SPEC 204 Final Exam Questions with Verified Solutions Graded A+
What is a disability? - Answers An inability to do something, a diminished capacity to perform in
a specific way.
Define "handicap." - Answers A disadvantage imposed on an individual.
What is an exceptional learner? - Answers A student who requires more special education and
related services if they are to realize their full potential.
Where is the attention placed for the term "exceptional learner?" - Answers Similar
characteristics, needs, and ways of learning.
What does FAPE mean? - Answers Free Appropriate Public Education
What act does FAPE come from? - Answers Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
What impact has RTI (Response To Intervention) had on the instructional practice of teachers? -
Answers This requires teachers to teach in a tiered style. Each tier becomes progressively
difficult, challenging the students.
What is a "least restrictive environment?" (RTI) - Answers The requirement in federal law that
students with disabilities receive their education, to the maximum extent appropriate, with
nondisabled peers and that special education students are not removed from regular classes
unless, even with supplemental aids and services, education in regular classes cannot be
achieved satisfactorily.
Define what it means to be a child "at risk." - Answers
Define adaptive behavior. - Answers the collection of conceptual, social, and practical skills that
have been learned by people in order to function in their everyday lives
What does a person's IQ tell us? - Answers It allows us to assess the severity of their intellectual
capabilities.
What is the cause of Fragile X Syndrome? - Answers The 23rd pair of chromosomes is pinched
off
What are the physical characteristics of Fragile X Syndrome? - Answers Large head with large,
flat ears and a long narrow face with prominent a forehead, a broad nose, a prominent square
chin, large testicles, large hands with non-tapering fingers.
What are the behavioral characteristics of Fragile X Syndrome? - Answers Strengths: long-term
memory, receptive and expressive vocabulary, and adaptive behavior.
Weaknesses: short-term memory, sequential processing, repetitive speech patterns, social
anxiety and withdrawal.
, What is the cause of Prader-Willi Syndrome? - Answers A lack of genetic material from the 15th
pair of chromosomes.
What are the physical effects of Prader-Willi Syndrome? - Answers Short stature due to growth
hormone deficiencies, heart defects, sleep disturbances such as sleep apnea, scoliosis, mild-
average IQ.
What are the behavioral characteristics of Prader-Willi Syndrome? - Answers Strengths: average
IQ of 70, visual processing, facility with jigsaw puzzles
Weaknesses: auditory processing, feeding problems in infancy, childhood obesity, sleep
disturbances, obsessive-compulsive behaviors
What is the cause of Down Syndrome? - Answers An extra chromosome on the 21st pair.
What are the physical characteristics of Down Syndrome? - Answers Thick eye folds, small
stature, decreased muscle tone (hypotonia), hyper-flexibility in joints, small oral cavity,
protruding tongue, short and broad hands resulting in a single palmer crease, heart defects,
susceptibility to upper respiratory infections.
What are the behavioral characteristics of Down Syndrome? - Answers Strengths: visual-spatial
skills, visual short-term memory
Weaknesses: receptive and expressive language - especially grammar, problems interpreting
facial expressions, cognitive skills tend to worsen over time, early onset of Alzheimer's disease.
What is the cause of Williams Syndrome? - Answers Absence of material on the 7th pair of
chromosomes
What are the physical characteristics of Williams Syndrome? - Answers Heart defects, unusual
sensitivity to sounds, elfin facial features
What are the behavioral characteristics of Williams Syndrome? - Answers Strengths: expressive
language, verbal short-term memory, imitation of emotional responses, facial recognition and
memory, musical interests and skills
Weaknesses: visual-spatial skills, fine-motor control, anxieties/fears/phobias, overly friendly
What is long term memory? - Answers the relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the
memory system
What is short term memory? - Answers a memory storage system that briefly holds 5-7 ideas
What is working memory? - Answers Retrieval skills
What are the former names for intellectual disability? - Answers Mental retardation, idiot,
imbecile, or moron.
