This is Set 20 of 60 in the smartvidya question bank on Teaching Aptitude (UGC NET Paper 1, Unit I). Part III: Factors affecting teaching. This set covers Learner-related factors such as readiness, motivation, health, attention and home background.
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Set 20: Factors Affecting Teaching: Learner
1. Which learner-related factor most strongly affects learning?
(a) Seating position alone
(b) Motivation
(c) Colour of clothes
(d) Height
Ans. (b) Motivation — Explanation: Motivated learners pay attention, persist and achieve more. [Ref: Factors affecting learning]
2. Attention is best described as
(a) the total amount a person remembers
(b) a type of intelligence test
(c) the reward for learning
(d) the focusing of consciousness on a particular object or activity
Ans. (d) the focusing of consciousness on a particular object or activity — Explanation: Attention selects and concentrates on particular stimuli from many. [Ref: Attention]
3. Which of these is an internal (subjective) factor affecting attention?
(a) Intensity of the stimulus
(b) Interest of the learner
(c) Movement of the stimulus
(d) Size of the stimulus
Ans. (b) Interest of the learner — Explanation: Interest, needs and mood are internal determinants; intensity, size and movement are external. [Ref: Determinants of attention]
4. Which of the following is an external (objective) determinant of attention?
(a) The learner's motive
(b) The learner's interest
(c) Novelty of the stimulus
(d) The learner's mental set
Ans. (c) Novelty of the stimulus — Explanation: Novel, intense, moving or contrasting stimuli attract attention. [Ref: Determinants of attention]
5. Interest and attention are related in that
(a) interest prevents attention
(b) they are completely unrelated
(c) attention always precedes interest permanently
(d) interest is latent attention and attention is interest in action
Ans. (d) interest is latent attention and attention is interest in action — Explanation: This classic phrase, attributed to William McDougall, shows the close link between interest and attention. [Ref: McDougall, interest and attention]
6. Fatigue affects learning mainly by
(a) improving memory
(b) having no effect
(c) reducing attention and efficiency
(d) increasing motivation
Ans. (c) reducing attention and efficiency — Explanation: Mental and physical fatigue lower concentration and performance. [Ref: Fatigue and learning]
7. The learner's previous knowledge affects learning because
(a) new learning is built on existing knowledge
(b) it has no role
(c) previous knowledge always blocks new learning
(d) learners must forget the past to learn
Ans. (a) new learning is built on existing knowledge — Explanation: Prior knowledge provides the base for understanding new ideas. [Ref: Ausubel, meaningful learning]
8. Poor nutrition among learners mainly results in
(a) better concentration
(b) reduced attention, energy and learning
(c) improved memory
(d) higher intelligence
Ans. (b) reduced attention, energy and learning — Explanation: Malnutrition affects physical and cognitive functioning, harming learning. [Ref: Health and learning]
9. A learner's anxiety at a very high level usually
(a) increases intelligence
(b) always improves performance
(c) interferes with performance
(d) has no effect
Ans. (c) interferes with performance — Explanation: High anxiety disrupts concentration and memory, especially in tests. [Ref: Anxiety and learning]
10. Test anxiety can best be reduced by
(a) threatening students with failure
(b) publicly displaying low marks
(c) announcing tests at the last minute
(d) frequent low-stakes assessments and a supportive climate
Ans. (d) frequent low-stakes assessments and a supportive climate — Explanation: Regular practice tests and encouragement reduce fear of examinations. [Ref: Anxiety and learning]
11. The home environment of a learner affects learning through
(a) the colour of the house
(b) the house number
(c) parental support, resources and the atmosphere for study
(d) the type of furniture alone
Ans. (c) parental support, resources and the atmosphere for study — Explanation: Encouragement, books and a quiet place to study support learning. [Ref: Home environment and learning]
12. A learner's self-concept affects learning because
(a) learners who believe they can succeed tend to try harder
(b) self-concept has no effect
(c) self-concept is fixed at birth
(d) only the teacher's view matters
Ans. (a) learners who believe they can succeed tend to try harder — Explanation: Positive self-beliefs encourage effort and persistence. [Ref: Self-concept and learning]
13. Transfer of learning occurs when
(a) learning is forgotten
(b) learning in one situation affects learning or performance in another
(c) a student copies another's work
(d) a student changes school
Ans. (b) learning in one situation affects learning or performance in another — Explanation: Transfer may be positive, negative or zero. [Ref: Transfer of learning]
14. Knowledge of driving a scooter helps in learning to ride a motorcycle. This is
(a) positive transfer
(b) zero transfer
(c) negative transfer
(d) retroactive inhibition
Ans. (a) positive transfer — Explanation: Earlier learning facilitates new learning, which is positive transfer. [Ref: Transfer of learning]
15. Habit of driving on the left side of the road makes driving on the right side difficult in another country. This is
(a) zero transfer
(b) negative transfer
(c) proactive facilitation
(d) positive transfer
Ans. (b) negative transfer — Explanation: Previous learning interferes with new learning, which is negative transfer. [Ref: Transfer of learning]
16. The theory of identical elements in transfer of learning was given by
(a) Edward Thorndike
(b) Charles Judd
(c) Jean Piaget
(d) Wolfgang Kohler
Ans. (a) Edward Thorndike — Explanation: Thorndike held that transfer occurs to the extent that two situations share identical elements. [Ref: Thorndike, identical elements]
17. The theory of generalisation in transfer of learning is associated with
(a) Charles Judd
(b) Edward Thorndike
(c) Ivan Pavlov
(d) J.P. Guilford
Ans. (a) Charles Judd — Explanation: Judd's experiment on shooting at underwater targets showed that understanding a principle aids transfer. [Ref: Judd, generalisation theory]
18. The old belief that studying difficult subjects like Latin trains the mind generally is called
(a) the theory of formal discipline
(b) the theory of identical elements
(c) the theory of generalisation
(d) the theory of transposition
Ans. (a) the theory of formal discipline — Explanation: Formal discipline is based on faculty psychology, which held that faculties of the mind are strengthened by exercise. [Ref: Formal discipline]
19. A learner's level of aspiration is influenced mainly by
(a) the length of the school day
(b) the colour of the classroom
(c) the number of students in the class only
(d) past experiences of success and failure
Ans. (d) past experiences of success and failure — Explanation: Success usually raises aspirations and repeated failure lowers them. [Ref: Level of aspiration]
20. Which factor relating to the learner is most within the teacher's influence?
(a) Heredity
(b) Age
(c) Family income
(d) Motivation and interest in the subject
Ans. (d) Motivation and interest in the subject — Explanation: Teachers can arouse interest and motivation through their methods and relationships. [Ref: Factors affecting learning]
21. A learner with a hearing impairment sitting at the back of the class is likely to face difficulty mainly because of
(a) lack of intelligence
(b) lack of interest
(c) excess of light
(d) inability to hear the teacher clearly
Ans. (d) inability to hear the teacher clearly — Explanation: Seating such learners near the teacher and using visual aids helps them. [Ref: Inclusive classroom practices]
22. Plateau in a learning curve refers to
(a) the start of learning
(b) complete forgetting
(c) a period in which there is no visible progress in learning
(d) the fastest rate of learning
Ans. (c) a period in which there is no visible progress in learning — Explanation: Plateaus may result from fatigue, loss of motivation or the need to consolidate before further progress. [Ref: Learning curve]
23. Which of the following is an emotional factor affecting learning?
(a) Visual acuity
(b) Fear of failure
(c) Classroom lighting
(d) Number of textbooks
Ans. (b) Fear of failure — Explanation: Fear and anxiety can block attention and learning. [Ref: Emotions and learning]
24. Learners learn best when the material is
(a) too difficult to understand
(b) presented only in a foreign language
(c) meaningful and related to their experiences
(d) unrelated to their lives
Ans. (c) meaningful and related to their experiences — Explanation: Meaningful material is understood and remembered better. [Ref: Meaningful learning]
25. Peer pressure among learners can be used positively by
(a) promoting cheating
(b) allowing cliques to exclude others
(c) encouraging cooperative learning and positive group norms
(d) encouraging bullying
Ans. (c) encouraging cooperative learning and positive group norms — Explanation: Positive group norms and cooperation can motivate learners to work well. [Ref: Peer influence]
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