Chapter 1: A Life Course Perspective
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. A(n) ______ perspective looks at how chronological age, relationships, common life
transitions, and social change shape people's lives from birth to death.
A. person-in-environment
B. life course
C. developmental
D. identity development
Ans: B
Learning Objective: 1.2. Summarize the relevance of the life course perspective for social
work competencies.
Answer Location: The Life Course Perspectives and Social Work Practice
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
2. A(n) ______ is the sequence of significant events, experiences, and transitions in a
person's life.
A. developmental history
B. self history
C. personal history
D. event history
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 1.2. Summarize the relevance of the life course perspective for social
work competencies.
Answer Location: The Life Course Perspectives and Social Work Practice
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
3. A cohort is similar, yet distinct from a(n) ______.
A. generation
B. team
C. family
D. observational group
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 1.4 Summarize five basic concepts of the life course perspective
(cohorts, transitions, trajectories, life events, and turning points).
Answer Location: Cohorts
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
4. A ______ is a significant occurrence in a person’s life that may produce serious and
long-lasting effects.
,A. transition
B. trajectory
C. life event
D. turning point
Ans: C
Learning Objective: 1.4 Summarize five basic concepts of the life course perspective
(cohorts, transitions, trajectories, life events, and turning points).
Answer Location: Life Events
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
5. A ______ is a change in roles and statuses that represent a distinct departure from prior
roles and statuses.
A. transition
B. trajectory
C. life event
D. turning point
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 1.4 Summarize five basic concepts of the life course perspective
(cohorts, transitions, trajectories, life events, and turning points).
Answer Location: Transitions
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
6. A _____ is a life event or transition that produces a shift in the life course trajectory.
A. transition
B. trajectory
C. life event
D. turning point
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 1.4 Summarize five basic concepts of the life course perspective
(cohorts, transitions, trajectories, life events, and turning points).
Answer Location: Turning Points
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
7. A _____ is a long-term pattern of stability and change, which usually involves multiple
transitions.
A. transition
B. trajectory
C. life event
D. turning point
Ans: B
Learning Objective: 1.4 Summarize five basic concepts of the life course perspective
(cohorts, transitions, trajectories, life events, and turning points).
Answer Location: Trajectories
,Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
8. ______ is a major theme of the life course perspective which suggests that individual
and family development must be understood in a past context.
A. Timing of lives
B. Linked or interdependent lives
C. Developmental risk and protection
D. Interplay of human lives and historical time
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 1.5 Critique six major themes of the life course perspective
(interplay of human lives and historical time, timing of lives, linked or interdependent
lives, human agency in making choices, diversity in life course trajectories, and risk and
protection).
Answer Location: Interplay of Human Lives and Historical Time
Difficulty Level: Medium
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
9. The life course perspective is useful to social work because it acknowledges the
______ of people’s lives.
A. multidisciplinary nature
B. diversity
C. similarity
D. central purpose
Ans: B
Learning Objective: 1.2: Summarize the relevance of the life course perspective for social
work competencies.
Answer Location: The Life Course Perspective and Social Work Practice
Difficult Level: Medium
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
10. ______ is a major theme of the life course perspective which suggests that
experiences with one life transition have an impact on subsequent transitions and events
and may either guard the life course trajectory or put it at risk.
A. Timing of lives
B. Diversity in life course trajectories
C. Developmental risk and protection
D. Interplay of human lives and historical time
Ans: C
Learning Objective: 1.5 Critique six major themes of the life course perspective
(interplay of human lives and historical time, timing of lives, linked or interdependent
lives, human agency in making choices, diversity in life course trajectories, and risk and
protection).
Answer Location: Major Themes of the Life Course Perspective
Difficulty Level: Medium
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
, 11. A person's ______ indicates their level of biological development and physical
health, as measured by the functioning of their various organ systems.
A. biological age
B. chronological age
C. psychological age
D. social age
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 1.5 Critique six major themes of the life course perspective
(interplay of human lives and historical time, timing of lives, linked or interdependent
lives, human agency in making choices, diversity in life course trajectories, and risk and
protection).
Answer Location: Dimensions of Age
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
12. The capacities that people have and the skills they use to adapt to changing biological
and environmental demands is ______.
A. biological age
B. chronological age
C. psychological age
D. social age
Ans: C
Learning Objective: 1.5 Critique six major themes of the life course perspective
(interplay of human lives and historical time, timing of lives, linked or interdependent
lives, human agency in making choices, diversity in life course trajectories, and risk and
protection).
Answer Location: Timing of Lives
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
13. ______ represents age-graded roles and behaviors expected by society.
A. spiritual age
B. chronological age
C. psychological age
D. social age
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 1.5 Critique six major themes of the life course perspective
(interplay of human lives and historical time, timing of lives, linked or interdependent
lives, human agency in making choices, diversity in life course trajectories, and risk and
protection).
