Human Development Across the Lifespan (7A) Practice Test

A cross-cultural team studies adolescent autonomy in two communities. In Community X, adolescents are expected to make independent educational and career choices by age 16, and parents describe “self-direction” as a marker of maturity. In Community Y, adolescents’ major decisions are typically made through extended-family discussion, and maturity is described as “fulfilling family obligations.” Both groups show similar academic ability and socioeconomic resources. Which conclusion is most consistent with a sociocultural approach to development that emphasizes culturally shaped developmental goals?

A developmental neuroscientist compares two cohorts on a task requiring inhibition of a prepotent response (pressing a button when a target appears but withholding the response when a rare “no-go” signal occurs). Cohort A (ages 6–7) makes frequent commission errors on no-go trials. Cohort B (ages 16–17) makes fewer commission errors but similar reaction times on go trials. Interpreting these results using lifespan changes in executive function and brain maturation, which explanation best accounts for the cohort difference?