While anthropologists have documented rituals across cultures decades

Question

While anthropologists have documented rituals across cultures decades ago, the traditional approach towards studying rituals has been primarily observational. Modern researchers go beyond and suggest that rituals may be rational and effective. Rituals performed after experiencing losses – from loved ones to lotteries – do alleviate grief, and rituals performed before high-pressure tasks – like singing in public – do in fact reduce anxiety and increase people’s confidence. What’s more, rituals appear to benefit even people who claim not to believe that rituals work.

Most recently, a series of investigations by behavioral scientists Gino and Norton has revealed intriguing new results demonstrating that rituals can have a causal impact on people’s thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Gino and Norton focused on studying ritualistic behavior by sports legends. The scientists found that basketball superstar Michael Jordan wore his North Carolina shorts underneath his Chicago Bulls shorts in every game; Curtis Martin of the New York Jets reads Psalm 91 before every game; and Wade Boggs, former third baseman for the Boston Red Sox, woke up at the same time each day, took exactly 117 ground balls in practice, started batting practice at 5:17, and ran sprints at 7:17. Do superstitious rituals like these actually improve performance? Gino and Norton conducted hundreds of experiments and concluded that the rituals enhanced people’s confidence in their abilities, motivated greater effort, and, as a result, improved subsequent performance. These findings are consistent with  research in sport psychology  demonstrating the performance benefits of pre-performance routines, from improving attention and execution to increasing emotional stability and confidence.   1 
 1. The passage is primarily concerned with

A. explaining why a particular practice is so common
B. elaborating an approach to understand the effects of a particular practice
C. criticizing an earlier approach used to study a common practice
D. distinguishing among several different ways in which a practice is followed
E. questioning a widely accepted explanation for an unusual practice

2 
 2. According to the passage, the modern approach towards studying rituals differs from the traditional approach in which of the following ways?

A. It focuses on ritualistic behavior by well-known individuals.
B. It builds on research in sport psychology.
C. It includes superstitious rituals in its scope.
D. It expands its scope to account for reasons and effects.
E. It values experiments more than it values observation.

3 
 3. Which of the following, if true, provides the least support for the research in sport psychology mentioned in the last sentence of the passage?

A. A soccer player, who believed that he had received "a lucky ball" in a game, scored two goals in the first ten minutes of a game.
B. A sprinter, who practiced his run for exactly 13 minutes before his 100-meter sprint, broke his earlier record of best timing.
C. An archer, who read aloud his prayers before a contest, found himself adequately focused during a strenuous competition.
D. A novice boxer, who practiced 51 punches with the left arm and 49 punches with the right arm before a fight, confidently fought an Olympic gold-medalist.
E. A golf player, who routinely imagined a line between the golf ball and the hole before every shot, took the least number of shots to reach the farthest hole.

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vasu1104 · Answer

passage 1 = two view on rituals has been discussed. traditional approach has been observational whereas the modern routine has been more of rational and effective. 
 passage 2= two scientists have done some research and revealed that rituals can have impact on thoughts, feelings and behavior. they focused on the rituals of sports player before their matches. their research was consistent with research in sport psychology.

Que 1.  A,C,D,E are easy to eliminate. the passage is not concerned with why particular practice is common nor does it criticize an earlier approach. it doesnt even try to distinguish among several ways and is not questioning any accepted explanation. only B defines the proper scope of the passage. passage B focuses on what the rituals do on person from overall side.

Que 2. A,C,E are easy to eliminate. B is close but it was not build on sport psychology rather its results were consistent with results of sport psychology. D does the job for us. the modern approach just expands it scope and include stuff that had not been included before.

Que 3. B,C,D,E are written based on the info given in the passage. only A is out of line.

Dereno · Answer

1. The passage is primarily concerned with

A. explaining why a particular practice is so common.

The passage is about the common practices or rituals in place. Not specific to a particular practice. Hence, Wrong.

B. elaborating an approach to understand the effects of a particular practice.
 
The first passage speaks about rituals from two perspectives, and the subsequent passage deals with how the rituals have helped sports players across different disciplines. The passage concludes that as with sports person, the rituals have paid dividends. Hence, correct answer.

C. criticizing an earlier approach used to study a common practice.

No where in this passage , has been a tone of criticism or condemnation or debate in any form. Hence, Wrong.

D. distinguishing among several different ways in which a practice is followed.

Different ways is not explained, but how different players who maintained a ritual to accomplish greater goals. Hence, wrong.

E. questioning a widely accepted explanation for an unusual practice.

The passage is not questioning the practise of ritual, but trying to understand how these rituals have made sports person achieve their goals.