Answer Location: Timing of Lives
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Test Bank
Multiple Choice
1. A(n) ______ perspective looks at how chronological age, relationships, common life
transitions, and social change shape people's lives from birth to death.
A. person-in-environment
B. life course
C. developmental
D. identity development
Ans: B
Learning Objective: 1.2. Summarize the relevance of the life course perspective for social
work competencies.
Answer Location: The Life Course Perspectives and Social Work Practice
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
2. A(n) ______ is the sequence of significant events, experiences, and transitions in a
person's life.
A. developmental history
B. self history
C. personal history
D. event history
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 1.2. Summarize the relevance of the life course perspective for social
work competencies.
Answer Location: The Life Course Perspectives and Social Work Practice
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
3. A cohort is similar, yet distinct from a(n) ______.
A. generation
B. team
C. family
D. observational group
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 1.4 Summarize five basic concepts of the life course perspective
(cohorts, transitions, trajectories, life events, and turning points).
Answer Location: Cohorts
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
4. A ______ is a significant occurrence in a person’s life that may produce serious and
long-lasting effects.
,A. transition
B. trajectory
C. life event
D. turning point
Ans: C
Learning Objective: 1.4 Summarize five basic concepts of the life course perspective
(cohorts, transitions, trajectories, life events, and turning points).
Answer Location: Life Events
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
5. A ______ is a change in roles and statuses that represent a distinct departure from prior
roles and statuses.
A. transition
B. trajectory
C. life event
D. turning point
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 1.4 Summarize five basic concepts of the life course perspective
(cohorts, transitions, trajectories, life events, and turning points).
Answer Location: Transitions
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
6. A _____ is a life event or transition that produces a shift in the life course trajectory.
A. transition
B. trajectory
C. life event
D. turning point
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 1.4 Summarize five basic concepts of the life course perspective
(cohorts, transitions, trajectories, life events, and turning points).
Answer Location: Turning Points
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
7. A _____ is a long-term pattern of stability and change, which usually involves multiple
transitions.
A. transition
B. trajectory
C. life event
D. turning point
Ans: B
Learning Objective: 1.4 Summarize five basic concepts of the life course perspective
(cohorts, transitions, trajectories, life events, and turning points).
Answer Location: Trajectories
,Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
8. ______ is a major theme of the life course perspective which suggests that individual
and family development must be understood in a past context.
A. Timing of lives
B. Linked or interdependent lives
C. Developmental risk and protection
D. Interplay of human lives and historical time
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 1.5 Critique six major themes of the life course perspective
(interplay of human lives and historical time, timing of lives, linked or interdependent
lives, human agency in making choices, diversity in life course trajectories, and risk and
protection).
Answer Location: Interplay of Human Lives and Historical Time
Difficulty Level: Medium
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
9. The life course perspective is useful to social work because it acknowledges the
______ of people’s lives.
A. multidisciplinary nature
B. diversity
C. similarity
D. central purpose
Ans: B
Learning Objective: 1.2: Summarize the relevance of the life course perspective for social
work competencies.
Answer Location: The Life Course Perspective and Social Work Practice
Difficult Level: Medium
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
10. ______ is a major theme of the life course perspective which suggests that
experiences with one life transition have an impact on subsequent transitions and events
and may either guard the life course trajectory or put it at risk.
A. Timing of lives
B. Diversity in life course trajectories
C. Developmental risk and protection
D. Interplay of human lives and historical time
Ans: C
Learning Objective: 1.5 Critique six major themes of the life course perspective
(interplay of human lives and historical time, timing of lives, linked or interdependent
lives, human agency in making choices, diversity in life course trajectories, and risk and
protection).
Answer Location: Major Themes of the Life Course Perspective
Difficulty Level: Medium
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
, 11. A person's ______ indicates their level of biological development and physical
health, as measured by the functioning of their various organ systems.
A. biological age
B. chronological age
C. psychological age
D. social age
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 1.5 Critique six major themes of the life course perspective
(interplay of human lives and historical time, timing of lives, linked or interdependent
lives, human agency in making choices, diversity in life course trajectories, and risk and
protection).
Answer Location: Dimensions of Age
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
12. The capacities that people have and the skills they use to adapt to changing biological
and environmental demands is ______.
A. biological age
B. chronological age
C. psychological age
D. social age
Ans: C
Learning Objective: 1.5 Critique six major themes of the life course perspective
(interplay of human lives and historical time, timing of lives, linked or interdependent
lives, human agency in making choices, diversity in life course trajectories, and risk and
protection).
Answer Location: Timing of Lives
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
13. ______ represents age-graded roles and behaviors expected by society.
A. spiritual age
B. chronological age
C. psychological age
D. social age
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 1.5 Critique six major themes of the life course perspective
(interplay of human lives and historical time, timing of lives, linked or interdependent
lives, human agency in making choices, diversity in life course trajectories, and risk and
protection).
Answer Location: Timing of Lives
Difficulty Level: Easy
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
