UNIV 104 Homework MT Aplia Maximizing Memory and Taking Tests Assignment solutions complete answers

UNIV 104 Homework MT Aplia Maximizing Memory and Taking Tests Assignment solutions complete answers 

 

1. What is memory and how does it work?

DISCOVER THE CONCEPT

The engine of learning, memory is the mental process that makes it possible for you to store and access information. There are two types of memory: short-term and long-term. In order to remember important information over long periods of time, you must move information from your short-term memory to your long-term memory. Understanding how your memory works can help increase your ability to retain and retrieve important information. Learn more about the memory process by exploring the concepts in the following table. Then answer the questions that follow.

How Memory Works

Step 1: Encoding

Using Your Short-Term Memory

As a student, you encounter information in many different ways: reading, seeing, hearing, and other methods.

The first stage in the memory process, encoding, happens at the moment you encounter new information. This information will be a part of your short-term memory for a very limited amount of time, usually only a few minutes. For example, you might briefly memorize a phone number in order to then dial it. The important things to know about short-term memory are that it doesn’t last very long and it can’t hold nearly as much as your long-term memory.

Not all new information makes it to your short-term memory. Your brain records information based on certain key factors like:

• Your level of interest

• Your desire to remember

• Your personal history or initial understanding of the topic

APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE

 

Complete the following paragraph.

The memory process involves moving important information from your    to your    memory. One strategy for this is associating, which involves making the information    .

 

Read the scenario, and answer the questions that follows.

Kirk sits in the front during class and enjoys discussing the assigned readings from the night before. He understands things well and feels confident about his knowledge of the course material. He regularly reviews key terms and concepts using flashcards. When it comes to tests, however, he struggles to access the most relevant material for his responses.

This student is having a problem with     .

 

Your short-term memory, also called working memory, can store    amounts of information for    periods of time. If you were to try to quickly memorize a list of vocabulary words five minutes before a quiz, the information would most likely be stored in your    memory.

 

Read the scenario, and answer the questions that follows.

Last week Derek spent nearly every waking moment studying for his exam. As he reviewed the chapters, he was struck by how often he felt that he was learning the information for the first time. His instructor was soft-spoken, and it was hard for Derek to hear many of the lectures. As he thought back, it occurred to him that his memories of these lectures were more informed by the daydreams and conversations he had with classmates than they were by the lessons and information he’d remembered from the lecture.

This student is having a problem with     .

 

Your long-term memory can store    amounts of information for    periods of time. If you were to make personally meaningful flashcards for vocabulary words and review them several times over the course of a week, the information would most likely be stored in your    memory.

 

Read the scenario, and answer the questions that follows.

Johanna is totally engrossed when reading her textbook and even laughs occasionally at the jokes the author makes. Immediately after reading, she is able to remember facts and concepts she has just read about. However, the information is mostly gone when she needs it the next day during class discussion.

This student is having a problem with     .

 

2. Using mnemonic devices

DISCOVER THE CONCEPT

Mnemonic devices can help you retain information and perform better on quizzes, tests, and exams. Explore different mnemonic devices, and then answer the questions that follow.

Mnemonic Devices

Acronym

An invented combination of letters that forms a word that helps you remember an important phrase or concept. Example: NASA reminds you of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE

A mnemonic device is a powerful tool that will help you remember information. There are many different kinds of mnemonic devices. Suppose you wanted to remember that there are three general ways in which people respond to stress: Problem-Focused, Reappraisal, and Emotion-Focused. In the following table, identify the type of mnemonic device by matching it to the name along the top.

When I first noticed the problem, I was focused on it. Then I tried to change the way I looked at it and reappraised it. When this didn’t work, I became focused on my emotional response.         

Please Fill Robert’s Empty Folder         

P.F.R.E.F 

 

S.G.A.S.A.D      

Sometimes Gary Also Stays After Dark  

I stood at the train station with my friends from high school, and we were part of a social group. I got on the train without them, and I was a part of the social aggregate.

