Practice questions
Q1Which statement is incorrect about the Atkinson-Shiffrin multi-store model and the sensory register?
A The sensory register is a very brief store for raw sensory input.
B Iconic and echoic traces are associated with visual and auditory sensory information respectively.
C Only attended information from the sensory register passes into short-term memory.
D The sensory register is the same store as long-term memory because both retain information permanently.
Explanation The sensory register is not long-term memory; it briefly holds raw sensory input before attention selects some information for short-term memory. Iconic and echoic traces are valid sensory-register examples, so calling the sensory register permanent is the error.
Q2Arrange the stages in the Atkinson-Shiffrin multi-store model in the normal flow of information.
A Short-term memory -> sensory register -> long-term memory
B Sensory register -> short-term memory -> long-term memory
C Long-term memory -> sensory register -> short-term memory
D Sensory register -> long-term memory -> short-term memory
Explanation The Atkinson-Shiffrin multi-store model is a stage model with sensory register, short-term memory and long-term memory in that order. Reversing the first two stores or moving long-term memory before short-term memory breaks the model's basic information-flow structure.
Q3Consider the following statements about the sensory register: I. Iconic memory is linked with visual input. II. Echoic memory is linked with auditory input. III. All information in the sensory register automatically enters short-term memory. Which option is correct?
A I and III only
B II and III only
C I and II only
D I, II and III
Explanation The sensory register includes very brief visual and auditory traces, commonly described as iconic and echoic memory. In the Atkinson-Shiffrin account, only attended information moves into short-term memory, so automatic transfer of all sensory input is the key error.
Q4Consider the two statements about cue-dependent forgetting. Statement I: In retrieval failure, information may remain stored but cannot be recalled because appropriate cues are absent. Statement II: Retrieval failure is the same as trace decay because both require the physical disappearance of the memory trace. Which option is correct?
A Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, and Statement II explains Statement I.
B Both Statement I and Statement II are correct, but Statement II does not explain Statement I.
C Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct.
D Statement I is correct, but Statement II is incorrect.
Explanation Cue-dependent forgetting means the stored information is not accessible because the needed retrieval cues are missing or ineffective. It is not trace decay, which explains forgetting by weakening or disuse of memory traces rather than failure of access.
Q5Match the component of Baddeley and Hitch's working memory model with its function.
1. Central executive
2. Phonological loop
3. Visuospatial sketchpad
A 1 - Speech-based storage and rehearsal; 2 - attentional control; 3 - long-term skill storage
B 1 - Attentional control and coordination; 2 - verbal-acoustic information; 3 - visual and spatial information
C 1 - Sensory registration; 2 - iconic memory; 3 - echoic memory
D 1 - Episodic events; 2 - semantic facts; 3 - procedural skills
Explanation Baddeley and Hitch reconceived STM as working memory with a central executive that directs attention and two major subsystems. The phonological loop deals with verbal-acoustic material, while the visuospatial sketchpad maintains visual and spatial information; sensory-register and Tulving categories are different classifications.
More questions
6Which statement correctly distinguishes elaborative rehearsal from maintenance rehearsal in memory?
AElaborative rehearsal connects new material with meaning and prior knowledge, whereas maintenance rehearsal mainly repeats it without deeper association.
BMaintenance rehearsal is deeper because it always organizes material semantically, while elaborative rehearsal only keeps it in sensory memory.
CElaborative rehearsal and maintenance rehearsal are identical processes; both produce the same depth of encoding.
DMaintenance rehearsal is the preferred route for long-term retention because it prevents any semantic interference.
7Which pair is incorrectly classified in the distinction between declarative and non-declarative memory?
ARemembering the date of a historical event - declarative memory
BRecalling a personal birthday celebration - declarative memory
CRiding a bicycle after practice - declarative memory
DKnowing the meaning of a concept - declarative memory
8Which statement correctly represents Miller's finding on short-term memory capacity?
AShort-term memory usually holds about seven plus or minus two items, and chunking can increase the amount handled meaningfully.
BShort-term memory has unlimited capacity when rehearsal is used continuously.
CThe magic number seven describes the permanent capacity of long-term memory.
DChunking reduces memory span by breaking meaningful units into isolated letters.
9Which set correctly states the two core ideas: the scope of cognition and the basic definition of memory?
ACognition includes attention, perception, memory, thinking and language; memory is encoding, storage and retrieval of information.
BCognition is limited to memory and thinking; memory is only the permanent storage of information.
CCognition refers only to language; memory is the immediate sensory impression before attention.
DCognition is the same as intelligence testing; memory is the loss of information over time.
10Which of the following is incorrect about distributed practice, massed practice and mnemonic devices?
ADistributed practice generally gives better long-term retention than massed practice.
BMnemonic devices such as loci, acronyms and rhymes aid memory by giving material an organized retrieval structure.
CMassed practice is generally superior for long-term retention because spacing weakens consolidation.
DSpaced review is especially useful when the aim is durable retention rather than very brief immediate performance.
11Match each theory of forgetting with its central explanation. 1. Trace decay 2. Interference 3. Retrieval failure 4. Motivated forgetting
A1-absence of effective cues; 2-repression of threatening material; 3-disuse of memory traces; 4-competition between learnings
B1-competition between learnings; 2-disuse of memory traces; 3-repression of threatening material; 4-absence of effective cues
C1-disuse of memory traces; 2-competition between learnings; 3-absence of effective cues; 4-repression of threatening material
D1-repression of threatening material; 2-absence of effective cues; 3-competition between learnings; 4-disuse of memory traces
12In the Atkinson-Shiffrin model, which statement best describes the roles of attention and rehearsal in the movement of information?
AAttention moves information from short-term memory to long-term memory, while rehearsal moves it from sensory register to short-term memory.
BAttention sends all sensory input directly to long-term memory, and rehearsal is needed only after information is forgotten.
CRehearsal filters sensory input before attention, and attention stores information permanently in long-term memory.
DAttention selects information from the sensory register for short-term memory, and rehearsal helps move information from short-term memory to long-term memory.
13Consider the following statements about Tulving's classification of long-term memory.
1. Episodic memory stores personally experienced events.
2. Semantic memory stores general knowledge and meanings.
3. Procedural memory stores skills and how-to actions.
Which statements are correct?
A1 and 2 only
B2 and 3 only
C1 and 3 only
D1, 2 and 3
14Which statement about repression as a form of motivated forgetting is correct?
AIt is the rapid early loss of nonsense syllables shown by Ebbinghaus's forgetting curve.
BIt is a Freudian explanation in which threatening or painful material is kept out of conscious recall.
CIt occurs when old learning disrupts the acquisition of new learning.
DIt occurs when information is unavailable because the sensory register held it only briefly.
15In the serial position effect, which pairing of list position and usual memory basis is correct?
APrimacy items are recalled because they remain in sensory memory; recency items are recalled because they have decayed.
BPrimacy reflects rehearsal into long-term memory; recency reflects items still available in short-term memory.
CPrimacy is caused by retroactive interference; recency is caused by proactive interference.
DPrimacy and recency both occur only when the list is meaningless and cannot appear with meaningful material.
