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LanguageCert Practice Reading: Part 3: Multi-Text Attribution ID: #60289 Easy Choices at Work and in Life
Instructions ›
Read the four texts below about decision-making. There are seven questions about the texts. Which text gives you the answer to each question? Choose the correct text (A–D) for each question.
A Many people believe that there is only one way to make decisions, and that is to use logical analysis and objective reasoning. In this common view, decision-makers should carefully evaluate all available information, consider the potential outcomes and select the option that maximises their expected benefits. However, this approach assumes a large number of things about a situation in which a decision has to be taken. To be logical and objective, a person must be fully informed, have clear preferences and be able to accurately assess the probabilities of various outcomes. In the commercial world, this may well be the case. For example, a manager deciding which supplier to choose for a new component should be able to analyse factors such as cost, quality and reliability, weighing the pros and cons of each option to make an informed and rational decision. However, in personal life, most of the information which would make a decision fully objective is not available to the decision-maker, so this approach is not feasible.
B In this book, the author talks about how we make decisions from a behavioural angle. It’s cool to see how a psychologist looks at it, saying our decisions are often swayed by hidden thinking patterns, our feelings at the moment, and social influences. I found the idea of “heuristics” particularly eye-opening. These are mental shortcuts which allow us to solve a problem in the time available with just enough success that we are reasonably satisfied with the result. Apparently, people fall into two broad categories as to whether they’re able to use a heuristic approach successfully. People called ‘satisficers’ set specific criteria and accept the first decision which comes along that satisfies all those to a reasonable extent, so I guess that means they use heuristics. ‘Maximisers’, on the other hand, strive to find the best possible outcome or choice, so they won’t stop looking until all possible options have been considered. The writer doesn’t make a value judgement, but I clearly see now which kind of decision-maker I am!
C Culture’s Consequences, by Geert Hofstede, details the ways in which cultural values, norms and beliefs affect decision-making to a crucial extent. Different cultures have distinct ways of making decisions which can be influenced by factors such as individualism versus collectivism and how much you want to avoid uncertainty. Cultural perspectives emphasise the importance of considering cultural contexts when analysing and understanding decision-making processes. They recognise that cultural factors can shape individuals’ preferences, influence their risk tolerance and affect their perception of decision outcomes. For example, in a collective culture, such as many Asian cultures, decisions may be made after extensive consultation and consensus-building, prioritising harmony and group cohesion over individual preferences. Put simply, the criteria by which the success of a decision will be judged are affected by cultural norms. A final decision may not be of great benefit to the person who makes the decision, but it is deemed successful because it conforms to the expectations of the society.
D In this fascinating programme, the presenter set out to make the case that people, particularly young people, are now far more likely to make a decision on the basis of the extent to which it is ethical than, perhaps, any generation before them. This is not, according to the presenter, because they are inherently more moral. It is because they are exposed to so much information about the effects of bad decisions in the past. Ethical decision-making involves evaluating options in terms of their alignment with ethical principles and values, such as fairness, justice and respect for the planet, and emphasises the need for decision-makers to take responsibility for the consequences of their choices beyond short-term gains or individual interests. For example, when a company’s managers contemplate launching a new product, they need to assess its environmental footprint throughout its life cycle. This ensures their decision adheres to sustainability principles and minimises harm to local ecosystems and the planet.
In which text does the writer define a term related to a form of decision-making?
In which text does the writer detail the involvement of other people in making a choice?
In which text does the writer point out differences based on the age of the decision-maker?
In which text does the writer give a limitation to a particular approach to decision-making?
In which text does the writer highlight the fact that personal gain may not be the key factor in some decision-making?
In which text does the writer emphasise the lasting consequences of a decision beyond its immediate advantages?
In which text does the writer reach a conclusion about how they, personally, make decisions?
AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.

Question Focus: Asks which text gives a clear meaning for a decision-making word.

Why this is correct: Text B defines the word 'heuristics' as mental shortcuts and explains what they do. A clear meaning like this is exactly what 'define a term' asks for.

Question Focus: Asks which text shows how other people take part in a decision.

Why this is correct: Text C shows other people joining in through discussion and agreement in group cultures. That is exactly how others get involved in a choice.

Question Focus: Asks which text links how you decide to how old you are.

Why this is correct: Text D points to age: young people today weigh ethics more than older generations did. That is a difference based on the decision-maker's age.

Question Focus: Asks which text shows where one method of deciding fails.

Why this is correct: Text A shows a limit of the logical method: in personal life you rarely have all the facts, so it cannot really work. That is a clear weakness of the approach.

Question Focus: Asks which text says a good decision is not always about helping yourself.

Why this is correct: Text C says a choice can count as good even if it does not help the decider, as long as it pleases the group. So personal gain is not the main point, just as the question asks.

Question Focus: Asks which text stresses the long-term results of a choice, not just quick wins.

Why this is correct: Text D stresses long-term effects: deciders should think past quick gains and own the lasting results. That matches consequences beyond immediate advantages.

Question Focus: Asks which text ends with the writer realising their own decision style.

Why this is correct: Text B ends with the writer's personal realisation about their own style after reading the book. That is a conclusion about how they themselves decide.

General Tips:

  • Read all four texts first so you can match each question to the right angle.
  • Words like 'I' or 'me' point to a personal opinion or conclusion.
  • For 'define' questions, look for a text that explains what a word means.
  • When two texts touch the same topic, choose the one with the exact detail asked for.

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