Preparation Manual

Domain I—Human Development and Relationships

Competency 001—Understand human growth and development throughout the life span.

1. At which of the following ages do children typically begin to use coping mechanisms to control their emotional responses consistently?

1. birth to one year
2. two to four years
3. five to seven years
4. eight to ten years

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Option B is correct. This question requires the examinee to recognize a stage of emotional development in children. By the time a child has reached toddlerhood (ages two to four), he or she will typically have developed the ability to control his or her emotional responses consistently. The coping mechanisms children will typically have developed at this age include restricting sensory input, self-comforting, and the use of language to express oneself.

Competency 002—Understand the characteristics of interpersonal relationships and communication.

2. After work, two roommates enter into a heated argument over who should wash the dishes that were left in the sink that morning. At this point, the roommates can best prevent this conflict from escalating further if:

1. they write down their arguments to vent their feelings.
2. one roommate washes the dishes and the other accepts this as the end of the argument.
3. they agree to take some time apart before discussing the issue further.
4. a third party is called in to listen to their arguments and decide who is right.

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Option C is correct. This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of conflict resolution skills. By taking some time apart before discussing the issue further, the roommates give themselves the opportunity to de-escalate their emotional responses to the situation and think more clearly about the issue before resuming a discussion. This will support their having a rational and respectful conversation that is more likely to lead to a mutually acceptable resolution.

Competency 003—Understand families and family well-being.

3. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) supports eligible employees' ability to fulfill their family roles after the birth or adoption of a child or when caring for a seriously ill family member by:

1. requiring employers to provide employees with up to three months of paid leave per year.
2. allowing employees to use sick time to take a child or family member to routine doctor's appointments.
3. providing employees who leave their jobs with the option of buying health insurance through the company.
4. guaranteeing employees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year without risk of losing their jobs.

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Option D is correct. This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of public policies that affect families. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is a federal law that applies to employers with 50 or more employees. Under FMLA, employees who have worked for such an employer for at least 12 months and 1,250 hours in the preceding 12 months have the right to take an extended, unpaid leave of absence from work to handle the birth or adoption of a child, or their own or an immediate family member's serious health condition without the risk of being terminated from their jobs or being forced into a lower job upon their return.

Competency 004—Understand the roles and responsibilities of parenting.

4. Across cultures, the primary goal for parents/guardians in socializing their children is to:

1. teach children the norms and values of the society in which they live.
2. develop in children a sense of security within their family structure.
3. help children develop emotional resilience and high self-esteem.
4. encourage children to develop friendships with members of their peer group.

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Option A is correct. This question requires the examinee to recognize various expectations and responsibilities of parenting. As the foundational unit of society, families are the forum in which children first learn the norms and values of the society in which they live. It is through this learning that children learn how to interact with others in their society.

Domain II—Resource Management and Consumer Skills

Competency 005—Understand the basic principles of personal and family finance.

5. An individual has $15,00015,000 dollars in government student loans, $3,0003,000 dollars in credit card debt, no savings, and a full-time job that pays $25,00025,000 dollars per year. The individual is creating a long-term financial plan with the goal of buying a house in ten years. The first action this individual should take as part of this plan is to:

1. create an emergency fund equal to six months' salary.
2. pay off the student loans.
3. pay off the credit card debt.
4. get a different job with a higher salary.

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Option C is correct. This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of components of long-term financial management plans. Credit card debts typically have high interest rates and the interest compounds over time, increasing the cardholder's debt load. In addition, carrying a balance on a credit card may have a negative effect on the individual's credit score. This score is used by lenders to determine whether an individual is qualified to receive a mortgage and what interest rate to charge. Therefore, paying off the credit card debt would both decrease the individual's debt load and increase his or her chances of obtaining a mortgage that he or she can afford.

Competency 006—Understand consumer skills and the basic principles of resource management throughout the life span.

6. Which of the following is an example of a human resource?

1. the ability to manage one's time effectively
2. community-based family support services
3. a career path with potential for advancement
4. a comprehensive health insurance policy

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Option A is correct. This question requires the examinee to recognize individual and family resources. Human resources are the abilities, skills, and talents that individuals possess. The ability to manage one's time effectively is an example of a human resource.

