Optimism Bias (Listening)

1) What is the lecture mainly about?

A) A comparison of optimistic and pessimistic people with their respective advantages and disadvantages.
B) The view that people as a whole need optimistic bias in their lives.
C) The process by which optimism occurs and the implications of it on society.
D) The mechanisms and advantages of positive thinking.


2) Which of the following is NOT an example of optimism bias?

A) Newly-weds believing they have a very low likelihood of divorce.
B) An employee underestimating the cost of a project.
C) A person believing that family's in general society will be less successful than their own family.
D) A person overestimating their likelihood of getting cancer. 


3) Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a reason that a pessimistic outlook is bad life strategy?

A) People with this view are usually less happy because they are worried about their future.
B) Pessimistic people don't have realistic expectations of the future.
C) This strategy will never affect the real world in a positive way for that person.
D) Pessimists miss the chance to anticipate the positive events in their future.


4) According to the lecturer, why do people suffer from optimism bias?

A) A part of their brain is inefficient.
B) Their brain overcompensate for negative information that they are given.
C) The don't always understand the negative information they are given.
D) They can't adjust their lifestyle to match the negative information because they are addicted to the positive things in their life.


5) Which of the following best summarizes the professors opinion of optimism bias?

A) It is not completely negative but people need to be careful.
B) It is something that society would be better without.
C) With too much optimism bias, progress is impossible.
D) Life is more challenging but also more rewarding with optimism bias.