 

In the offices of a newspaper, there are four conference rooms. In room one, we decide whether we should shun or ignore. In room two, we get a clue and interpret the candidate. In room three, we decide how others will see the candidate (presentation). In room four, we decide whether to endorse the candidate.   

It’s Important to Protect Everyone       

A reporter walks into four different voting booths. In the first, he refuses to even look at the ballot. In the second, he spends the entire time remembering and thinking about what the candidates said. In the third, he uses a small projector to show a short documentary about each candidate on the wall. In the fourth, he declares who he believes in and votes without drawing the curtain closed.

 

3. Effective study habits

DISCOVER THE CONCEPT

You are probably aware that college life requires a lot of studying. But did you know that there are specific strategies that can help you study more effectively? Studying goes beyond opening your textbook and reading the material that is there. The following table outlines effective study habits:

Effective Study Habits

Develop Your Concentration

Effective studying requires concentration. Work to minimize or eliminate distractions in your environment. These distractions can be internal (thoughts, worries, daydreams, and so on) or external (noise, family, roommates, electronic devices, and so on). Actively engage in the material so you stay focused. Avoid multitasking: limit your activities to one task at a time.

APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Read the following student scenario, and answer the questions that follow.

At 4:00 PM on Tuesday, Tam sat down at the dining room table to read an assigned chapter in her economics textbook. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM are her scheduled study hours for that course. She quickly reviewed the sections and the end-of-chapter questions before beginning so that she could determine what she would need to accomplish by 5:30 PM. After reading for ten minutes, Tam got several text messages from her little sister and a call from her boyfriend. Though she decided not to answer them during her study time, the noises coming from her cell phone made it hard for her to concentrate on her reading. A few minutes later, Tam came across an important point in the reading, but she’d forgotten her highlighter, pen, and notebook upstairs. So, she decided to recite the point to herself as she walked upstairs to retrieve them. By the time she returned, she felt confident that she would remember the information for the upcoming quiz. At around 5:10 PM, Tam started to get tired and thought about quitting early for the day. To get back on track, she reminded herself that the information she was learning from this chapter would eventually help her become a successful economist. This reminder encouraged Tam to continue to read and take notes until 5:30 PM, as she had originally planned.

 

Which of the following statements reflect effective study habits that this student has? Check all that apply.

          Set aside specific times to study

          Have a plan in mind for what you expect to accomplish

          Increase your concentration by eliminating distractions

          Take breaks

          Forget multitasking

          Be sure to have everything you need before you start to study

          Be prepared for days when your motivation wavers

 

Why should you take breaks when you study?

          They will help you store new information in your long-term memory.

          You should not take breaks; you should get your assignment done as quickly as possible.

          Breaks help you to avoid studying for as long as possible.

 

At 8:30 PM on Monday, Rachna sat down at her desk to read an assigned chapter in her art history textbook. She studies for that course every Monday and Wednesday from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM. Before she began her studies, she made sure she had her notebook, highlighter, pen, and laptop. She also turned off the TV and powered down her cell phone. Finally, she quickly reviewed the sections and the end-of-chapter questions before beginning so that she could determine what she would need to accomplish by 9:30 PM. After reading for a few minutes, Rachna started to think about her upcoming sociology exam. She briefly considered working on both subjects at the same time but ultimately decided to focus all of her attention on her art history assignment. That focus was short-lived, however. Once she’d made it about halfway through, Rachna got bored and decided to finish her work another day. She was sick of sitting at her desk for so long.

 

Which of the following statements reflect effective study habits that this student has? Check all that apply.

          Increase your concentration by eliminating distractions

          Have a plan in mind for what you expect to accomplish

          Forget multitasking

          Be sure to have everything you need before you start to study

          Be prepared for days when your motivation wavers

          Take breaks

          Set aside specific times to study

 

You should create a study space in your environment. Which of the following should an ideal study space include?

