Question

passage type: social science (psychology)
passage:
many psychologists agree that willpower is a limited resource. in a landmark experiment conducted in the late 1990s, participants were divided into two groups: one group could eat freshly baked cookies, while the other was asked to resist them and eat only radishes. afterward, both groups were given a difficult puzzle to solve. interestingly, those who resisted the cookies gave up on the puzzle much faster than those who had indulged. this led researchers to propose the ego depletion theory—the idea that self - control draws from a finite pool of mental energy. like a muscle that tires after use, willpower may weaken after exertion. however, more recent studies have questioned the strength of this theory. some researchers argue that belief in ego depletion itself may influence outcomes, suggesting that expectations play a larger role than previously thought.
c. it has no limits
d. its unrelated to mental effort

1. what is one challenge to the ego depletion theory?

a. new studies show no link between food and willpower
b. expectations may affect performance more than willpower
c. participants now prefer cookies over radishes
d. the original experiment was never repeated

1. which word best describes the authors tone in the second paragraph?

a. defensive
b. dismissive
c. balanced
d. sarcastic

1. what does the author imply about the original experiment?

a. it has been proven false
b. it opened an important line of inquiry
c. it had no impact on psychology
d. it was misleading and unethical

1. which of the following statements would the author most likely agree with?

a. willpower is fixed and cannot be changed
b. self - control depends solely on genetics
c. our beliefs about willpower may influence how it functions
d. people with more willpower are more moral

1. why did researchers use cookies and radishes in the experiment?

a. to test dietary preferences
b. to create a situation requiring self - control
c. to measure hunger
d. to confuse participants

1. which title best summarizes the passage?

a. “cookies, puzzles, and psychology”
b. “is willpower a myth?”
c. “how to strengthen self - control”
d. “the cookie conundrum”

Explanation:

The passage discusses the ego depletion theory (willpower as a limited resource) and recent studies challenging it (beliefs/expectations influencing outcomes). For question 5, the text states “Some researchers argue that belief in ego depletion itself may influence outcomes, suggesting that expectations play a larger role than previously thought.” For question 6, the author presents both the original theory and the challenges to it in an objective way. For question 7, the original experiment was a “landmark” one that led to a theory, indicating it started an important line of research. For question 8, the text implies beliefs (like in ego depletion) affect willpower’s function. For question 9, cookies (tempting) and radishes (less so) create a self - control situation. For question 10, the passage is about the nature of willpower (myth or not?), with the other titles being too narrow (A, D) or not addressed (C).

Answer:

1. B. Expectations may affect performance more than willpower
2. C. Balanced
3. B. It opened an important line of inquiry
4. C. Our beliefs about willpower may influence how it functions
5. B. To create a situation requiring self - control
6. B. “Is Willpower a Myth?”