These 3 simple habits can really boost your optimism, research shows.
Read the article and choose the best answer A-D to the questions below:
1. What is the main claim about optimism made at the beginning of the article?
a) It is an unrealistic mindset.
b) It leads to longer life, better health, and more success.
c) It makes people careless.
d) It is only useful in childhood.
2. What did the first study by Heather Lench investigate?
a) Whether optimism affects physical strength.
b) How optimism influences students’ exam performance and study habits.
c) The relationship between pessimism and stress levels.
d) Whether gratitude leads to higher grades.
3. What conclusion was drawn about optimistic students in the first study?
a) They were lucky.
b) They performed worse because they were overconfident.
c) They studied less but still scored higher.
d) They did better partly because they believed their performance was under their control.
4. What result did the second study show about optimistic medical students?
a) They were more stressed than pessimistic students.
b) They were less likely to get their first-choice residency.
c) They were more likely to correctly predict a first-choice match.
d) They performed worse in interviews.
5. What did researchers find about optimistic students who did not get their first choice?
a) They reacted the same as pessimists.
b) They were more disappointed than pessimists.
c) They quit their residency search.
d) They became pessimistic afterward.
6. According to the article, why do many people avoid being too optimistic?
a) They believe pessimism improves mental health.
b) They misunderstand scientific research.
c) They want others to see them as realistic.
d) They fear feeling worse if things go wrong.
7. What is one scientifically supported method for increasing optimism?
a) Taking personality tests
b) Practicing gratitude daily
c) Practicing pessimism to build resilience
d) Ignoring negative emotions
8. What does the “best-possible-self” exercise require?
a) Listing things that went wrong during the week
b) Comparing yourself with successful people
c) Imagining a future where things turn out well
d) Watching motivational videos
9. Why does the article recommend surrounding yourself with optimists?
a) Being around optimists can increase your own optimism.
b) Optimists tend to avoid difficult conversations.
c) Optimists often challenge your goals.
d) Optimists depend heavily on others for positivity.
10. What is the overall message of the article?
a) Optimism solves all problems instantly.
b) Optimism is harmful unless carefully controlled.
c) Optimism helps people take actions that lead to better outcomes.
d) Optimism is only useful for entrepreneurs.
Key: 1b; 2b; 3d; 4c; 5a; 6d; 7b; 8c; 9a; 10c
Glossary
- dispiriting – discouraging or making you feel hopeless
- self-fulfilling prophecy – something that you cause to happen by saying and expecting that it will happen
- to wind up – (of a person) to find yourself in a particular place or situation
Practice makes perfect
Watch a part of the video (2:54-6:19)
and complete the sentences below using the words in bold:
trust pessimistic headlines progress
infrastructure ancestors optimism cooperation
1. People often fail to see ………… because most of it is about what does not
2. Bad news dominates the ……….. because good things take time to develop.
3. Collaboration with strangers requires ………… which is a type of optimism.
4. We benefit today from the work of previous generations who acted as ………….. .
5. Roads, canals, and telephone networks are examples of ………… created by earlier generations.
6. Believing that things can improve and expecting positive outcomes is called …………. .
7. Many people feel …………. about the world even though long-term trends are positive.
8. ……………. allows humans to achieve things bigger than what we can do individually.
Key: 1. progress; 2. headlines; 3. trust; 4. ancestors; 5. infrastructure; 6. optimism; 7. pessimistic; 8. cooperation
Discuss
- The article calls optimism a “superpower.” Do you agree with this description? Why or why not?
- Why do you think optimistic students tend to study more and perform better?
- Many people avoid being optimistic because they fear disappointment. Have you ever avoided hope for this reason? How did it affect you?
- Which of the suggested methods to increase optimism—gratitude practice, imagining your best possible self, or surrounding yourself with optimists—do you think would work best for you, and why?
- How does focusing on things that are going right in life, rather than problems, change your perspective?
- The article mentions that optimism can encourage taking action to improve the future. Do you think optimism is necessary for making meaningful changes in society? Why or why not?
- The speaker in the video says that “most progress is about what does not happen. Give one example from modern life that we rarely notice but still shows progress.
- Do you agree that the news cycle makes people more pessimistic? Why or why not?
Watch and Revise!
Unlock Success with Optimism
Science-Backed Habits
https://www.cloud.worldwideschool.pl/index.php/s/LM3s7PZdJnRzwjD
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