Option B

2. According to the passage, the modern approach towards studying rituals differs from the traditional approach in which of the following ways?

The initial paragraph mentions about the difference between traditional ritual vs modern ritual. These lines : “   traditional approach towards studying rituals has been primarily observational. Modern researchers go beyond and suggest that rituals may be  rational  and  effective  ”.

Modern approach has been more rational , seeking an answer and explanation for that particular ritual. While the traditional approach is basically you observe how things are done and imitate them over due course of time.

A. It focuses on ritualistic behavior by well-known individuals.

The aspects is on rituals and not in the perspective of who does it. How and why is the centre of debate. Hence, wrong.

B. It builds on research in sport psychology.

Sports psychology is one of the aspects which explains the application of rituals. Hence, wrong.

C. It includes superstitious rituals in its scope.

Rituals in general, and we are not speaking about superstitions in specific. Out of scope, wrong answer.

D. It expands its scope to account for reasons and effects.

This option resonates on the earlier lines mentioned above. Hence, correct.

E. It values experiments more than it values observation.

There is no comparison or weightage on which is superior or given greater importance. Hence, wrong.

Option D

3. Which of the following, if true, provides the least support for the research in sport psychology mentioned in the last sentence of the passage?

A. A soccer player, who believed that he had received "a lucky ball" in a game, scored two goals in the first ten minutes of a game.

The ritual is not about belief alone, as sports psychology is a modern form of ritual, where a sports person does a routine to achieve a desired outcome. Here, this option speaks about lucky ball, and then he performs. Fantasy aspect is not ritual. Hence, correct answer.

B. A sprinter, who practiced his run for exactly 13 minutes before his 100-meter sprint, broke his earlier record of best timing.

C. An archer, who read aloud his prayers before a contest, found himself adequately focused during a strenuous competition.

D. A novice boxer, who practiced 51 punches with the left arm and 49 punches with the right arm before a fight, confidently fought an Olympic gold-medalist.

E. A golf player, who routinely imagined a line between the golf ball and the hole before every shot, took the least number of shots to reach the farthest hole.

Option A

ExpertsGlobal5 · Answer

Mind-map  
   
 To mention that modern researchers believe rituals to be rational and effective (Paragraph 1) 
 To detail a new research that showed that rituals improve performance (Paragraph 2) 
   
 = = = = = = = = = = 
 1. The passage is primarily concerned with 
 
a. explaining why a particular practice is so common
 b. elaborating an approach to understand the effects of a particular practice 
c. criticizing an earlier approach used to study a common practice
d. distinguishing among several different ways in which a practice is followed
e. questioning a widely accepted explanation for an unusual practice
 
Question Type: Structure
 
 Explanation:  
   
 As the mind-map indicates, the first paragraph mentions that modern researchers believe rituals to be rational and effective, and the second paragraph details a new research that showed that rituals improve performance. It can be inferred that   the passage primarily deals with the research that looks at rationalization and the effects of rituals  . The answer choice that does justice to this summary is the correct answer choice. 
 
A. Trap. The first paragraph mentions that “anthropologists have documented rituals across cultures”; it can be inferred that the practice of rituals is common; however,   the passage doesn’t talk about why the practice of rituals is so common  ; also, to make this suggestion is not the primary concern in the passage. As the mind-map indicates, the first paragraph mentions that modern researchers believe rituals to be rational and effective, and the second paragraph details new research that showed that rituals improve performance; it can be inferred that the passage primarily deals with the research that looks at rationalization and the effects of rituals. Incorrect.
 
B.  Correct.  As the mind-map indicates, the first paragraph mentions that modern researchers believe rituals to be rational and effective, and the second paragraph details new research that showed that rituals improve performance; it can be inferred that   the passage primarily deals with the research that looks at rationalization and the effects of rituals  ; in other words, the passage is primarily concerned with elaborating an approach to understand the effects of a particular practice, as the answer choice mentions. 
 
C. The first paragraph mentions that “While anthropologists have documented rituals across cultures decades ago, traditional approach towards studying rituals has been primarily observational. Modern researchers go beyond and suggest that rituals may be rational and effective”; although the passage suggests that the modern approach follows a different line of thought and goes beyond the traditional approach,   the passage does not criticize the traditional approach  ; so, it is incorrect to state that the passage is primarily concerned with criticizing an earlier approach used to study a common practice. As the mind-map indicates, the first paragraph mentions that modern researchers believe rituals to be rational and effective, and the second paragraph details new research that showed that rituals improve performance; it can be inferred that the passage primarily deals with the research that looks at rationalization and the effects of rituals. Incorrect.
 
