"Teenage Brain" David Dobbs Quiz

Match the following statements with their corresponding ideas about the teenage brain.

• Teenagers are in a stage of brain development that makes them more adaptable but also more likely to engage in risky behavior.

• The teenage brain is still developing, making adolescents more adaptable but also more prone to risky behavior.

• Teenage brains have reached full maturity but still tend to make errors.

• Teenage brains are fully developed but are more prone to making mistakes.

• Adolescents are in a phase where they are more flexible and inclined to take risks due to brain development.

• Adolescence is a time of emotional growth but not cognitive change.

• The teenage years are marked by emotional development without significant changes in cognitive abilities.

• Risk-taking is an unnatural behavior that should be avoided at all costs.

Part B: Which sentence from the article best supports this central idea?

• Teenagers often feel misunderstood by adults, leading to conflicts in communication.

• Scientists have found that teenage brains respond more intensely to potential rewards than adult brains.

• Teenagers often make decisions differently than adults because their brains process risks and rewards in unique ways.

• The teenage brain is fully developed by the age of 16, making it similar to an adult brain.

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Part A: The article explains the connection between teenage brain development and risk-taking by describing how the reward system in the teenage brain is more active, leading to (a)   .

• It suggests that teenagers take few
• It describes how the reward system
• It argues that teenagers take risks
• It claims that risk-taking is purel

Part B: Which sentence from the article best supports this explanation?

• Parents and educators should guide teenagers toward making better decisions.

• The prefrontal cortex, which governs decision-making, is not fully developed until the mid-20s.

• Many teenagers struggle with balancing social expectations and personal choices.

• Scientists have found that teenage brains respond more intensely to potential rewards than adult brains.

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Part A: What does the word plasticity most likely mean as used in the article?

• The brain’s ability to change and adapt

• A material used in the production of everyday items

• The brain’s resistance to new experiences

• The brain’s physical structure

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Part B: The sentence from the text that best helps the reader determine the meaning of plasticity is (a)  

• Scientists continue to study the st
• Teenagers are able to learn new ski
• Many studies focus on the role of g
• The brain is made up of billions of

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Part A: How does the author structure the article to develop key ideas?

• By listing solutions for parents to help teenagers make better decisions

• By discussing the teenage brain in a strictly chronological order

• By using a first-person narrative to describe teenage experiences

• By presenting research findings and explaining their significance

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Part B: Which excerpt from the article best supports this structure?

• Many adults mistakenly assume that teenagers are simply reckless and irresponsible.

• Studies show that the teenage brain’s reward system is highly active, influencing decision-making.

• Teenagers may feel frustrated when adults do not understand their perspectives.

• Researchers continue to explore how adolescence shapes long-term cognitive abilities.

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Part A: What is the author’s main purpose in writing this article?

• To criticize teenagers for their impulsive decisions

• To explain how teenage brain development influences behavior

• To persuade parents to be more involved in their teenagers’ lives

• To argue that teenagers should be treated the same as adults

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Part B: Which statement from the article best supports the author’s purpose?

• Teenagers often make decisions that seem irrational to adults.

• Research suggests that adolescence lasts longer than previously thought.

• Understanding teenage brain development can help educators and parents support adolescents.

• Many teenagers struggle with balancing independence and responsibility.

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