Question

source 3
why do people follow the crowd? by abc news
read the essay. then answer the questions that follow.
dr. gregory berns, a professor of behavioral science, conducted several experiments for the purpose of answering an age - old question: why do people follow the crowd? abc’s primetime recreated two of these experiments using several unsuspecting people.
1 it was a classic episode on the old candid camera show – people getting on an elevator and turning backward just because everyone else did, and we all laughed. we laughed again during the movie mean girls, when an act of teenage revenge – cutting nasty queen bee regina’s t - shirt during gym class (an act meant to insult her) – became a school fashion trend instead.
it turns out the joke is on us. these two examples illustrate something that we humans don’t like to admit about ourselves: we follow the pack. like birds in a flock or sheep in a pasture, we follow – sometimes at our own peril.
but why are people so conformist? that is the question that dr. gregory berns, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at atlanta’s emory university, tried to answer in a recent groundbreaking experiment and paper.
primetime set up its own demonstration recreating berns’ work.
failing a test
5 we gathered a group of people together for a test of “visual perception.” the actual test was simple – to mentally rotate some 3 - d shapes and compare them to see whether they were the same or different.
first, the volunteers wrote down their answers to 10 questions privately. but then they had to give the next series of answers out loud for everyone to hear.
11
(a) which of the following best describes a central idea of the text? ri.2
a experiments reveal that people’s behavior is greatly influenced by their desire to conform.
b an overwhelming desire to fit in encourages people to display bizarre behavior at restaurants.
c the nazis used behavioral experiments to trick german citizens into following the laws that most recognized as immoral.
d people are unable to resist the desire to follow the crowd because it is part of human psychology.
(b) which two details from the text best supports the answer to part a? ri.1
drag & drop the answer
“these two examples illustrate something that we humans don’t like to admit to ourselves: we follow the pack. like birds in a flock or sheep in a pasture, we follow - sometimes at our own peril.” (paragraph 2)
“eventually, people who were total strangers at the beginning if the evening were passing fruit back and forth, mouth to mouth.” (paragraph 18)
“d’cruz told everyone they should pick up pieces of mango face first, using their mouth.” (paragraph 18)

Explanation:

Part (a)

To determine the central idea, we analyze each option:

• Option A: The text describes experiments (like Dr. Berns' and others) showing people's behavior is influenced by conformity (desire to follow the crowd). This matches the content about experiments revealing how people follow others.
• Option B: The text isn't about a desire to fit in encouraging bizarre behavior at restaurants; the examples are different (elevator, test, etc.). Eliminate B.
• Option C: The text doesn't mention Nazis or their experiments. Eliminate C.
• Option D: The text says following the crowd is part of human psychology, but the main focus is on experiments revealing this influence, not people being unable to resist. Eliminate D.

We need details supporting Part (a)'s answer (experiments show people follow the crowd due to conformity).

• "These two examples illustrate something that we humans don't like to admit to ourselves: We follow the pack. Like birds in a flock or sheep in a pasture, we follow - sometimes at our own peril." (Paragraph 2): This directly states people follow the pack, supporting the idea of conformity's influence.
• "Eventually, people who were total strangers at the beginning if the evening were passing fruit back and forth, mouth to mouth." (Paragraph 18): This example from an experiment shows people conforming to the group's behavior (passing fruit), supporting the central idea. The other details don't relate to conformity/experiments showing influence.

Answer:

A. Experiments reveal that people’s behavior is greatly influenced by their desire to conform.

Part (b)