D. The second paragraph mentions that “Gino and Norton focused on studying ritualistic behavior by sports legends” and goes on to list a few rituals followed by different sports legends; although these rituals can be inferred to be “several different ways” in which the practice of rituals is followed,   the passage does not “distinguish among” these several different ways;   even if it did, to make this distinction is not the primary concern in the passage. As the mind-map indicates, the first paragraph mentions that modern researchers believe rituals to be rational and effective, and the second paragraph details new research that showed that rituals improve performance; it can be inferred that the passage primarily deals with the research that looks at rationalization and the effects of rituals. Incorrect.
 
E. The first paragraph mentions that “anthropologists have documented rituals across cultures”; it can be inferred that the practice of rituals is common;   the passage does not regard rituals as an “unusual practice”  . Additionally, the passage does not refer to any “widely accepted explanation” of the practice of rituals. As the mind-map indicates, the first paragraph mentions that modern researchers believe rituals to be rational and effective, and the second paragraph details new research that showed that rituals improve performance; it can be inferred that the passage primarily deals with the research that looks at rationalization and the effects of rituals. Incorrect.
 
  B is the best choice.  
 = = = = = = = = = =
  
 2. According to the passage, the modern approach towards studying rituals differs from the traditional approach in which of the following ways? 
 
a. It focuses on ritualistic behavior by well-known individuals.
b. It builds on research in sport psychology.
c. It includes superstitious rituals in its scope.
 d. It expands its scope to account for reasons and effects. 
 e.  It values experiments more than it values observation.
 
Question Type: Fact 
 
 Explanation:  
 
 The first paragraph mentions that “While anthropologists have documented rituals across cultures decades ago, traditional approach towards studying rituals has been primarily observational. Modern researchers go beyond and suggest that rituals may be rational and effective”. The passage suggests that   the traditional approach focused primarily on observation of rituals, whereas the modern approach seeks to explore rationalization and the effects of rituals  . The answer choice that does justice to this summary is the correct answer choice. 
 
A. Trap. The first paragraph mentions that “Modern researchers go beyond and suggest that rituals may be rational and effective”; to cite an example of this approach, the second paragraph mentions that “Most recently, a series of investigations by behavioral scientists Gino and Norton” focused on studying “ritualistic behavior by sports legends”;   “ritualistic behavior by well-known individuals” is the focus of a particular research, not the core principle behind the new approach     towards studying rituals  , ruling out the possibility that focus on ritualistic behavior by well-known individuals is a point of difference between the traditional and modern approaches. Furthermore, the passage suggests that the traditional approach focused primarily on observation of rituals, whereas the modern approach seeks to explore rationalization and the effects of rituals. Incorrect.
 
B. Trap. The second paragraph mentions that the findings of the new research by Gino and Norton are “consistent with research in sport psychology”;   the passage doesn’t suggest that the modern approach towards studying rituals, as a matter of principle, builds on the research in sport psychology  . Moreover, Gino and Norton focused on studying ritualistic behavior by “sports legends”, but   the modern approach towards studying rituals has a broader scope and does not confine itself to “sports” rituals.   Furthermore, the passage suggests that the traditional approach focused primarily on observation of rituals, whereas the modern approach seeks to explore rationalization and the effects of rituals. Incorrect.
 
C. The second paragraph mentions that “Gino and Norton focused on studying ritualistic behavior by sports legends” and goes on to list a few rituals followed by different sports legends, before questioning whether “superstitious rituals like these actually improve performance”; although it can be inferred that the new research, which is cited as an example of the modern approach, includes superstitious rituals in its scope,   there is no reference to whether the traditional approach included superstitious rituals in its scope  . Additionally, because the first paragraph mentions that “anthropologists have documented rituals across cultures decades ago”,   it is likely that some superstitious rituals are part of the studies carried out in the traditional approach  . Considering both these references, the passage does not provide enough information to state that the modern approach differs from the traditional approach because the modern approach includes superstitious rituals in its scope. Furthermore, the passage suggests that the traditional approach focused primarily on observation of rituals, whereas the modern approach seeks to explore rationalization and the effects of rituals. Incorrect.
 
D.  Correct.  The first paragraph mentions that “While anthropologists have documented rituals across cultures decades ago, the traditional approach towards studying rituals has been primarily observational. Modern researchers go beyond and suggest that rituals may be rational and effective”; the passage suggests that   the traditional approach focused primarily on observation of rituals, whereas the modern approach seeks to explore rationalization and the effects of rituals;   in other words, the modern approach differs from the traditional approach because the modern approach expands its scope to account for reasons and effects, as the answer choice mentions.
 
