the exocrine glands
(C) drugs used in the therapeutic treatment of memory disorders
(D) neurotransmitters that excite or inhibit a neural signal across a synapse
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23. When a person is suffering from severe pain, the type of drug that will best help alleviate that pain is
(A) an opiate
(B) an amphetamine
(C) a depressant
(D) a stimulant
24. A certain drug reduces the activity of the central nervous system, including the hippocampus and cerebellum. It
affects several neurotransmitters, most notably gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Which of the following is most
like the drug in question ?
(A) Methamphetamine
(B) Cocaine
(C) Alcohol
(D) MDMA (Ecstasy)
25. Researchers looking to create a drug to reduce the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease would most likely focus their
efforts on which of the following neurotransmitters?
(A) Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
(B) Norepinephrine
(C) Dopamine
(D) Acetylcholine
26. Betty was just diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Which of the following effects is she most likely to experience?
(A) The neurons in her body will not be able to reach threshold, leading to fatigue.
(B) Depolarization in her neurons will not occur, causing sensory impairment.
(C) Neurotransmitters will remain in the synapse for an extended period, causing memory loss.
(D) Neural messages will travel slowly down the axon, leading to motor impairment.
27. Trinna and Suzanne are identical twins who were the same length at birth. They were adopted by different families
at birth and then reconnected in their early thirties. Trinna is two inches shorter and was a severely selective eater as
a child. A researcher was conducting an investigation about twins separated at birth. What research method and
explanation best fit this scenario?
A longitudinal study, because heredity is much more important than environment in determining length and
(A)
height.
(B) A case study, because environment is much more important than heredity in determining length and height.
(C) A case study, because both heredity and environment are important in determining length and height.
A longitudinal study, because environment is much less important than heredity in determining height in
(D)
early childhood.
A researcher conducted a study to investigate whether women in the first trimester of pregnancy score higher on levels of
disgust than women who are in a later stage of pregnancy. The researcher believes that being more selective about food
choices helps pregnant women avoid diseases that could harm their fetuses.
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28. A researcher from which of the following psychological perspectives would most likely be interested in examining
this relationship?
(A) Psychodynamic
(B) Cognitive
(C) Evolutionary
(D) Sociocultural
29. According to evolutionary theorists, which of the following explains the tendency to quickly organize individuals
into in-group and out-group categorizations?
(A) The need to quickly assess the heritability of characteristics
(B) The need to categorize and react to unfamiliar individuals
(C) The need to negotiate within one’s own group
(D) The need to communicate effectively with younger members of the group
30. An evolutionary psychologist would explain that humans desire social interaction, social acceptance, and social
affiliation due to a need for which of the following?
(A) achievement
(B) behavioral change
(C) survival
(D) self-actualization
31. The result of the evolutionary process that preserves traits that enhance the adaptation of an organism and
suppresses traits that do not is called which of the following?
(A) Habituation
(B) Accommodation
(C) Natural selection
(D) Eugenics
32. Of the following, an evolutionary psychologist will most likely investigate the
(A) age of children when they speak their first words
(B) speed of an action potential
(C) reason why many people have an innate fear of the dark
(D) factors that make a person feel accepted by others
Researchers measured changes in neural firing in the frontal lobes for ten rats that were exposed to stimulants. The
researchers used an MRI that indicates brain activity with colors. Normal brain activity is indicated by greens and
yellows. High brain activity is indicated by reds and oranges. Low brain activity is indicated by grays and blues. All the
rat’s brains showed normal activity prior to being exposed to the stimulant.
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33. What type of study was being conducted by the researcher?
(A) Correlational
(B) Experiment
(C) Case
(D) Longitudinal
34. What is the operational definition of neural activity in the rats?
(A) The amount of stimulant given to each rat.
(B) Random selection of the rats from a large population to be part of the stimulant group.
(C) The color presented in the MRI images.
(D) The size of the rats’ frontal lobes.
35. The neurotransmitter that is primarily associated with the feeling of wanting something is
(A) oxytocin
(B) dopamine
(C) norepinephrine
(D) serotonin
36. Nervousness can result in faster and more shallow breathing as well as a racing heart. This is due to activation of the
(A) somatic nervous system
(B) parasympathetic nervous system
(C) sympathetic nervous system
(D) corpus callosum
37. A neuron receives an excitatory neurotransmitter and fires an action potential. Which of the following is the correct
term for the time shortly after a neuron fires and before it fires again?
(A) the refractory period
(B) the reticular formation
(C) depolarization
(D) the neurotransmitter
38. When excitatory neurotransmitters stimulate a single neuron, the neuron
(A) becomes more likely to produce an action potential
(B) becomes less likely to produce an action potential
(C) produces a stronger action potential
(D) becomes more polarized
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39. Ollie takes a medication that prevents the neurotransmitter serotonin from being reabsorbed into the neuron after it
fires. Which of the following is the correct term for this process?
(A) depolarization
(B) lateral inhibition
(C) reuptake
(D) synaptic transmission
40. Neurotransmitters that function like the drug morphine and are involved in pain modulation include which of the
following?
(A) GABA
(B) Norepinephrine
(C) Dopamine
(D) Endorphins
41. A researcher studied rats to determine the effectiveness of a new drug on acetylcholine receptor sites. First, the rats
were trained to find a reward at the end of a maze. Next, the rats were randomly assigned to two groups. One group
of rats were injected with the new acetylcholine-like drug. The second group of rats were injected with a saline
solution. Finally, researchers measured how many mistakes the rats made as they navigated the maze. Which of the
following research methods was used by the researchers?
(A) Correlational
(B) Experimental
(C) Naturalistic observation
(D) Case study
42. Pierce had surgery and was prescribed a painkiller that mimicked endorphins in his body. He experienced some
intense, uncomfortable pain for a day or two after he was finished taking his medicine as prescribed. Pierce's painful
experience associated with termination of the use of an addictive substance is known as which of the following?
(A) discontinuance
(B) tolerance
(C) withdrawal
(D) forced independence
43. Jeremy stubbed his toe when he was getting some water in the middle of the night. Within a few minutes, the pain
in his toe began to ease. The painkilling substances produced by the brain are known as which of the following?
(A) acetylcholines
(B) endorphins
(C) leptins
(D) adrenalines
44. When Nyala comes into contact with a cat, her heart rate increases, her pupils dilate, and her salivation decreases.
These responses are controlled by the
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(A) corpus callosum
(B) primary sensory cortex
(C) sympathetic nervous system
(D) parasympathetic nervous system
45. Which part of the nervous system is most immediately activated by sudden fear?
(A) Parasympathetic
(B) Sympathetic
(C) Neostriatum
(D) Somatic
46. Research on human mating preferences suggests that men place greater value on physical attractiveness and
youthfulness, whereas women place greater value on social status and financial resources. Which of the following
psychological points of view best explains this behavior?
(A) Individualistic
(B) Psychoanalytic
(C) Evolutionary
(D) Humanistic
47. Getting a headache from not having a morning coffee after substantial daily coffee consumption for several months
is most likely due to which of the following concepts?
(A) tolerance
(B) withdrawal
(C) dependence
(D) accommodation
48. A person accidentally touches a hand to a hot stove and quickly pulls the hand away, even before sensory
information about the hot stove reaches the brain. The person’s reaction is most directly enabled by
(A) the hypothalamus
(B) the cerebellum
(C) a spinal reflex
(D) the sensory cortex
49. A researcher is exploring the effectiveness of a new drug that works as an agonist to the neurotransmitter
acetylcholine. A research design involves two randomly assigned groups of participants. One group receives a one-
time treatment, and the other does not. Later, the two groups are compared to see whether the treatment had an
effect. Psychologists call this kind of research which of the following?
(A) A correlational study
(B) An experiment
(C) A case study
(D) A cross-sequential study
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50. Activation of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system results in
(A) an increase in salivation
(B) an increase in digestion
(C) an increase in respiratory rate
(D) a decrease in heart rate
51. The sequence of shifts in the electrical charge of a neuron is called
(A) neural integration
(B) refraction
(C) synaptic transmission
(D) the action potential
52. Reuptake of a neurotransmitter refers to
(A) absorption of the neurotransmitter into the dendrites of the receiving neuron
(B) absorption of the neurotransmitter into the terminal buttons of the sending neuron
(C) release of the neurotransmitter by the soma of the originating neuron
(D) the rate at which a neurotransmitter is created for use by a neuron
53. The nature-nurture issue is best exemplified by which of the following questions?
Is perception accomplished by passive detection of images in the environment or by active detection of
(A)
information?
Is language acquisition fairly complete by the early school years, or are most linguistic forms mastered only
(B)
in adolescence?
Is gender identity most influenced by parental upbringing or by interaction with same-sex
(C)
peers?
Is level of intelligence the result of one’s environment and specific learning, or is it a result of biological
(D)
maturation?
54. The role of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system is to
(A) facilitate the body’s fight-or-flight response
(B) prepare the body to cope with stress
(C) prompt the body to use its resources in responding to environmental stimuli
(D) establish homeostasis after a fight-or-flight response
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55. Changes in Physiology
Pupils Increases
Heart rate Increases
Salivation Decreases
Digestion Decreases
The physiological changes in the table most clearly represent activation of which of the following?
(A) The parasympathetic nervous system
(B) The sympathetic nervous system
(C) A spinal reflex arc
(D) The vestibular system
56. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for helping
(A) David become aware of his thirst while running a marathon
(B) Riaesha get ready to fight or flee when seeing a bear
(C) Anthony calm down after watching a scary movie
(D) Jamika pull her hand back when she touches a hot stove
57. Paolo has jet lag after flying from his home country of Italy to New York City in the US. He is feeling tired and
irritable because his circadian rhythm is disrupted. Which of the following hormones is most closely associated with
the sleep cycle?
(A) Adrenaline
(B) Oxytocin
(C) Melatonin
(D) Leptin
58. Tamara’s coach reminds the team not to eat for several hours before the basketball game because the digestive
process will be slowed down due to the intense activity. Which of the following aspects of the peripheral nervous
system is directly responsible for slowing down digestive processes during the game?
(A) Somatic nervous system
(B) Parasympathetic nervous system
(C) Central nervous system
(D) Sympathetic nervous system
59. Kenyatta is participating in a research study examining the effects of a particular hormone. After she is given the
hormone, she engages in behaviors that demonstrate trust in strangers, peer bonding, and group cohesion. Kenyatta
was most likely given which of the following as part of the study?
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(A) Melatonin
(B) Adrenaline
(C) Ghrelin
(D) Oxytocin
60. Which of the following characteristics is generally associated with the use of hallucinogens?
(A) The experience of vivid, distorted images that are not based on sensory input
(B) Decreased pain sensation and decreased anxiety
(C) Slower bodily functions
(D) The experience of brief euphoria followed by a depressive state
61. Which of the following statements best describes the effect of alcohol on human functioning?
(A) It depresses the central nervous system.
(B) It facilitates the release of norepinephrine.
(C) It depresses the thyroid system.
(D) It distorts auditory perception.
62. Which of the following is a parasympathetic nervous system response?
(A) Pupil dilation
(B) Inhibition of bladder contraction
(C) Increased digestion
(D) Increased adrenaline secretion
63. Which of the following psychological approaches suggests that jealousy might serve an adaptive function in
protecting a sexual relationship from threats?
(A) Cognitive
(B) Behavioral
(C) Psychodynamic
(D) Evolutionary
64. Which of the following neurotransmitters has been most associated with major depressive disorder?
(A) Acetylcholine
(B) Dopamine
(C) Serotonin
(D) Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
65. Which of the following correctly pairs subdivisions within the major divisions of the human nervous system?
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(A) Somatic . . endocrine and exocrine
(B) Central . . somatic and sympathetic
(C) Autonomic . . sympathetic and parasympathetic
(D) Peripheral . . central nervous system and the spinal cord
66. Which theory of motivation is most likely to suggest that a younger woman would be attracted to an older man
because of his greater ability to provide for her?
(A) Evolutionary
(B) Hierarchy of needs
(C) Instinct
(D) Drive-reduction
67. Which of the following psychoactive drugs increases nervous system activity?
(A) Cocaine
(B) Alcohol
(C) Marijuana
(D) Heroin
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