TOEFL Reading Complete the Words Practice 032Biases in Everyday Decisions

TOEFL Reading Complete the Words Practice #032 - Biases in Everyday Decisions

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Complete the text with the missing letters.

TOEFL Reading Complete the Words Practice #032 - Biases in Everyday Decisions

Everyday decisions often feel deliberate, yet people may use mental shortcuts that simplify judgment while also introducing systematic bias. Confirmation bias leads indi to seek or remember evi that supports an exi belief and to disr information that challenges it. The anchoring effect occurs when an ini number or suggestion exerts disp influence: after seeing a high first price, a buyer may treat lower prices as reasonable without inde assessing value. Availability bias arises when vivid, recent, or easily rec examples seem more common or pro than they actually are; dramatic events can therefore distort estimates of risk. Recognizing these tendencies does not remove them aut, but comparing sources, considering alternatives, and delaying a conclusion can reduce their influence.

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Answer Explanations Reveals the correct words

1.individuals
“Individuals” is the plural noun for the people affected by confirmation bias. In “leads individuals to seek,” it is the object of “leads” and the understood subject of “to seek.”
2.evidence
“Evidence” is the noun naming the information that people seek or remember. The following clause—“that supports an existing belief”—describes this evidence and explains why it attracts attention under confirmation bias.
3.existing
“Existing” is an adjective modifying “belief.” It means the belief is already held before the person encounters new evidence, which is essential to the meaning of confirmation bias.
4.disregard
“Disregard” is a verb meaning ignore or pay no attention to. It is parallel to “seek” and “remember”: people seek or remember supporting information but disregard information that challenges their belief.
5.initial
“Initial” is an adjective modifying “number or suggestion.” It means the first information presented, matching the later example of a “first price” that becomes an anchor.
6.disproportionate
“Disproportionate” modifies “influence” and means excessively large relative to what is reasonable. The anchor affects judgment more strongly than its actual relevance justifies.
7.independently
“Independently” is an adverb modifying “assessing.” It shows that the buyer does not evaluate value separately from the first price; the ending “-ly” signals its adverb function.
8.recalled
“Recalled” means brought back to mind. In “vivid, recent, or easily recalled examples,” it works with “easily” and is parallel to the other descriptive words modifying “examples.”
9.probable
“Probable” is an adjective meaning likely to happen or be true. It is parallel to “common” after “seem”: memorable examples can make events seem more common or more likely than they really are.
10.automatically
“Automatically” is an adverb modifying “remove.” It emphasizes that merely recognizing biases does not eliminate them immediately or without additional effort; the paragraph therefore ends by recommending deliberate corrective strategies.