Class XI-Psychology
Chapter – Human Memory
MCQs:
Introduction to Memory
1. Memory is the process of:
a) Forgetting information
b) Retaining and retrieving information
c) Only learning new information
d) None of the above
Answer: b) Retaining and retrieving information
2. Which of the following is NOT a stage of memory?
a) Encoding
b) Storage
c) Retrieval
d) Thinking
Answer: d) Thinking
3. The process of converting information into a usable form is called:
a) Retrieval
b) Encoding
c) Storage
d) Chunking
Answer: b) Encoding
4. The ability to recall information when needed is known as:
a) Storage
b) Encoding
c) Retrieval
d) Learning
Answer: c) Retrieval
5. Which of the following is NOT a type of memory?
a) Sensory memory
b) Short-term memory
c) Long-term memory
d) Creative memory
Answer: d) Creative memory
Types of Memory
6. Sensory memory lasts for:
a) A few seconds
b) Several hours
c) Days
d) A lifetime
Answer: a) A few seconds
7. Short-term memory is also called:
a) Primary memory
b) Working memory
c) Implicit memory
d) Episodic memory
Answer: b) Working memory
8. The capacity of short-term memory is usually around:
a) 2-3 items
b) 5-9 items
c) 10-15 items
d) Unlimited items
Answer: b) 5-9 items
9. Which type of memory has unlimited capacity?
a) Sensory memory
b) Short-term memory
c) Long-term memory
d) None of the above
Answer: c) Long-term memory
10. Which memory stores personal experiences and events?
a) Semantic memory
b) Episodic memory
c) Procedural memory
d) Sensory memory
Answer: b) Episodic memory
Memory Processes
11. Which type of memory is involved in recalling facts and concepts?
a) Episodic memory
b) Semantic memory
c) Procedural memory
d) Working memory
Answer: b) Semantic memory
12. Which memory is used for performing skills like riding a bicycle?
a) Procedural memory
b) Semantic memory
c) Short-term memory
d) Sensory memory
Answer: a) Procedural memory
13. Rehearsal helps in transferring information from:
a) Sensory to short-term memory
b) Short-term to long-term memory
c) Long-term to short-term memory
d) Sensory to long-term memory
Answer: b) Short-term to long-term memory
14. The process of grouping information into meaningful units is called:
a) Encoding
b) Retrieval
c) Chunking
d) Forgetting
Answer: c) Chunking
15. Elaborative rehearsal involves:
a) Repeating information
b) Connecting new information with existing knowledge
c) Memorizing information without understanding
d) Forgetting unnecessary details
Answer: b) Connecting new information with existing knowledge
Forgetting and Memory Improvement
16. The inability to recall previously learned information is known as:
a) Encoding
b) Forgetting
c) Retrieval
d) Storage
Answer: b) Forgetting
17. Decay theory of forgetting suggests that memory is lost due to:
a) Interference from new information
b) Lack of motivation
c) Passage of time
d) Rehearsal
Answer: c) Passage of time
18. Interference theory suggests that forgetting occurs due to:
a) Lack of encoding
b) New or old information interfering with recall
c) Poor retrieval cues
d) Brain damage
Answer: b) New or old information interfering with recall
19. Retroactive interference happens when:
a) Old memories interfere with new learning
b) New information affects the recall of old information
c) There is no interference
d) None of the above
Answer: b) New information affects the recall of old information
20. Proactive interference occurs when:
a) New memories affect old ones
b) Old information affects new learning
c) Sensory memory fails
d) There is memory improvement
Answer: b) Old information affects new learning
Memory Disorders and Techniques
21. Amnesia refers to:
a) Enhanced memory
b) Loss of memory
c) Difficulty in learning
d) Overactive memory
Answer: b) Loss of memory
22. Anterograde amnesia refers to:
a) Loss of past memories
b) Inability to form new memories
c) Forgetting minor details
d) Temporary memory loss
Answer: b) Inability to form new memories
23. Mnemonic techniques help in:
a) Forgetting unnecessary details
b) Improving memory recall
c) Reducing interference
d) Preventing memory loss
Answer: b) Improving memory recall
24. The method of loci is a mnemonic technique that involves:
a) Visualizing locations to remember information
b) Repeating words several times
c) Using hand gestures
d) Writing information multiple times
Answer: a) Visualizing locations to remember information
25. Acronyms are useful in memory improvement because they:
a) Confuse the brain
b) Provide a meaningful structure to information
c) Reduce memory capacity
d) Slow down recall
Answer: b) Provide a meaningful structure to information
Memory and the Brain
26. Which part of the brain is most important for memory formation?
a) Cerebellum
b) Hippocampus
c) Medulla
d) Occipital lobe
Answer: b) Hippocampus
27. The role of the cerebellum in memory is associated with:
a) Storing personal memories
b) Motor learning and procedural memory
c) Encoding new information
d) Semantic memory
Answer: b) Motor learning and procedural memory
28. The prefrontal cortex is involved in:
a) Short-term memory and decision-making
b) Long-term memory storage
c) Muscle movements
d) Visual perception
Answer: a) Short-term memory and decision-making
7. Additional Questions
29. Which neurotransmitter is primarily involved in memory and learning?
a) Dopamine
b) Serotonin
c) Acetylcholine
d) Endorphins
Answer: c) Acetylcholine
30. The serial position effect states that people remember:
a) Information in the middle of a list
b) Only the last items in a list
c) The first and last items in a list better than the middle ones
d) Random words without any pattern
Answer: c) The first and last items in a list better than the middle ones
31. Flashbulb memory refers to:
a) Everyday memory
b) Highly detailed and vivid memory of emotional events
c) Memory loss due to brain injury
d) Short-term forgetting
Answer: b) Highly detailed and vivid memory of emotional events
32. Which of the following is an example of implicit memory?
a) Remembering your birthday
b) Knowing how to ride a bicycle
c) Recalling historical dates
d) Memorizing a poem
Answer: b) Knowing how to ride a bicycle
33. The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon occurs when:
a) We completely forget something
b) We are unable to recall information but feel that we know it
c) Our brain stops processing memories
d) We have permanent memory loss
Answer: b) We are unable to recall information but feel that we know it
34. Eyewitness testimony can be unreliable due to:
a) The accuracy of memory
b) The reconstructive nature of memory
c) Perfect recall of events
d) Lack of emotions in memory
Answer: b) The reconstructive nature of memory
35. Which strategy is most effective for long-term memory retention?
a) Rote memorization
b) Distributed practice (spacing effect)
c) Cramming before an exam
d) Writing notes repeatedly
Answer: b) Distributed practice (spacing effect)
36. Which factor does NOT affect memory recall?
a) Stress and anxiety
b) Sleep and rest
c) Nutrition and hydration
d) Shoe size
Answer: d) Shoe size
37. The concept of “repression” in memory was introduced by:
a) B.F. Skinner
b) Sigmund Freud
c) Jean Piaget
d) Wilhelm Wundt
Answer: b) Sigmund Freud
38. Reconstructive memory suggests that:
a) Memories are stored exactly as they happened
b) People actively rebuild memories, sometimes inaccurately
c) Forgetting never occurs
d) Memory is like a video recording
Answer: b) People actively rebuild memories, sometimes inaccurately
39. Which of the following is an example of chunking?
a) Memorizing numbers one by one
b) Grouping phone numbers into sets (e.g., 987-654-3210)
c) Forgetting unnecessary details
d) Storing information without understanding it
Answer: b) Grouping phone numbers into sets (e.g., 987-654-3210)
40. The best way to prevent memory loss with aging is:
a) Engaging in mental exercises and physical activity
b) Avoiding new learning
c) Sleeping all day
d) Ignoring brain-stimulating activities
Answer: a) Engaging in mental exercises and physical activity
~Ridhi Tanaya Sahu