          Your smartphone: You should keep it nearby just in case you need to check your e-mail or take a call

          A comfortable, overstuffed armchair for reading

          A desk lamp that you can shine directly on your study material

 

At 2:20 PM on Saturday, Greg headed off to the library to read an assigned chapter in his creative writing textbook. His original plans had fallen through, and he figured he might as well get some studying done since he had nothing else to do. Before he began his reading, he made sure he had his notebook, highlighter, and pen. He also chose a private study room so that other library patrons would not bother him. Finally, he quickly reviewed the sections and the end-of-chapter questions before beginning so that he could determine what he would need to accomplish while he was at the library. After reading for a half an hour, Greg started to write his own fictional story, switching back and forth between his reading and his writing. A few minutes later, he came across an important point in the reading, so he decided to recite the point to himself as he took a walk around the building to stretch his legs. By the time he returned, he felt confident that he would remember the information for class discussion. After about an hour, Greg thought about picking up some fast food and watching a movie, but he knew he had more to accomplish. Therefore, he reminded himself that the information he was learning from this chapter would eventually help him become a novelist. This reminder encouraged Greg to continue to read and take notes until he finished the chapter.

 

Which of the following statements reflect effective study habits that this student has? Check all that apply.

          Be prepared for days when your motivation wavers

          Be sure to have everything you need before you start to study

          Set aside specific times to study

          Forget multitasking

          Increase your concentration by eliminating distractions

          Have a plan in mind for what you expect to accomplish

          Take breaks

 

What can you do to improve your motivation on those days when you just don’t feel like studying?

          You can focus your efforts on other tasks at the same time (multitasking) so you feel like you’re getting twice as much done.

          You can recite success statements or motivational mottos to remind yourself why you’ve got to get to work.

          You can promise yourself that you’ll get started first thing tomorrow.

 

4. Avoid test anxiety and succeed on tests

DISCOVER THE CONCEPT

Many students struggle with anxiety and stress due to quizzes, tests, and exams. Overcoming test anxiety and stress can be a matter of changing the way you prepare. Beyond studying hard, students can improve test performance by thinking critically about what causes their specific form of test anxiety and then taking steps to address it.

APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Read about Eileen, and then help her to prepare in a way that lowers her stress level:

When Eileen first started attending classes, she was so excited to be in college that it was hard to focus on the work that needed to be done. There were so many people to meet and things to do. The concept of a major exam seemed far off in the distance. Anyway, she figured there was plenty of time to study. When the instructor first handed out the syllabus, the exam date was two months away. As the weeks passed, Eileen enjoyed the lectures and in-class discussions. She kept up with the readings and did the homework assignments on time. But when the week of the midterm came, she felt a little surprised, almost blind-sided. And there were so many tests covering so much material! How could anyone be expected to remember everything that was covered in four different classes? The worst was her course in accounting. Some of the information was in the textbook. But the instructor didn’t follow the textbook during class, and she used a lot of handouts, so Eileen had no idea how to study for the exam. She tried to study for all of the exams by cramming late into the night. But she wasn’t used to reading so late, and it was too easy to fall asleep next to her open textbook.

 

What could Eileen do in the future to reduce anxiety and increase her chances of success on the exam?

          Extend the cram session by several hours

          Study late into the evenings when there are fewer distractions

          Start preparing for the exam on the first day of class

 

Preparing for a test is supposed to help lower the amount of stress you feel before and during the test. Sometimes students become so focused on preparation that the list of things to do before the test causes its own form of stress. Don’t let this happen to you. Create a simple checklist, and notice how much better you feel.

 

Consider Eileen’s unique form of test anxiety, and add the item to her checklist that will help lower her stress level:

  

A            

 

Many students avoid math courses. In truth, math is an important subject for everyone, and it’s not just about memorizing formulas. Part of succeeding in a math-related course is recognizing and responding to your feelings of test anxiety. If you can recognize how you respond to math, you can create an action plan for success.

