Correct Answer: C

Rationale: High levels of prenatal lead exposure are related to low birth weight and brain damage. Lead exposure during pregnancy can have harmful effects on the developing fetus, leading to complications such as decreased birth weight and potential long-term brain damage. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect because they do not directly correlate with the known effects of prenatal lead exposure. While lead exposure can indeed cause a variety of health issues, such as heart defects and urinary tract problems, the primary concerns related to prenatal exposure are low birth weight and brain damage.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Quiet alertness is indeed the most fleeting state of arousal. This state is characterized by a newborn infant being awake, calm, and attentive, but it is short-lived and transitions quickly to other states of arousal. Regular sleep, REM sleep, and drowsiness are not considered as brief and transitional as quiet alertness in newborn infants.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: In the investigation of over 120,000 New York City births, babies born even 1 to 2 weeks early showed lower reading and math scores at a third-grade follow-up compared to children who experienced a full-length prenatal period. This suggests that being born slightly premature can have an impact on cognitive development, leading to educational challenges later on. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because the study specifically highlighted lower reading and math scores, not a reduced likelihood of suffering from childhood obesity or neurological impairments, or improved language and social/emotional scores in early childhood.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Piaget's critics point out that his stagewise account pays insufficient attention to social and cultural influences. Critics argue that Piaget's theory does not fully consider the impact of social interactions, cultural differences, and individual experiences on children's cognitive development. They believe that these factors play a crucial role in shaping a child's thinking and problem-solving abilities, which should be given more emphasis. Choice A is incorrect because Piaget's critics do not focus on him overestimating the competencies of infants and young children. Choice C is incorrect as it discusses a different aspect of learning rather than the critique of Piaget's theory. Choice D is also incorrect since critics do not argue that children's performances on Piagetian tasks cannot be improved with training.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: Jade was using ethnography. Ethnography involves the systematic study of people and cultures through participant observation and interviews. In this case, Jade spent two years in a Mexican-American community studying communication between parents and children, which aligns with the methodology of ethnography. Ethnography allows researchers to gain an in-depth understanding of a particular cultural group's behaviors, practices, and beliefs. Choice A, naturalistic observation, involves observing subjects in their natural environment without interference or manipulation. While similar to ethnography in some aspects, naturalistic observation does not typically involve the same level of cultural immersion and participant interaction as ethnography. Choice C, self-reports, refers to data collected directly from participants about their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. This method relies on participants' subjective responses and may not provide the same depth of cultural insights as ethnography. Choice D, structured observation, involves observing behavior in a structured and controlled environment. Unlike ethnography, structured observation does not focus on the cultural nuances and immersive study of a specific community.