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Quiz: Growth And Puberty

Test your understanding of puberty as a normal stage of growth, its general stages, and asking trusted adults for help with these review questions.

1. What is "puberty"?

  1. The normal, healthy stage of growth when a child's body gradually changes into a more adult body
  2. A sickness that only some people get
  3. Something that can be avoided if a person tries hard enough
  4. A test students take in school
Show Answer

The correct answer is A. Puberty is the normal, healthy stage of growth when a child's body gradually begins changing into a more adult body, including growing taller and experiencing new feelings. It happens to every human body eventually.

Concept Tested: Puberty

2. Why is there no "right" age for puberty to begin?

  1. Because puberty never actually begins
  2. Because only some people go through puberty
  3. Because scientists have not studied it yet
  4. Because puberty happens at a different pace for every person, and every timeline is normal
Show Answer

The correct answer is D. Puberty happens at a different pace for every person — even between identical twins. That means there is no "correct" age for it to begin, and every timeline is a normal timeline.

Concept Tested: Puberty

3. Which of these is listed as a general body change during puberty?

  1. Growth spurts — growing taller and heavier faster than before
  2. Losing the ability to walk
  3. Becoming much shorter
  4. Losing all baby teeth at once
Show Answer

The correct answer is A. Growth spurts, meaning growing taller and heavier faster than in earlier years, are one of the general body changes described during puberty, along with body shape changes, skin changes, and emotional changes.

Concept Tested: Stages Of Puberty

4. In the "changes beginning" stage of puberty, what might a young person start to notice?

  1. No changes of any kind, ever
  2. That puberty is completely finished
  3. Small changes, like growing a bit faster or feelings that seem stronger than before
  4. That their body has stopped growing completely
Show Answer

The correct answer is C. During the "changes beginning" stage, a young person may start noticing small changes, such as growing a bit faster or new feelings that seem stronger than before.

Concept Tested: Stages Of Puberty

5. What is the general order of the three simplified stages of puberty described in the chapter?

  1. Changes continuing, changes beginning, before changes start
  2. Before changes start, changes beginning, changes continuing
  3. Changes beginning, before changes start, changes continuing
  4. There is no order at all
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. The three general stages move in this order: before changes start, changes beginning, and changes continuing — though the exact age this happens is different for every person.

Concept Tested: Stages Of Puberty

6. A student notices a new body change and feels unsure if it's normal. What is the best thing to do?

  1. Keep it a secret from everyone forever
  2. Assume something is wrong without asking anyone
  3. Compare their body to every classmate's body
  4. Tell a trusted adult, since asking questions about growing up is always okay
Show Answer

The correct answer is D. Asking for help with body changes means telling a trusted adult about a physical or emotional change or a question about growing up. There is no such thing as a silly question about growing up.

Concept Tested: Asking For Help With Body Changes

7. Why is it normal to feel a mix of excited, nervous, and confused feelings about puberty, sometimes all on the same day?

  1. Because those feelings mean something is wrong
  2. Because only some students are allowed to feel that way
  3. Because growing up is a big change, and many students feel several emotions about it at once
  4. Because puberty does not involve any feelings at all
Show Answer

The correct answer is C. It is completely normal to feel a mix of emotions about puberty — excited, nervous, confused, or several of these on the same day. None of those feelings are wrong.

Concept Tested: Puberty

8. Which sentence starter could a student use to begin a conversation with a trusted adult about body changes?

  1. "I don't want to talk about anything, ever."
  2. "Can I ask you something about my body?"
  3. "This topic is too embarrassing to mention."
  4. "I already know everything, so never mind."
Show Answer

The correct answer is B. "Can I ask you something about my body?" is one of the sentence starters suggested in the chapter to help a student begin a conversation with a trusted adult about growing up.

Concept Tested: Asking For Help With Body Changes

9. Which of these is a trusted adult a student could go to with questions about body changes?

  1. A school nurse, parent, guardian, or doctor
  2. A stranger online who seems friendly
  3. Any classmate the student has never spoken to
  4. A cartoon character
Show Answer

The correct answer is A. Trusted adults for questions about body changes and growing up include a parent or guardian, another close family member, a school nurse, a teacher, or a doctor.

Concept Tested: Identifying Trusted Adults

10. A student asks two different adults about a body change. One rushes through the answer and seems annoyed; the other listens fully and answers honestly. Which one better matches the chapter's description of a good trusted adult for this topic?

  1. Neither adult, because no one should ever be asked
  2. The one who rushes through the answer
  3. Both are equally good, since any adult will do
  4. The one who listens fully and answers honestly
Show Answer

The correct answer is D. A good trusted adult for body-change questions listens fully, answers honestly, keeps the student comfortable, and is available — not one who rushes or seems annoyed by the question.

Concept Tested: Identifying Trusted Adults