 

Read the following scenario and help Eileen by creating an action plan that will help her succeed:

Eileen was nervous when she registered for Accounting 110. By the second class meeting, she was already feeling overwhelmed. This made her feel shy, and it was hard for her to discuss the work with anyone outside of class. When she didn't know how to solve a problem, she felt isolated. This feeling of isolation got even worse during the first test. Her hands got shaky, and she could feel the muscles in her chest tighten. Then it became hard to breathe. These symptoms caused her to do poorly on the first test. Now she is worried that she might not pass the course.

 

Choose three actions that will help Eileen overcome math anxiety and succeed in the course: Check all that apply.

          Form a study group

          Notice symptoms of anxiety and take a deep breath

          Complain to the instructor about the difficulty she is having

          Drop the course and learn the concepts on her own

          Put the test in perspective

 

Read about Darnell, and then help him to prepare in a way that lowers his stress level:

Darnell is really worried about his anatomy final. There’s so much to remember, and every day that goes by makes him more stressed about it. It doesn’t make it any easier that most of these days are filled with constant arguing and bickering. Over the last several months, his girlfriend has grown increasingly bitter and distant. He doesn’t say much, but it’s clear that college is causing a problem because there is so much less time for them to spend together. Darnell knows how much work needs to be done in order to do well on this exam, but deciding to do it all also feels like he is deciding to end the relationship. The exam is fast approaching, and he has spent the last forty-eight hours texting and e-mailing his girlfriend while guzzling tons of coffee and cramming for the exam. Last night, he even took some of those over-the-counter pills that truckers sometimes use to stay awake while driving. The exam is tomorrow, and he wants to study, but it’s hard to keep his eyes open.

 

What is the best thing that Darnell could do to reduce anxiety and increase his chances of success on the exam?

          Study late into the evenings when there are fewer distractions

          Break up with his girlfriend

          Focus without stimulants and get rest

 

Preparing for a test is supposed to help lower the amount of stress you feel before and during the test. Sometimes students become so focused on preparation that the list of things to do before the test causes its own form of stress. Don’t let this happen to you. Create a simple checklist, and notice how much better you feel.

 

Consider Darnell’s unique form of test anxiety, and add the item to his checklist that will help lower his stress level:

  

A            

 

Many students avoid math courses. In truth, math is an important subject for everyone, and it’s not just about memorizing formulas. Part of succeeding in a math-related course is recognizing and responding to your feelings of test anxiety. If you can recognize how you respond to math, you can create an action plan for success.

 

Read the following scenario and help Darnell by creating an action plan that will help him succeed:

Darnell is a business student taking Marketing Statistics. He had hoped it would be theoretical, but he was surprised by how much math was involved. Almost immediately he started avoiding the homework. Feeling overwhelmed during class, he took fewer notes. Now when he studies, he worries that he isn’t covering all of the material that will be on the test. These concerns have made Darnell feel self-conscious about his level of knowledge compared to the other students, so he avoids asking questions for fear of looking foolish.

 

Choose three actions that will help Darnell overcome math anxiety and succeed in the course: Check all that apply.

          Calculate what he needs on each test to pass the course

          Ask questions fearlessly

          Copy a friend’s homework so he can be assured of studying correct answers

          Organize notes and leave spaces where he doesn’t understand

          Do the homework consistently

 

Read about Charles, and then help him to prepare in a way that lowers his stress level:

Charles has never been good at math. Now, he needs to do well on a college math final or his grade point average will drop below a C level and he will no longer qualify for scholarship funding. Worrying about losing this money always makes him start to feel ashamed. It makes him worry that he doesn’t belong or isn’t good enough. Whenever he starts to think this way, all his muscles get tense, and it becomes hard to breathe. If the other students ask how he feels, it brings on another anxiety attack. Doing well seems like a vague idea to Charles. He isn’t really sure just exactly how to accomplish this goal. There is an exam on a certain date. It’ll cover what’s in the textbook. But beyond this, he isn’t really sure how to ensure success.

 

What is the best thing that Charles could do to reduce anxiety and increase his chances of success on the exam?

          Send the instructor an e-mail about the scholarship situation

          Extend the cram session by several hours

          Make a specific study plan, and don’t give in to negativity

 

Preparing for a test is supposed to help lower the amount of stress you feel before and during the test. Sometimes students become so focused on preparation that the list of things to do before the test causes its own form of stress. Don’t let this happen to you. Create a simple checklist, and notice how much better you feel.

 

Consider Charles’s unique form of test anxiety, and add the item to his checklist that will help lower his stress level:

  

A            

 

Many students avoid math courses. In truth, math is an important subject for everyone, and it’s not just about memorizing formulas. Part of succeeding in a math-related course is recognizing and responding to your feelings of test anxiety. If you can recognize how you respond to math, you can create an action plan for success.

 

Read the following scenario and help Charles by creating an action plan that will help him succeed:

Charles has always dreamed of working in the financial services industry as an investor. So, he returned to school to earn a degree that would prepare him for an entry-level position in the field. Now, he’s struggling with a course called Calculus for Economics 115. During the quizzes and tests, he sees his dream job drifting away when he can’t answer a question, so he gets frustrated and overwhelmed. His hand starts to shake as he writes, and his body gets so hot he can’t think. He is more interested in the human details and the market forces that cause a company to succeed or fail than he is in a company’s financial statements. So, whenever the course verges on content that requires math skills, he starts to daydream.

 

Choose three actions that will help Charles overcome math anxiety and succeed in the course: Check all that apply.

          Connect the math to real life by writing his own math problems

          Read other books on economics that are less math focused

          Notice symptoms of anxiety and take a deep breath

          Practice taking the test

          Ask the instructor to proceed more slowly during the lectures

 

5. Different types of test questions - True/false and multiplechoice

DISCOVER THE CONCEPT

Many of the tests that you will take as a college student will include true/false and multiple-choice question types. Some students struggle when they do not immediately know the answer. You can increase your chances of success by developing the skill of making educated guesses and adopting proven methods that help you increase the odds of answering correctly. When taking these types of tests, create a plan for how much time you will spend on each question and then work systematically.

True/False and Multiple Choice

Pay Attention to Language

This might seem obvious, but many students forget to read the question closely or complete the sentence based on their assumptions of what it says. Be conscious of each word. Notice words that constitute absolutes. Look for words like always, never, sometimes, and rarely. These words can help you investigate the logic of the statement.

APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE

Read each question carefully and select the action that would increase your chances of answering correctly.

 Imagine that you are taking a test and you are given this question:

True or False: Almost all of the life on Earth lives underwater.

 

How could you increase your chances of answering correctly?

          Select True because most test questions teach you something

          Focus on modifiers like sometimes and frequently

          If you don’t know, fill it in quickly and move on

 

Imagine that you are taking a test and you are given this question:

The highest-grossing film since 2000 is:

A)  Avatar

B)  Casablanca

C)  It’s a Wonderful Life

 

How could you increase your chances of answering correctly?

          Select the longest answer

          Identify the incorrect parts to reveal the correct answer

          Choose the one that jumps out at you

 

Imagine that you are taking a test and you are given this question:

True or False: A country’s largest city is always the capital.

 

How could you increase your chances of answering correctly?

          Select the least likely answer because it’s a trick question

          Select “False” because you do not know the answer

          Notice qualifiers and absolutes such as always and never

 

Imagine that you are taking a test and you are given this question:

The most common mistakes that college students make are:

A)  Cutting classes

B)  Procrastinating

C)  Spending too much time online

D)  All of the above

 

How could you increase your chances of answering correctly?

          Select the answer that jumps out at you first

          Treat each answer as a true/false statement

          Select “C” because it is most commonly the answer

 

Imagine that you are taking a test and you are given this question:

True or False: It is not unfair to say that most gun crime in Mexico is committed with American guns.

 

How could you increase your chances of answering correctly?

