You Can Buy Happiness

People tend to be happiest when they purchase...

• the best possible deal.

• something that instantly rewards them.

• something that makes their friends and family happy.

• an experience they get to take part in.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

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Which of the following is NOT a reason why people receive more joy from experiential purchases?

• They can spend time with friends.

• They look forward to something special.

• They can impress other people.

• They experience something with people who share the same interests.

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CCSS.RI.9-10.2

Part A: Which of the following best describes the central idea of the article?

• People gain just as much joy from buying temporary experiences as they do from buying lasting products.

• People like buying experiences and products, but they gain more joy from the experiences they purchase than the products.

• People feel negatively about buying products and positively about buying experiences.

• People gain more joy from buying experiences than buying products, but scientists have no explanation for why this happens.

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Part B: Which paragraph from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• Paragraph 5

• Paragraph 6

• Paragraph 11

• Paragraph 12

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

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Part 1: According to the information in the article, what is the relationship between happiness and anticipating experiences?

• The longer people have to wait to experience something, the more anxious and less happy they become.

• When people know more about what to expect from a product they anticipate buying, they experience more joy buying it.

• People are less likely to outspend one another on experiences than products, which leads to increased happiness for those who buy experiences.

• While anticipating future experiences, people often imagine what they will be like, which increases their joy and excitement.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

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Part 2: Which of the following quotes from the text supports the answer to Part 1?

• "their feelings about material purchases were more likely to be tinged with feelings of impatience" (Paragraph 5)

• "'If you're waiting to buy an iPhone, you know exactly how many megapixels the camera on the new phone will have,' Kumar told Shots." (Paragraph 7)

• "just thinking about all the things they'll be doing and all the fun they'll be having can boost their mood." (Paragraph 7)

• "People may be competitive when it comes to keeping up with the Joneses, but tend to be less competitive about spending on experiences." (Paragraph 8)

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How does the final sentence of the article contribute to the meaning of the text?

"We bet nobody's gotten into a fight while waiting for that oyster party."

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CCSS.RI.11-12.10

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How does the author’s use of the phrase “keeping up with the Joneses” in paragraph 8 help illustrate their point?

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How does the author’s use of the word “scuffles” in paragraph 12 help illustrate their point?

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How does the use of the word “tend” in paragraph 2 add to the author’s credibility?

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