MCQs In Development

Q1 :

In answer to your questions during a health supervision examination, a mother reports that her son dresses himself and brushes his teeth without help. When you ask him, he copies a circle and cross, draws a simple figure of a person, walks up and down steps, hops on one foot, and balances on one foot for 3 seconds.

This boy's developmental age is CLOSEST to:

A. 3 years

B. 4  years

C  5 year

D. 6  years

E.  7 years

Answer

B

The motor developmental milestones described for the boy in the vignette are most consistent with a 4-year-old child. In addition to walking up and down stairs with alternating feet, other motor skills likely to be present at this age include the ability to perform a broad jump of several feet and to catch a large ball. He probably can hold a crayon well, use scissors, and use all table utensils well except for a knife. He also may be able to copy a square.

            In contrast, a 3-year-old will be able to climb stairs with alternating feet, but will not be able to descend with alternating feet. He will be able to stand on one foot briefly and may be able to copy a circle and a cross. A 5-year-old child will be able to copy a circle, cross, and square as well as a triangle. He also should be able to print some letters. He will be able to stand on one foot for 10 seconds and may be able to skip. The motor skills of children ages 6 and 7 focus on increasing speed and accuracy. They will print letters consistently, although their letters may be large and irregular.

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Q 2:

According to the mother of a 2-year-old boy, he has a vocabulary of more than 50 words, points to pictures of objects that she names, and combines words into two- and three-word phrases.

Of the following, he MOST likely also can:

A.  ask "why" questions

B.   recognize colors

C.  sing nursery rhymes

D.  use "I," "me," and "mine" appropriately

E.  use plural nouns

Answer:

D

The cognitive and developmental skills of a 2-year-old include those reported in the vignette as well as the use of personal pronouns (“I, me, mine”). A 2-year-old’s speech is approximately 25% intelligible to a stranger, and he or she speaks in the present tense. At this age, children can point to more than six body parts on themselves or a doll.

            At 3 years of age, a child’s speech is 75% intelligible to a stranger, and he or she uses plurals and pronouns and can relate his or her age. Children of this age begin to use “what” and “who” questions in sentences of three to four words. They may be able to identify two colored blocks, but they will have difficulty naming the color.

            At 4 years of age, children’s speech will be 100% intelligible to a stranger, and the children can describe experiences using present and past tense. They can sing nursery rhymes, give their first and last names, and identify their gender and the gender of others. They ask “why” questions in sentences of four to five words and are starting to speak in paragraphs. They name five or six colors.