          Restate the question without the double negative

          Select “False” if you do not know the answer

          Guess quickly if you do not know the answer

 

Imagine that you are taking a test and you are given this question:

In 2009, the three largest U.S. state economies were:

A)  California, Texas, and Florida

B)  California, New York, and Texas

C)  California, Rhode Island, and Delaware

D)  All of the above

 

How could you increase your chances of answering correctly?

          If you don’t know the answer, select “All of the above”

          If two or more answers are alike, select “All of the above”

          If you can cross out one option, then ignore “All of the above”

 

6. Different types of test questions - Essay and short answer

DISCOVER THE CONCEPT

Sometimes you will be asked to take subjective tests in which you analyze and evaluate information and then give written responses to short and long essay questions. When reading an essay question, pay close attention to the key words. Sometimes called “guide words,” or “direction words,” these terms should affect the way you write your essay. Consider the following table of key words and then help the following student to write a better essay by identifying key words and developing the best outline:

Compare        Show how two things are similar

Contrast         Show how two things are different

Define  Give a specific definition for something and offer examples

Trace   Tell the story of something and explain how and why it developed this way (often done chronologically)

Summarize      Identify and discuss the main ideas and themes

Evaluate         Offer your opinion on a topic and defend this opinion with evidence

Analyze Look at the various specific parts of something and explain how they function as part of the larger whole

Discuss Restate the ongoing larger discussion about a topic or concept and (if appropriate) situate yourself in this larger conversation by asserting what you believe

Illustrate         Explain a topic in detail with examples

APPLY YOUR KNOWLEDGE

 During the second exam, Robin needs to respond to an essay question. Read the directions to this question carefully. Identify the words to watch so Robin can formulate a plan for her written response.

Trace the history of the Internet from its invention to its latest technological advances. Interpret what the leading psychologists and thinkers of our time have said about the Internet and its effects on our culture, and then prove why the Internet has been a positive force for change around the world.

 

Which three of the following five words will be most helpful in terms of answering this essay question? Check all that apply.

          Force

          Trace

          Culture

          Prove

          Interpret

 

Consider the essay question that was assigned to Robin. Help her create a brief outline for her essay by using the dropdown menus to select what should be covered in each paragraph:

Brief Outline for Essay on the Internet

Paragraph one: Open by describing the day the Internet was invented

Paragraph two:     

Paragraph three: Write about the effects of the Internet on world culture

Paragraph four:     

Paragraph five:     

 

During the second exam, Kevin needs to respond to an essay question. Read the directions to this question carefully. Identify the words to watch so Kevin can formulate a plan for his written response.

Analyze the following articles by these two journalists who wrote during the American Civil War. Compare and contrast their assumptions and responses to this war, and then write about your own response to this conflict.

 

Which three of the following five words will be most helpful in terms of answering this essay question? Check all that apply.

          Compare

          Analyze

          Journalists

          Contrast

          Civil

 

Consider the essay question that was assigned to Kevin. Help him create a brief outline for his essay by using the dropdown menus to select what should be covered in each paragraph:

Brief Outline for Essay on the Civil War

Paragraph one: Establish that there were two opposing views of the Civil War

Paragraph two:     

Paragraph three: Compare where these two journalists agree

Paragraph four:     

Paragraph five:     

 

During the second exam, Erin needs to respond to an essay question. Read the directions to this question carefully. Identify the words to watch so Erin can formulate a plan for her written response.

Define what a good college experience means to you now. Has your idea of what it means to be a college graduate changed since you began this course? Discuss your experience in college. Evaluate what your school has done well and where you believe the educational experience could be improved. Think about what you can do as a student to address these issues.

 

Which three of the following five words will be most helpful in terms of answering this essay question? Check all that apply.

          Evaluate

          Define

          Issues

          Think

          Discuss

 

Consider the essay question that was assigned to Erin. Help her create a brief outline for her essay by using the dropdown menus to select what should be covered in each paragraph:

Brief Outline for Essay on the College Experience

Paragraph one: Define and discuss the college experience

Paragraph two:     

Paragraph three: Judge my experience of college, and consider how it could be better

Paragraph four:     

Paragraph five: