10–21
83.
Which of the following demonstrates the difference between dynamic flexibility and extent
flexibility?
A.
Dynamic flexibility is required over short periods of time, while extent flexibility is required
in jobs spread over a longer period of time.
B.
Dynamic flexibility involves fine motor movements, while extent flexibility requires gross
motor movements.
C.
Dynamic flexibility is a type of physical ability, while extent flexibility is a type of sensory
ability.
D.
E.
Dynamic flexibility is the quality of physical movement, while extent flexibility refers to the
recognition of different sensory modalities.
84.
When a job requires repeated and quick bends, stretches, twists, or reaches, the type of
flexibility involved is called _____ flexibility.
A.
sensory
B.
dynamic
C.
extent
D.
control
E.
circulatory
85.
The ability to synchronize the movements of the body, arms, and legs to do something while
the whole body is in motion is defined as _____.
A.
perceptual speed
B.
gross body coordination
C.
sensory abilities
D.
control movement abilities
E.
fine manipulative abilities
10–22
86.
The ability to maintain the balance of the body in unstable contexts or while changing
directions refers to _____.
A.
homeostasis
B.
gross body equilibrium
C.
extent flexibility
D.
gross body coordination
E.
dynamic flexibility
87.
Athletes who perform on balance beams or ropes must display a high degree of _____.
A.
gross body equilibrium
B.
visualization
C.
perceptual speed
D.
visual color discrimination
E.
homeostasis
88.
Which of the following is a physical ability?
A.
Self-regulation
B.
Visualization
C.
Quantitative ability
D.
Flexibility and coordination
E.
Spatial orientation
10–23
89.
Mark is one of the most skilled employees at Hourly Watch, which is a wristwatch
manufacturing company that preserves the traditional art of making watches by hand. Being
an expert, he can often be seen handling screwdrivers and tweezers making intricate designs
and fitting in parts. This reflects Mark’s ability in the area of _____.
A.
gross body coordination
B.
fine manipulative abilities
C.
spatial orientation
D.
perceptual speed
E.
depth perception
90.
Sensory ability refers to:
A.
the ability to quickly respond to signaling information after it occurs.
B.
the capabilities associated with vision and hearing.
C.
the ability to synchronize the movements of the body, arms, and legs to do something
while the whole body is in motion.
D.
the ability of the body to bend, stretch, twist, and reach.
E.
the ability to choose the right action quickly in response to several different signals.
91.
The visual ability that helps one see things in low light contexts is called _____.
A.
near vision
B.
far vision
C.
night vision
D.
visual color discrimination
E.
depth perception
10–24
92.
Which of the following is the ability that reflects how quickly an individual responds to
signaling information after it occurs?
A.
Response time
B.
Perceptual speed
C.
Response orientation
D.
Hearing sensitivity
E.
Depth perception
93.
The ability to judge relative distances between things accurately is called _____.
A.
near and far vision
B.
depth perception
C.
response orientation
D.
visualization
E.
visual color discrimination
94.
Blue Wings Airlines is hiring new pilots. One of the key selection criteria for potential
candidates is the ability to choose the right action quickly in response to several different
signals and the ability to respond quickly to signaling information after it occurs. The
selection criteria indicate that to be selected, a candidate must have the two psychomotor
abilities of:
A.
perceptual speed and extent flexibility.
B.
number facility and response orientation abilities.
C.
response orientation and low response time.
D.
visualization and gross motor coordination.
E.
control movement abilities and originality.
10–25
95.
The ability to identify and understand the words spoken by another person is called _____.
A.
hearing sensitivity
B.
written expression
C.
speech recognition
D.
auditory attention
E.
oral expression
96.
The ability to hear and discriminate sounds that vary in terms of loudness and pitch is called
_____.
A.
auditory attention
B.
hearing sensitivity
C.
speech recognition
D.
verbal comprehension
E.
oral expression
97.
Being able to focus on a single sound in the presence of many other sounds is termed _____.
A.
auditory attention
B.
problem sensitivity
C.
speech recognition
D.
depth perception
E.
verbal comprehension
98.
Which of the following is a psychomotor ability?
A.
Night vision
B.
Auditory attention
C.
Response orientation
D.
Speech recognition
E.
Depth perception
10–26
99.
Which of the following is a sensory ability?
A.
Response time
B.
Fine manipulative abilities
C.
Response orientation
D.
Control movement abilities
E.
Depth perception
100.
Robin works for a small firm with only enough money budgeted to use one test to help with
hiring decisions. What kind of test would be the most generally beneficial for the company,
applicable to the most jobs?
A.
Test for general cognitive ability
B.
Test for emotional stability
C.
Test for honesty
D.
Test for physical ability
E.
Test for sensory ability
101.
_____ is a strong predictor of task performance.
A.
Emotional ability
B.
General cognitive ability
C.
Spatial ability
D.
Psychomotor ability
E.
Sensory ability
10–27
102.
The effects of general cognitive ability on job performance are most pronounced in the area
of _____.
A.
administrative skills
B.
managerial capabilities
C.
task performance
D.
interpersonal functioning
E.
affective commitment
103.
People who have _____ ability tend to be better at learning and decision making.
A.
higher general cognitive
B.
higher emotional
C.
higher interpersonal
D.
higher physical
E.
higher motivational
104.
Which of the following is
true
with regard to testing of general cognitive ability?
A.
The EQ-i is a widely used test of general cognitive ability.
B.
The testing of general cognitive ability is unaffected by variables such as poor socio–
economic status.
C.
The use of tests of general cognitive ability in academic contexts through tests like the
SAT and GMAT is valid for predicting success.
D.
Assessment of general cognitive ability also reveals the higher levels of organizational
commitment and citizenship behavior seen in individuals with high cognitive ability.
E.
The results of testing general mental ability are not influenced by a deficit in learning
opportunities.
10–28
105.
Which of the following is
true
regarding individuals with high cognitive ability?
A.
Individuals with high cognitive ability are not significantly better than others at task
performance.
B.
Individuals with high cognitive ability also have significantly higher levels of organizational
commitment than other employees.
C.
Testing to select employees with high cognitive abilities is widely discouraged and avoided
as it discriminates between people.
D.
The relationship between high cognitive ability and task performance is observed in the
academic context as well as in the work context.
E.
High cognitive ability tends to be equally correlated with the variables of task performance,
citizenship behavior, and counterproductive behavior.
106.
High cognitive ability has a strong correlation with:
A.
increased citizenship behaviors like helping a colleague.
B.
increased counterproductive behaviors like breaking office rules.
C.
increased affective, continuance, and normative commitment to the organization.
D.
increased task performance, especially in complex and demanding jobs.
E.
increased physical stamina and interpersonal functioning.
107.
Which of the following is one of the most widely used cognitive ability tests?
A.
Wonderlic Personnel Test
B.
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
C.
Woodworth Personal Data Sheet
D.
NEO Five-factor Inventory
E.
Myers-Briggs Type Inventory
Essay Questions
10–29
108.
Explain this statement: “Cognitive abilities are the brain-based skills we need to carry out
any task, whether simple or complex.”
109.
What is quantitative ability? Describe its component abilities.
110.
Differentiate between spatial and perceptual abilities. Describe types of jobs that may
require each of these abilities.
10–30
111.
Identify and describe the four types of reasoning abilities.
112.
Define
emotional
abilities
. Identify and describe the four abilities related to emotional
intelligence.
113.
Adena is a national-level ballet dancer. Physical fitness and innovating new sequences are
very crucial for her career. Discuss the physical abilities you consider relevant in her
profession.
10–31
114.
Differentiate among the three types of strength. Explain what types of jobs may require these
strengths.
115.
Describe the role of sensory ability in task performance.
116.
Explain the effects of general cognitive ability on performance and commitment.
10–32
117.
Describe the Wonderlic Personnel Test.
10–33
Chapter 10 Ability Answer Key
True / False Questions
1.
Ability refers to the relatively stable capabilities people have to perform a particular range
of different but related activities.
2.
The natural level of a given ability generally limits how much a person can improve an
ability.
10–34
3.
Abilities can be modified over time, unlike skills, which remain stable over one’s lifetime.
4.
Abilities are a function of both genes and the environment.
5.
Differences in cognitive abilities due to the environment become more apparent as people
get older.
10–35
6.
Malnutrition, exposure to toxins such as lead, and prenatal exposure to alcohol are some
risk factors related to low cognitive abilities.
7.
Written expression is the ability to understand written words and sentences.
8.
Oral expression refers to the ability to communicate ideas by speaking.
10–36
9.
Quantitative ability includes the mathematical capabilities of number facility and
mathematical reasoning.
10.
Anesthesiology is an area in which professionals require a great degree of problem
sensitivity.
10–37
11.
Inductive reasoning refers to the ability to examine and compare numbers, letters, and
objects quickly.
12.
Spatial ability refers to the ability to develop clever and novel ways to solve problems.
13.
General cognitive ability measures the areas an individual has in common across the more
specific cognitive abilities and is comparable to the concept of IQ.
10–38
14.
People with higher IQ tend to be healthier and economically better off and tend to feel
happier and more satisfied with their lives.
15.
The appraisal and expression of emotions in oneself are referred to as other awareness.
16.
An individual with a high degree of other awareness can anticipate the emotions that
people will experience in different situations.
10–39
17.
Emotional ability is made up of two types: self-awareness and other awareness.
18.
Emotional regulation reflects the degree to which people can harness emotions and
employ them to improve their chances of being successful in whatever they are seeking to
do.
10–40
19.
Hannah’s manager just took credit for her hard work—again! She is so angry she throws
her coffee cup across her office, sends off an angry e-mail to a client, and is rude to her
assistant for the rest of the day. Hannah demonstrates a low level of “use of emotions,”
one of the factors in emotional intelligence.
20.
Emotional intelligence is a more important determinant of job performance for people with
lower levels of cognitive intelligence.