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Practice Listening: Multiple Choice, Multiple Answers ID: #44043 Short An eccentric
Instructions ›
Listen to the recording and answer the question by selecting all the correct responses. You will need to select more than one response.

Transcript:

An eccentric is by definition someone whose behaviour is abnormal, someone who refuses to conform to the accepted norms of his society. This, of course, immediately begs the question, "What is normal?" Most of us, after all, have our quirks and oddities. It may be a passion for entering newspaper competitions, a compulsion for collecting beer mats, a tendency to write indignant letters to the press on every conceivable subject. Eccentricity is the assertion of our individuality. Within most of us that urge is constantly in conflict with the contrary force. It is as though in the depths of our psyche we have two locomotives head-to-head on the same track, pushing against each other. One is called individualism and the other conformity and in most of us it is conformity that is the more powerful. The desire to be accepted, loved, appreciated, to feel at one with our fellows, is stronger than the desire to stand out in the crowd, to be our own man, to do our own thing.

Which two options best capture the central themes of the paragraph?

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Result:

AI explanationShows the answer. Tap to open.
Option 2: "Individualism and conformity are opposing forces within most people."

Explanation: This option is correct as it directly reflects the text's description of individualism and conformity as two opposing forces. The author uses the metaphor of two locomotives pushing against each other to illustrate this conflict, highlighting that both exist within most individuals.

Option 1: "Eccentric people are always appreciated in society for their uniqueness."

Explanation: This option is incorrect because the text does not state that eccentric people are always appreciated. In fact, it suggests that conformity is often more powerful than individualism, implying that eccentric behavior may not always be valued or accepted by society.

Option 3: "Collecting items is a clear sign of eccentric behavior."

Explanation: This option is incorrect because while the text mentions collecting beer mats as an example of eccentric behavior, it does not establish that collecting items is a definitive sign of eccentricity. The focus is more on the broader concept of individualism versus conformity.

Option 4: "The urge to conform often overpowers the desire for individualism."

Explanation: This option is correct as it aligns with the text's assertion that the desire to conform is stronger than the desire to express individuality. The author emphasizes that conformity is the more powerful force in most people, supporting this statement.

Option 5: "Eccentricity is unrelated to personal expression or individuality."

Explanation: This option is incorrect because the text clearly connects eccentricity to personal expression and individuality. It describes eccentricity as an assertion of individuality, which contradicts the claim that it is unrelated.

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