E. The second paragraph mentions that “Gino and Norton conducted hundreds of experiments”; although it can be inferred that the new research, which is cited as an example of the modern approach, includes experiments; however,   the passage does not suggest that the modern approach “values experiments more than observation” as a principle of studying rituals  . Also,   there is no reference to whether, and how, the traditional approach valued experiments and observation  . Considering both these references, the passage does not provide enough information to state that the modern approach differs from the traditional approach because the modern approach values experiments more than observation. Furthermore, the passage suggests that the traditional approach focused primarily on observation of rituals, whereas the modern approach seeks to explore rationalization and the effects of rituals. Incorrect.
 
  D is the best choice.

3. Which of the following, if true, provides the least support for the research in sport psychology mentioned in the last sentence of the passage?  
 
 a. A soccer player, who believed that he had received "a lucky ball" in a game, scored two goals in the first ten minutes of a game. 
b. A sprinter, who practiced his run for exactly 13 minutes before his 100-meter sprint, broke his earlier record of best timing.
c. An archer, who read aloud his prayers before a contest, found himself adequately focused during a strenuous competition.
d. A novice boxer, who practiced 51 punches with the left arm and 49 punches with the right arm before a fight, confidently fought an Olympic gold-medalist.
e. A golf player, who routinely imagined a line between the golf ball and the hole before every shot, took the least number of shots to reach the farthest hole.
 
Highlight Required:  research in sport psychology 
 
Question Type: Inference
 
 Explanation: 
 
 The second paragraph mentions that the findings of the new research by Gino and Norton “are consistent with research in sport psychology demonstrating the performance benefits of pre-performance routines, from improving attention and execution to increasing emotional stability and confidence”. In order to support the research in highlighted text,   one needs to find evidence that links “pre-performance routines” to “performance benefits”   such as “from improving attention and execution to increasing emotional stability and confidence”. Each answer choice needs to be carefully evaluated. 
 
A.  Correct.  In the case of a soccer player, who believed that he had received "a lucky ball" in a game, scoring two goals in the first ten minutes of a game,   there is no reference to any “pre-performance routine” that can be linked to “performance benefit” of     the soccer player scoring two goals     in the first ten minutes of a game  ; because the link between “pre-performance routines” to “performance benefits” is missing, the answer choice provides no support to the research in sport psychology mentioned in the last sentence of the passage, making the answer choice correct.
 
B. In the case of a sprinter, who practiced his run for exactly 13 minutes before his 100-meter sprint, breaking his earlier record of best timing,   there is a reference to the “pre-performance routine”   of “running for exactly 13 minutes before his 100-meter sprint”   that can be linked to the “performance benefit”   of “breaking his earlier record of best timing” which suggests improved “attention and execution”; because the link between “pre-performance routine” to “performance benefit” is established, the answer choice provides support to the research in sport psychology mentioned in the last sentence of the passage, making the answer choice incorrect.
 
C. In the case of an archer, who read aloud his prayers before a contest, finding himself adequately focused during a strenuous competition,   there is a reference to the “pre-performance routine”   of “reading aloud his prayers before a contest”   that can be linked to the “performance benefit”   of “finding himself adequately focused during a strenuous competition” which suggests increased “emotional stability and confidence”; because the link between “pre-performance routine” to “performance benefit” is established, the answer choice provides support to the research in sport psychology mentioned in the last sentence of the passage, making the answer choice incorrect.
 
D. In the case of a novice boxer, who practiced 51 punches with the left arm and 49 punches with the right arm before a fight, confidently fighting an Olympic gold-medalist,   there is a reference to the “pre-performance routine”   of “practicing 51 punches with the left arm and 49 punches with the right arm before a fight”   that can be linked to the “performance benefit”   of “confidently fighting an Olympic gold-medalist” which suggests increased “emotional stability and confidence”; because the link between “pre-performance routine” to “performance benefit” is established, the answer choice provides support to the research in sport psychology mentioned in the last sentence of the passage, making the answer choice incorrect.
 
E. In the case of a golf player, who routinely imagined a line between the golf ball and the hole before every shot, taking the least number of shots to reach the farthest hole,   there is a reference to the “pre-performance routine”   of “routinely imagining a line between the golf ball and the hole before every shot”   that can be linked to the “performance benefit”   of “taking the least number of shots to reach the farthest hole” which suggests improved “attention and execution”; because the link between “pre-performance routine” to “performance benefit” is established, the answer choice provides support to the research in sport psychology mentioned in the last sentence of the passage, making the answer choice incorrect.
 
  A is the best choice.  
 = = = = = = = = = =

While anthropologists have documented rituals across cultures decades

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While anthropologists have documented rituals across cultures decades

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