In the passage, the author's primary purpose is to:

Explain the psychological reasons behind why some people enjoy being scared.

Provide a detailed historical account of the development of roller coasters.

Argue that everyone should experience fear-inducing situations to build confidence.

Promote the idea that overcoming fear in a safe environment is universally enjoyable.

The author mentions the research of David Zald to:

Support the idea that brain chemistry varies among individuals in response to fear.

Provide evidence of the harmful effects of fear-inducing experiences.

Discuss the historical development of haunted houses.

What is the definition of "self-esteem" as used in the passage?

A sense of confidence and self-worth

What does "flashbulb memories" refer to in the passage?

Memories that involve the recall of traumatic events

Memories related to bright flashes of light during fear-inducing experiences

Memories that are triggered by haunted attractions

Memories that involve the release of dopamine in the brain

What is the meaning of "cognitive dissonance" in the passage?

The discomfort of holding conflicting beliefs or attitudes

The fear of cognitive processes

A feeling of confusion and fear

According to the passage, what does "precursors" mean in the sentence "The 19th century also brought the precursors to the haunted attraction industry"?

Haunted attractions for children

What does the author imply about the relationship between shared fear experiences and bonding?

Shared fear experiences can lead to stronger attachments and relationships.

Shared fear experiences have no impact on bonding.

Shared fear experiences always create fear and distance between individuals.

Shared fear experiences are primarily used to manipulate others.

Based on the passage, the author's point of view on scaring oneself for fun is:

Strongly supportive, arguing that it is a universal and essential experience.

Neutral, presenting both sides of the argument without taking a stance.

Critical, suggesting that it is a harmful and dangerous practice.

Ambiguous, leaving the reader to interpret the author's perspective.

The author's use of examples such as the Russian Ice Slides and Barnum's American Museum serves to:

Provide historical context and examples of early forms of entertainment involving fear.

Illustrate the dangers of early thrill-seeking activities.

Highlight the popularity of roller coasters in the 19th century.

Show that these examples are unrelated to the enjoyment of fear-inducing experiences.

What is the main argument or claim made by the author in the passage?

People enjoy being scared because it helps them overcome fear.

Roller coasters are the best form of thrilling entertainment.

Haunted houses should be avoided due to their traumatizing effects.

Fear-inducing experiences have no impact on bonding between individuals.

What evidence does the author provide to support the claim about why people enjoy being scared?

Research on dopamine and brain chemistry

The popularity of ghost stories

Examples of haunted attractions in the 19th century

How does the author support the claim that shared fear experiences can lead to stronger relationships?

By citing a scientific study on the release of bonding hormones

By discussing the historical development of haunted houses

By presenting data on the number of people who visit roller coasters

By sharing personal anecdotes of enjoyable fear experiences

What is the author's purpose in discussing the history of roller coasters and other forms of thrill-seeking?