Competency 007—Understand the selection, design, and maintenance of housing, interiors, textiles, and apparel.

7. A family is purchasing a new sofa for their family room. This is the main room in which the children play with their toys and the family gathers to play games or watch movies. When selecting upholstery for this sofa, the family's primary consideration should be the fabric's:

1. finish.
2. texture.
3. durability.
4. pattern.

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Option C is correct. This question requires the examinee to identify characteristics of textile fabrics and their applications for a variety of purposes. When selecting upholstery for a sofa that will be used frequently in a casual manner by both children and adults, the primary concern should be the fabric's ability to withstand a significant amount of rough use.

Domain III—Nutrition and Foods

Competency 008—Understand the principles of nutrition and food science.

8. According to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, a food can be labeled "good source of fiber" if each serving contains:

1. 10 to 19 percent of the daily value of fiber.
2. at least 1 gram of fiber.
3. 91 to 100 percent of the daily value of fiber.
4. at least 5 grams of fiber.

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Option A is correct. This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of information required for food labels. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that a food must have between 10 and 19 percent of the daily value of fiber per serving in order to be labeled as a "good source of fiber."

Competency 009—Understand the principles of kitchen and food safety and sanitation in home, commercial, and institutional settings.

9. Which of the following handling instructions for the leftovers from a stuffed turkey will best help prevent the growth of microorganisms that can cause foodborne illness?

1. Place the stuffed turkey into the refrigerator as soon as possible after serving the food.
2. When the turkey is just cool enough to handle, strip the meat from the bones, scoop out the stuffing, and put the turkey and stuffing in the refrigerator.
3. While the turkey is still hot, scoop out the stuffing, allow the turkey and stuffing to come to room temperature, then put the turkey and stuffing in the refrigerator.
4. Allow the stuffed turkey to come to room temperature, then place it in the refrigerator.

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Option B is correct. This question requires the examinee to recognize guidelines, procedures, and standards for maintaining food safety. Protein-rich foods, such as turkey meat, are susceptible to the growth of disease-causing microorganisms when kept at temperatures between 40°F40 degrees Fahrenheit and 140°F140 degrees Fahrenheit. For this reason, it is important to refrigerate the unused portion of such foods as soon as possible so that they can be brought to a safe temperature quickly. Separating the meat from the bones and removing the stuffing will help promote rapid cooling, as smaller pieces will cool more quickly throughout than a large, bulky item, which may take some time to come to a safe temperature internally.

Competency 010—Understand food preparation concepts and skills in home, commercial, and institutional settings.

10. Which of the following cooking methods would best retain the nutritive value of vegetables?

1. boiling
2. frying
3. steaming
4. poaching

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Option C is correct. This question requires the examinee to demonstrate knowledge of techniques of food preparation. In steaming, vegetables are held on a rack above boiling water. As a result, food is cooked thoroughly without having its nutrients leached by the cooking liquid.

Domain IV—Workplace Skills and Careers

Competency 011—Understand career options related to family and consumer sciences.

11. Which of the following family and consumer sciences careers requires a strong educational background in science?

1. interior designer
2. preschool teacher
3. family life educator
4. registered dietician

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Option D is correct. This question requires the examinee to identify training requirements necessary for careers in family and consumer sciences. To become a registered dietician, an individual must have a strong educational background in biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, biochemistry, and food and nutrition sciences.

Competency 012—Understand employment and employability skills.

12. When preparing for a job interview, the most important reason for a candidate to thoroughly research the employer is that it will help the candidate:

1. decide whether he or she has the qualifications necessary to be successful with the employer.
2. offer specific information about how he or she can contribute to the achievement of the employer's goals.
3. ensure that he or she dresses, behaves, and speaks appropriately at the interview.
4. determine whether the employer would be a good fit with his or her interests and career goals.

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Option B is correct. This question requires the examinee to recognize procedures for interviewing for a job. By the time an individual has reached the point in the application process where he or she has agreed to an interview, the individual should have determined whether he or she and the employer would be a good fit. While dress and behavior at an interview are important, it is most important for a candidate to be able to demonstrate to a prospective employer how his or her skills and abilities will contribute to the organization's success. To do this effectively, the individual must research the employer to gain knowledge of the employer's mission, values, and goals.