Atomic Habits Ch 3 reading and quiz

What was the purpose of Edward Thorndike's experiment with cats in 1898?

• To understand the dietary preferences of cats

• To lay the foundation for our understanding of how habits form and the rules that guide our behavior

• To test the intelligence of cats compared to other animals

• To invent a new type of puzzle for cats

What did Thorndike's puzzle box require the cat to do in order to escape?

• Solve a complex puzzle

• Perform a series of tasks in a specific order

• Press a lever or perform some simple act like pulling a loop of cord

• Answer a riddle

How did the cats' behavior change over the course of the trials in Thorndike's experiment?

• The cats became less interested in escaping

• The cats' behavior did not change; they remained random

• The cats learned to associate the action of pressing the lever with the reward of escaping

• The cats started to cooperate with each other to escape

After how many trials did the cats' behavior in Thorndike's experiment become automatic and habitual?

• After 5 trials

• After 10 trials

• After 20 to 30 trials

• After 50 trials

According to Thorndike's observation, what happened to the cat's performance over time as it practiced escaping from the box?

• The cat took longer to escape each time.

• The cat's escape time did not change.

• The cat escaped more quickly with each trial.

• The cat's performance was unpredictable.

What is the main reason Thorndike's work on cats is considered a starting point for discussing human habits?

• It shows that animals have habits similar to humans.

• It provides insights into the consequences of behaviors.

• It demonstrates the neurological activity in the brain.

• It answers fundamental questions about why the brain builds habits.

What does the brain do when encountering a new situation according to the text?

• It relies on existing habits to respond.

• It makes a decision on how to respond.

• It waits for external instructions.

• It ignores the situation until it becomes familiar.

What triggers the brain to start cataloging events that lead to a reward?

• Repeated failure to solve a problem.

• Stumbling upon an unexpected reward.

• Following a routine habit.

• Analyzing a situation consciously.

What happens to the level of activity in the brain as habits are created?

• It increases

• It decreases

• It remains the same

• It fluctuates unpredictably

According to the text, why does the brain remember the past?

• To relive old memories

• To predict what will work in the future

• To increase cognitive load

• To make life more spontaneous