The Paradox of Choice (Listening)

1) What is the lecture mainly about?

A) The influence of free choice on the political development of human society.
B) The pitfalls of an overabundance of choice.
C) The lack of choice in modern society.
D) The benefits of freedom and choice in today's society.


2) At 1:11 in the lecture, the speaker says: "The more choice people have, the more freedom they have, and the more freedom they have, the more welfare they have.  This, I think, is so deeply embedded in the water supply that it wouldn't occur to anyone to question it."

What does he mean when he says, "This, I think, is so deeply embedded in the water supply that it wouldn't occur to anyone to question it"?

A) The argument is widely understood and discussed.
B) We accept the issue too easily.
C) Most people don't understand the issue well.
D) The argument has some serious flaws.


3) Which of the following is NOT given as an example of excessive choice:

A) Cell phones
B) Healthcare
C) Stereo systems
D) Children's clothing


4) Why does the professor say that he assigns less work than he used to?

A) His students are not as dedicated as they were before.
B) He doesn't have as much time as he used to.
C) His students have other issues that occupy their time.
D) He made the choice to be kinder to his students.


5) What are the negative effects of increased choice? (Choose two options)

A) People find it difficult to make decisions.
B) There is less room for error nowadays.
C) People often don't fully understand their decisions.
D) We are less happy with our ultimate decisions.


6) At 13:10 in the lecture, the speaker says, "I walked out of the store -- truth! -- with the best-fitting jeans I had ever had. I did better. All this choice made it possible for me to do better. But I felt worse. Why? I wrote a whole book to try to explain this to myself."

Why does he say, "I wrote a whole book to try to explain this to myself"?

A) He doesn't think he found a satisfying answer.
B) It took a long time for him to answer his question.
C) The answer to the question is complex.
D) He is unsatisfied with the jeans that he bought.


7) Why does the professor mention depression?

A) He believes that too few choices make people depressed.
B) He believes that lower expectations lead to depression.
C) He is arguing that developed countries have more problems with depression than underdeveloped ones.
D) He thinks that incidence of depression is connected to excessive choice.


8) What can be inferred about the professor?

A) He dislikes shopping nowadays.
B) He is lazier than he used to be.
C) He thinks his students are wasting their time.
D) He is grateful for the increased choice in the world.