Questions of the TOEFL iBT Reading Comprehension Practice Test 022

Question 1. According to the paragraph, what is the focus of behavioral psychology?
A) The study of unconscious thoughts and desires
B) The study of the biological and genetic factors that influence behavior
C) The study of human and animal behavior, including the underlying processes that drive and influence behavior
D) The study of social norms and cultural factors that influence behavior

Question 2. According to the paragraph, which of the following is NOT true about behavioral psychology?
A) Behavioral psychology seeks to understand the ways in which behavior is shaped and modified by environmental factors.
B) Behavior is not the result of an individual's thoughts and feelings, but rather a product of the environment and the consequences of behavior.
C) The concept of operant conditioning emphasizes the role of reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior.
D) Behavioral psychology only focuses on the study of human behavior.

Question 3. The author mentions all of the following EXCEPT:
A) The role of reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior.
B) The development of cognitive-behavioral therapy.
C) The dominance of unconscious thoughts, feelings, and desires in shaping behavior.
D) The interplay between genetic and environmental factors in shaping behavior.

Question 4. Which of the following can be inferred from the paragraph about Behavioral psychology?
A) Behavioral psychology focuses solely on the study of human behavior.
B) The underlying processes that drive and influence behavior are environmental, genetic and biological factors.
C) Behavioral psychology emerged as a field of study in the late 19th century.
D) Behavior is solely driven by unconscious thoughts and desires, according to the dominant view of psychology at the time.

Question 5. The author of the paragraph implies that Behavioral psychology:
A) is not concerned with the study of complex behaviors, such as drug addiction and eating disorders.
B) is not concerned with the study of environmental factors that influence behavior.
C) focuses solely on the role of reinforcement in shaping behavior.
D) is a field of study that has evolved and expanded over time.

Question 6. Why does the author mention the concept of shaping in the paragraph about Behavioral psychology?
A) To describe the process of developing a behavior through the use of reinforcement and punishment.
B) To argue that behavior is driven solely by unconscious thoughts and desires.
C) To suggest that behavioral psychology is not concerned with the study of complex behaviors.
D) To highlight the importance of genetic factors in shaping behavior.

Question 7. The word "emphasized" in the paragraph about Behavioral psychology is closest in meaning to:
A) encouraged
B) stressed
C) diminished
D) weakened

Question 8. The phrase "in direct opposition to" in the paragraph about Behavioral psychology is closest in meaning to:
A) in agreement with
B) in addition to
C) in contrast to
D) in line with

Question 9. Look at the four letters – (A), (B), (C), and (D), – that indicate where the following sentence can be added to the passage. "B.F. Skinner's work focused on the use of reinforcement and punishment in shaping behavior and showed that behavior could be modified through the use of positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and punishment." Where would the sentence best fit?
(A)
(B)
(C)
(D)