What is a disability? - Answers An inability to do something, a diminished capacity to perform in
a specific way.
Define "handicap." - Answers A disadvantage imposed on an individual.
What is an exceptional learner? - Answers A student who requires more special education and
related services if they are to realize their full potential.
Where is the attention placed for the term "exceptional learner?" - Answers Similar
characteristics, needs, and ways of learning.
What does FAPE mean? - Answers Free Appropriate Public Education
What act does FAPE come from? - Answers Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
What impact has RTI (Response To Intervention) had on the instructional practice of teachers? -
Answers This requires teachers to teach in a tiered style. Each tier becomes progressively
difficult, challenging the students.
What is a "least restrictive environment?" (RTI) - Answers The requirement in federal law that
students with disabilities receive their education, to the maximum extent appropriate, with
nondisabled peers and that special education students are not removed from regular classes
unless, even with supplemental aids and services, education in regular classes cannot be
achieved satisfactorily.
Define what it means to be a child "at risk." - Answers
Define adaptive behavior. - Answers the collection of conceptual, social, and practical skills that
have been learned by people in order to function in their everyday lives
What does a person's IQ tell us? - Answers It allows us to assess the severity of their intellectual
capabilities.
What is the cause of Fragile X Syndrome? - Answers The 23rd pair of chromosomes is pinched
off
What are the physical characteristics of Fragile X Syndrome? - Answers Large head with large,
flat ears and a long narrow face with prominent a forehead, a broad nose, a prominent square
chin, large testicles, large hands with non-tapering fingers.
What are the behavioral characteristics of Fragile X Syndrome? - Answers Strengths: long-term
memory, receptive and expressive vocabulary, and adaptive behavior.
Weaknesses: short-term memory, sequential processing, repetitive speech patterns, social
anxiety and withdrawal.
, What is the cause of Prader-Willi Syndrome? - Answers A lack of genetic material from the 15th
pair of chromosomes.
What are the physical effects of Prader-Willi Syndrome? - Answers Short stature due to growth
hormone deficiencies, heart defects, sleep disturbances such as sleep apnea, scoliosis, mild-
average IQ.
What are the behavioral characteristics of Prader-Willi Syndrome? - Answers Strengths: average
IQ of 70, visual processing, facility with jigsaw puzzles
Weaknesses: auditory processing, feeding problems in infancy, childhood obesity, sleep
disturbances, obsessive-compulsive behaviors
What is the cause of Down Syndrome? - Answers An extra chromosome on the 21st pair.
What are the physical characteristics of Down Syndrome? - Answers Thick eye folds, small
stature, decreased muscle tone (hypotonia), hyper-flexibility in joints, small oral cavity,
protruding tongue, short and broad hands resulting in a single palmer crease, heart defects,
susceptibility to upper respiratory infections.
What are the behavioral characteristics of Down Syndrome? - Answers Strengths: visual-spatial
skills, visual short-term memory
Weaknesses: receptive and expressive language - especially grammar, problems interpreting
facial expressions, cognitive skills tend to worsen over time, early onset of Alzheimer's disease.
What is the cause of Williams Syndrome? - Answers Absence of material on the 7th pair of
chromosomes
What are the physical characteristics of Williams Syndrome? - Answers Heart defects, unusual
sensitivity to sounds, elfin facial features
What are the behavioral characteristics of Williams Syndrome? - Answers Strengths: expressive
language, verbal short-term memory, imitation of emotional responses, facial recognition and
memory, musical interests and skills
Weaknesses: visual-spatial skills, fine-motor control, anxieties/fears/phobias, overly friendly
What is long term memory? - Answers the relatively permanent and limitless storehouse of the
memory system
What is short term memory? - Answers a memory storage system that briefly holds 5-7 ideas
What is working memory? - Answers Retrieval skills
What are the former names for intellectual disability? - Answers Mental retardation, idiot,
imbecile, or moron.
