AP Psychology Practice Quiz: Overview of the Nervous System
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 11 questions to check your progress.
Question 1 of 11
All Questions (11)
A) Brain and spinal cord
B) Somatic and autonomic systems
C) Peripheral nerves and sensory receptors
D) Sympathetic and parasympathetic systems
Correct Answer: A
The content explicitly states that 'The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord.' The other options list components of the peripheral nervous system.
A) To govern involuntary processes like digestion.
B) To process sensory information and make decisions.
C) To relay messages between the central nervous system and the rest of the body.
D) To control only voluntary muscle movements.
Correct Answer: C
The text specifies that 'The peripheral nervous system relays messages from the central nervous system.' Decision-making occurs in the CNS, while the other options describe functions of subdivisions of the PNS, not its principal role.
A) The autonomic nervous system
B) The sympathetic nervous system
C) The parasympathetic nervous system
D) The somatic nervous system
Correct Answer: D
Raising a hand is a conscious, voluntary action. The content states that 'The somatic nervous system governs voluntary processes.' The autonomic system and its subdivisions govern involuntary processes.
A) The central nervous system
B) The somatic nervous system
C) The autonomic nervous system
D) The entire peripheral nervous system
Correct Answer: C
An automatic increase in heart rate is an involuntary process. The content states, 'The autonomic nervous system governs involuntary processes.' The somatic system controls voluntary actions.
A) The brain and the spinal cord
B) The central and the somatic nervous systems
C) The sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems
D) The autonomic and the somatic nervous systems
Correct Answer: D
The provided text states that the peripheral nervous system 'includes the autonomic and somatic nervous systems.' The sympathetic and parasympathetic systems are subdivisions of the autonomic system.
A) The somatic nervous system
B) The central nervous system
C) The autonomic nervous system
D) The entire human nervous system
Correct Answer: C
The content specifies that 'The autonomic nervous system... includes the parasympathetic and sympathetic systems.'
A) involuntary; voluntary
B) central; peripheral
C) voluntary; involuntary
D) message relay; information processing
Correct Answer: C
The content explicitly states that 'The somatic nervous system governs voluntary processes,' and 'The autonomic nervous system governs involuntary processes.'
A) The central nervous system is a subdivision of the peripheral nervous system.
B) The sympathetic nervous system is a subdivision of the autonomic nervous system, which is part of the peripheral nervous system.
C) The somatic nervous system is a subdivision of the central nervous system.
D) The autonomic nervous system is a subdivision of the somatic nervous system.
Correct Answer: B
This option correctly traces the hierarchy from a broad category (PNS) to a more specific one (ANS) and then to one of its components (sympathetic system), which is consistent with the provided information.
A) The CNS governs voluntary processes, while the PNS governs involuntary processes.
B) The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord, while the PNS relays messages to and from the CNS.
C) The CNS is composed of the autonomic and somatic systems, while the PNS is composed of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
D) The CNS relays messages, while the PNS includes the brain and spinal cord for processing.
Correct Answer: B
This option correctly identifies the components of the CNS (brain and spinal cord) and the primary function of the PNS (relaying messages), as described in the provided content. The other options misattribute the functions and components of the systems.
A) To exclusively control voluntary muscle movements.
B) To relay messages from the peripheral nervous system to the muscles.
C) To interact with all body processes via the brain and spinal cord.
D) To manage only involuntary functions like breathing and heart rate.
Correct Answer: C
The text states, 'The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord, interacting with all body processes.' This accurately reflects its comprehensive role, as opposed to the more specific functions listed in the other options.
A) The parasympathetic nervous system
B) The sympathetic nervous system
C) The somatic nervous system
D) The autonomic nervous system
Correct Answer: C
Walking is a voluntary process controlled by skeletal muscles. The somatic nervous system governs such voluntary actions. Since involuntary processes like heart rate and digestion (governed by the autonomic nervous system) are unaffected, the damage is localized to the somatic nervous system.