158 TExES Physical Education EC - 12 Exam Practice Questions

1. General characteristics of puberty include:

A. Period of slower growth
B. Mood swings
C. Less sleep is needed
D. All of the above

2. Characteristics of pubescence boys include:

A. Insatiable appetite
B. Nocturnal emissions
C. Risky activities
D. All of the above

3. Characteristics of pubescence girls may include:

A. Ages 4 to 7
B. Mean and vindictive
C. Timeline is predictable and constant
D. All of the above

4. Development of motor skills is enhanced by:

A. Taking vitamins
B. Social interactions
C. Posture control
D. All of the above

5. Motor skills are developed through:

A. Social interactions
B. Medications
C. Practice
D. All of the above

6. Ways to help children build motor coordination and enhance self-esteem include:

A. Forcing participation in sports
B. Having a must win attitude
C. Discover an activity at which a child can succeed
D. All of the above

7. Biomechanics is based in:

A. Thermodynamics
B. Rehabilitation
C. Physics principles
D. All of the above

8. Obesity affects:

A. Socialization
B. Self-esteem
C. Overall health
D. All of the above

9. The benefits of regular physical activity may include:

A. Delays onset of many diseases
B. Makes children smarter
C. Children will never get sick
D. All of the above

10. List some ways schools can promote physical activity.

A. Grade children based on physical activities
B. Require participation in an organized sport
C. Set up non-competitive activities
D. All of the above

ANSWER KEY EXAM 158

1. Answer: B

The biological changes in puberty are dramatic, happen at different times for boys and girls (girls mature about eighteen months earlier than boys) and have unique consequences for each gender. Both have a growth spurt and develop primary and secondary sexual characteristics (boys physical abilities increase). They grow rapidly and are often times confused by all the changes going on which can cause wide mood swings. They begin to show an interest in what's happening to their bodies. They may develop problems with their complexion; they seem to be hungry all the time; they sleep more and may have difficulty getting out of bed in the morning.

2. Answer: D

Pubescence boys are always hungry and can't seem to satisfy their insatiable appetites. In early adolescence they are clumsy, boisterous and aggressive. Middle adolescent boys are fascinated with and practice masturbation regularly and have frequent nocturnal emissions. Boys may become secretive and refuse to talk to family members and spend a lot of time in their bedroom. As they move into the middle and later teen years, they feel invulnerable and often engage in risky activities. They really have little or no concept of cause and effect. Changes occur gradually, so this timeline is approximate; the actual age will vary with the individual:

• Puberty starts between nine and a half and fourteen years.
• The first noticeable change is an enlargement of the testicles.
• Approximately a year after the testicles start to grow, the penis gets bigger.
• Pubic hair appears about age thirteen and a half.
• Nocturnal emissions (wet dreams) start about fourteen.
• About fifteen, hair starts to grow on the face and under the arms, the voice begins to change and acne can develop.

3. Answer: B

Pubescence girls talk a lot, but don't really communicate with parents or peers. They are vague, can be mean and vindictive and giggle a lot. As girls begin menstruating and develop breasts, waist and hips, they become very conscious of their bodies: How it looks, what it can do and how it affects the opposite sex. Girls form strong bonds and are interested in making and maintaining friendships with other girls and developing relationships with the opposite sex. In the past several years, there has been a shift to and focus on college and career choices. Every girl is different and will experience these changes in her own way and in her own time. This timeline is approximate; the actual age will vary with the individual.

• Puberty starts between eight and fourteen years.
• First noticeable change is the development of breasts.
• Pubic hair starts growing shortly after the breasts start to develop.
• The menstrual cycle begins between the ages of ten to sixteen and a half.
• Underarm hair begins to grow at about twelve years.

4. Answer: C

A motor skill is any activity that requires directed movement of skeletal muscles. These skills develop during a person's entire lifetime and are affected by many physical and mental diseases. Proper motor function relies on the brain, skeleton, joints and nervous system all working together to accomplish a task. Motor skills develop along with the ability to consciously coordinate the movement of arms, hands, fingers, legs, feet and toes. This physical maturation process is enhanced by gaining strength, posture control, balance and perceptual skills. Gross motor skills control and coordinate the large muscle groups. Examples: Rolling over, sitting up, balancing, crawling and walking. They develop first and are usually learned in a discernable pattern from the top to the bottom. Fine motor skills control and coordinate the small muscles groups and often entail very precise movement to accomplish a task. Examples: Transferring an item from one hand to another, buttoning a blouse, turning pages, picking up small objects and writing. They are integral to good hand-eye coordination.

