Lust for Danger Questions based on the abstract and paragraphs 1 – 4

1 . According to the abstract, what is paradoxical about our behavior with respect to      dangerous activities?
_____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ (6
points)
2 . According to the writer risky behavior is limited to American teenagers.
           True      ¨                               False    ¨     Explain your answer by referring to the text.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (5
points)
3 . What was the long-term benefit of  risk-taking for the development of the human species?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ (5
points) Questions based on paragraphs 5 – 10
4 a. What are the differences between nesters and adventurers?
Nesters____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Adventurers________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (6
points) b. According to Phelan and Burnham, which of the following were more successful?
                        Nesters                        5                    Adventurers    5
    Check P one.
(2
points) Explain your choice _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (4
points) 5.a. According to psychological research, what is the determining factor that        makes women seem to prefer "dangerous" men?
      Use YOUR OWN words.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (6
points) b. Does Chagnon's research confirm or refute Phelan and Burnham's theory?
           Confirm            ¨                         Refute             ¨     Support your answer by referring to the text.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ (6
points)
6 .a. What do scientists think is the effect of the D4 dopamine receptor on anxiety?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (5
points) b. In what way does the effect of the D4 dopamine receptor on anxiety explain     the fact that some people are bored in everyday situations?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (5
points) c. Is this explanation widely accepted?
Yes      ¨                                 No       ¨ (2
points) Questions based on paragraphs 11 – 19
7.a Explain how the example of the skiers near Park City in Utah (end       paragraph 12) illustrates "underestimation"?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (4
points)  b. Give an example from the text of probability blindness __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  (4 points)  c. Match each of the THREE examples below to its correct explanation from the list:
     There is only ONE correct explanation for each example.
Example      Explanation A. A young, inexperienced swimmer      trying to swim a long distance.
           ____  optimistic bias B. Buying a lottery ticket from a shop where you bought a winning ticket before.                ____  underestimation C. A good driver driving fast on a wet, slippery road at night.
           ____  probability blindness (6
points)
8 .a. According to what you have read in the text which of the following activities frightens people most? (You need to infer your answer)        Check ü the correct box        a. Driving home from work                                 ¨        b. Sky diving (צניחה חופשית)                               ¨ (2
points) b. According to the text which of  the examples above is actually more dangerous?      Explain your answer according to the text.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (4
points) 9.a What fundamental error in judgment does the brain make about dangers in the       world today?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________  (6 points) b. How do Kahneman and Tversky explain this reasoning?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (4
points)
1 0. Explain why sociologists think that gamblers pay a "stupidity tax"?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (6
points)
1 1.a. What can people do to help themselves avoid risky behavior?
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (4
points) b. How might these alternative behaviors prevent us from undertaking really risky     behavior?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ (4
points)
1 2. Which of the following quotations from the text best represents the main idea        of the text?
     Check ü one.
a. ¨            "according to psychological surveys, most people believe themselves to be healthier than the average person” b.¨             "people with an excessive need to be energized by dopamine accept danger as part of life's game"             c. ¨            "ancestors who roamed took greater risks than cave dwellers but passed down stronger survival skills"       d.¨           "[Dangerous] actions defy human reason, but we still seek the thrill"  (4 points) GOOD LUCK!