Growth and development: practice question

A Pediatrics question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

Pediatrics · Growth and development

Sample item

A child can copy a circle and a cross but cannot yet copy a triangle. What is the approximate age of the child?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Four years

Copying a circle develops at about 3 years, a cross at about 4 years and a triangle at about 5 years. A child who copies a cross but not a triangle is therefore around 4 years old in fine motor and adaptive development.

Option by option

  • A. Two years

    A two-year-old can scribble and imitate a vertical line, not copy a cross.

  • B. Five years

    A five-year-old copies a triangle.

  • C. Three years

    A three-year-old copies a circle but not a cross.

  • D. Four years (correct)

    Correct. Copying a cross is a four-year-old skill, and a triangle is not yet expected.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More Pediatrics questions

Questions about this Pediatrics question

What is the answer to this Pediatrics question?

The best answer is D, Four years. Copying a circle develops at about 3 years, a cross at about 4 years and a triangle at about 5 years.

Why is "Two years" not the answer?

A two-year-old can scribble and imitate a vertical line, not copy a cross.

Why is "Five years" not the answer?

A five-year-old copies a triangle.

Why is "Three years" not the answer?

A three-year-old copies a circle but not a cross.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Growth and development in Pediatrics. A child who copies a cross but not a triangle is therefore around 4 years old in fine motor and adaptive development.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Growth and development?

Memorise milestones and the vaccine schedule as tables and revise them often. Then use the flashcards and the other Pediatrics questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.