5. Answer: C

From the beginning, people are rated by what they can and cannot "do" physically. Motor development is observed and judged, consciously or unconsciously, by everyone with whom a person interacts. Can the baby hold his head up? Is he sitting, crawling or walking? How far can he throw the ball? His handwriting is sloppy. He doesn't feed himself. He can't button his shirt or tie his shoes. These are just a few of the activities youngsters are judged on starting in infancy and continuing throughout life. These activities are developed through discovery, exploration, experience and practice. Children need the freedom and lots of opportunities to use their muscles in different ways, learn their limits, practice new skills, figure out what movement is needed in a given situation and make it happen. Encouraging children to squeeze between the chairs, climb trees, ride a bike, write in their journal, rake leaves, vacuum the carpet and bake cookies builds muscles and helps them learn various forms of physical and hand-eye coordination.

6. Answer: C

Dr. Mel Levine, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, suggested several ways parents and teachers can encourage physical activity in children:

• Do not force participation in competitive sports
• Find one sport, given his current abilities, at which a child can succeed
• Succeeding does not mean winning. Doing one's best is the goal.
• During the initial introduction to the activity, provide lots of one-on-one assistance.
• Find an artistic or musical expression in which to participate.
• Teach activity as entertainment rather than as an example of competency.
• Offer many different activities from which to choose.
• Be sensitive to insecurities; understand why a child is hesitant to engage.
• Be fair. Acknowledge everyone's contribution.
• Encourage patience, understanding and teamwork.
• Use non-competitive, repetitive exercises to develop motor skills.
• Woodworking, painting, sculpting all develop motor skills and can provide a sense of accomplishment.

7. Answer: B

The American Heritage College Dictionary defines biomechanics as "the study of the mechanics of a living body. The mechanics of a part or function of a living body." In essence, researchers apply engineering principles to human biological systems and analyze the results. They study tissues, muscles, joints and how they affect human movement. These studies are done on all levels from molecules and cells to tissues and organs. The findings are used to help foot problems in diabetics, prevent bone loss during spaceflight and develop new rehabilitation methods to treat sports injuries. The roots of biomechanics are based in engineering, anatomy, aerospace, rehabilitation, medicine, orthopedics and sport science.

8. Answer: D

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines obesity in children as:

• Twenty-five percent over the recommended weight for the height
• Eighty-fifth percentile for Body Mass Index (BMI)
• Twenty-five percent of weight for boys is fat
• Thirty percent of weight for girls is fat

Using these criteria, eleven percent of six to eleven year olds and fourteen percent of twelve to seventeen year olds are obese. The CDC said the percentage of overweight children has doubled in the last thirty years. The prevalence of obese children and adolescents is a serious problem. It has emotional and physical consequences. It affects socialization. Overweight youngsters are often teased and bullied and ostracized from the group, which leads to self-esteem issues. This feeling of alienation can cause multiple problems including suicide and homicide. Childhood obesity often continues into adolescence and adulthood when health-related problems become evident and create another set of issues. Childhood obesity is becoming a major public health crisis.

9. Answer: A

Physical activity is bodily movement that causes energy expenditure. Regular physical activity results in significant health benefits for everyone, no matter what the age. Engaging children early in life and helping them understand the reasons for exercise in their daily routine is a giant step toward preventing health problems now as well as later in life. Benefits are felt with any activity but scheduled and structured exercise enhances its effects. It prevents or delays the onset of many diseases including hypertension, osteoporosis, cardiovascular problems, colon issues and obesity. Physical activity reduces anxiety and stress and improves body image and mood. Low to moderate activity reduces the possibility of muscle and skeletal injuries and heart-related problems. The National Institutes of Health said even short ten minute bursts of activity, as long as it adds up to at least thirty minutes every day for adults and adolescents and sixty minutes a day for children, provides benefits.

10. Answer: C

Schools that encourage regular physical activity have a significant impact on reducing obesity and chronic diseases and help improve the quality of life for students and staff. Based on recommendations by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), besides physical education classes, there are many ways to promote physical activity: