AP Psychology MCQs - Unit 1: Biological Basis of Behavior

This post is part of a series of posts containing practice questions for the AP Psychology exam.  They reflect the content and style of the 2024-2025 revision of the AP Psychology exam.

It is currently challenging to find high-quality, free multiple-choice questions for students.  I did not expect that this would be the case so close to the new exam.  I know that many students cannot afford tutoring or paid review materials.  The free materials that are available often use the old style of the AP Psychology exam.  I am concerned that this situation puts some students at a significant disadvantage.  I also feel that if I can assist, it is right to do so.

I want to be transparent about the limitations of my own questions.  I have not tested these questions as much as I would like.  I did not expect to posting them, and there is little time before the exam.  Like Washington, I am unconscious of intentional error. I am too conscious of my faults to think that these questions are error-free.  I hope that you will view them with indulgence. 

I welcome feedback, corrections, and questions.

I would also like to make it clear that I fabricated all all names, research studies, data, and statistics.  I would like to use real science like the exam!  Yet, real science is often paywalled and copyrighted.  This creates significant barriers to creating questions with authentic research.  I have written each example to reflect with currently accepted principles in psychology.  I hope that this is will avoid causing confusion and misinformation.

Okay, without further ado:  ​

4. Anthony drinks a cup of coffee every morning.  If he misses his cup of coffee, he experiences headaches and becomes irritable.  Which of the following concepts applies most directly to Anthony's experience?

a. Withdrawl symptoms

b. Myasthenia gravis

c. Reflex arc

d. Depressants

5. Sandy visits a psychiatrist and is prescribed a stimulant to treat her ADHD.  Initially, Sandy finds the medication helps her focus.  As time passes, the drug becomes less effective.  Sandy's psychiatrist prescribes a higher dose.  Sandy finds the higher dose improves her focus.  Which of the following concepts most directly applies to Sandy's experience?

a. Withdrawl symptoms

b. Tolerance

c. Distorted perception

d. Resting potential

6. Terrance travels from New York City to Shanghai, China in an airplane.  Which of the following biological processes is most likely to be disrupted by his trip?

A. Accommodation

B. Balance

C. Circadian rhythms

D. Object permanence

7. Henri is in an accident that causes damage to his brain.  After his accident, he is constantly hungry and thirsty.  Which part of his brain was most likely damaged in the accident?

a. Cerebellum

b. Hypothalamus

c. Medulla oblongata

d. Broca's area

8. Which of the following psychological perspectives would help researchers investigate the relationship between damage to the brain and the onset of prosopagnosia?

a. Biological

b. Humanistic

c. Psychoanalytic

d. Evolutionary

9. Jessica hits her head during a snowboarding accident.  Afterwards, she goes to a doctor.  He tells her that she has damaged Wernicke's area in her brain.  Which symptoms would most likely result from damage to this area?

a. Inability to see in color.

b. Inability to form words and speak.

c. Persistent feelings of thirst and hunger.

d. Difficulty interpreting the speech of other people.  ​