Free Growth and Development MCQs with Answers

• A. Growth is measurable physical change, while development is progressive skill acquisition
• B. Growth is emotional change, while development is increase in height and weight
• C. Growth is learned behaviour, while development is only genetically determined
• D. Growth and development are identical terms for increasing age and maturity

Explanation: Growth refers to quantitative changes such as weight, length, and head circumference.

• A. About 4.5 kg
• B. About 6 kg
• C. About 9 kg
• D. About 12 kg

Explanation: Birth weight usually doubles by about 5 to 6 months and triples by approximately 12 months.

• A. Sits without support
• B. Walks independently
• C. Uses three-word sentences
• D. Copies a circle with a pencil

Explanation: Many infants can sit without support at approximately 6 months. Independent walking and three-word sentences occur later, while copying a…

• A. Uses two-word phrases with meaning
• B. Uses only crying to communicate
• C. Reads short sentences aloud
• D. Uses complex adult grammar consistently

Explanation: By about 2 years, a child commonly combines two words, such as “more milk,” and understands more language than the child can express.

• A. Arrange prompt developmental assessment and referral
• B. Advise the parents to wait until the child is three years old
• C. Tell the parents that all children develop at the same rate
• D. Begin intensive speech training before assessing the child

Explanation: Loss of an acquired skill is a significant warning sign and requires prompt assessment rather than reassurance.

• A. Comparing one weight with the population average
• B. Plotting serial weight and length measurements over time
• C. Assessing appetite without measuring the child
• D. Measuring height only when the child appears thin

Explanation: Serial measurements plotted on an appropriate growth chart show the child’s growth pattern and whether the child is crossing percentile…

• A. Assess hydration, feeding, and stool history
• B. Teach the caregiver to stop all complementary foods
• C. Reassure the caregiver that downward crossing is always normal
• D. Measure the child’s head circumference only

Explanation: Poor weight gain with repeated loose stools may reflect dehydration, inadequate nutrient absorption, infection, or feeding problems.

• A. It is a genetically programmed process of biological readiness
• B. It occurs only after formal teaching by an adult
• C. It is the same as practising a newly taught skill
• D. It depends entirely on the child’s social environment

Explanation: Maturation is the unfolding of biologically programmed changes that allow new abilities to appear.

• A. Long-term inadequate nutrition and chronic illness
• B. Brief crying before a routine feeding
• C. A single missed daytime nap
• D. Normal variation in tooth eruption by several weeks

Explanation: Chronic illness and inadequate nutrition can reduce physical growth, energy, attention, and opportunities for learning.

• A. The infant transfers a toy from one hand to the other
• B. The infant makes repeated consonant sounds
• C. The infant cannot sit without support
• D. The infant responds to a familiar caregiver’s voice

Explanation: By around 9 months, most infants can sit independently, so inability to sit without support warrants further developmental assessment.

• A. Head circumference is greater than chest circumference
• B. Head circumference is approximately equal to chest circumference
• C. Head circumference is half the chest circumference
• D. Head circumference is unchanged from birth

Explanation: At about one year, head and chest circumferences are usually approximately equal.

• A. Measure standing height without removing shoes
• B. Measure recumbent length with the child lying flat
• C. Measure from the shoulder to the heel while sitting
• D. Measure from the crown to the buttocks while standing

Explanation: Recumbent length is measured with the child lying flat until two years of age, using a length board when available.

• A. The birth age of 32 weeks
• B. The chronological age of 6 months
• C. The corrected age of about 4 months
• D. The expected age of about 8 months

Explanation: Corrected age is calculated by subtracting the weeks born early from the chronological age.

• A. To establish a definite neurological diagnosis
• B. To identify children needing further assessment
• C. To predict the child's final intelligence score
• D. To replace the caregiver's developmental history

Explanation: Screening tests identify children who may be at risk and need more detailed assessment.

• A. Gross motor, fine motor, language, personal-social
• B. Weight, length, head size, chest size
• C. Sleep, feeding, elimination, immunisation
• D. Vision, hearing, pulse, respiratory rate

Explanation: Developmental screening commonly considers gross motor, fine motor or adaptive, language, and personal-social abilities.

• A. Pedals a tricycle with coordination
• B. Reads a short paragraph independently
• C. Ties shoelaces using a firm knot
• D. Copies a complex geometric pattern

Explanation: Pedalling a tricycle is a typical gross motor skill around three years.

• A. Record the finding and review other developmental domains
• B. Diagnose intellectual disability from this finding alone
• C. Tell the caregiver that school admission must be delayed
• D. Start treatment with a developmental stimulant medicine

Explanation: One missed skill does not establish a diagnosis, so the nurse should document it, review the complete history, and assess other domains.

• A. Poor weight gain followed by poor length gain
• B. Poor length gain with relatively preserved or increased weight
• C. Poor weight gain with frequent vomiting and diarrhoea
• D. Poor weight gain with reduced subcutaneous fat

Explanation: Endocrine disorders often impair linear growth while weight is relatively preserved or increased.

• A. A single percentile determines whether growth is normal
• B. A steady pattern over time is more useful than one measurement
• C. Any measurement below the 50th percentile indicates malnutrition
• D. Crossing one percentile line always confirms growth failure

Explanation: Growth assessment depends on serial accurate measurements and the child's pattern over time, not one percentile.

• A. Arrange hearing assessment and formal developmental screening
• B. Reassure the caregiver that all language delay is normal
• C. Begin speech therapy without assessing the child further
• D. Label the child as having a global developmental delay

Explanation: Isolated language delay requires assessment of hearing and a structured developmental evaluation.