Understanding Conjuring and Skepticism

James Randi discusses the art of conjuring and the assumptions audiences make. He critiques psychics and their deceptive practices, highlighting the financial and emotional harm they cause. Randi challenges psychics like Sylvia Browne with a million-dollar prize for proving paranormal abilities. He explains the fallacies of homeopathy and emphasizes the need for education to combat pseudoscience. Randi calls for action against media-promoted nonsense and encourages sensible thinking.

What does the speaker prefer to be called instead of a magician?

• Wizard

• Illusionist

• Sorcerer

• Conjurer

What assumption did the audience make about the speaker's glasses?

• They were sunglasses

• They were empty frames

• They were reading glasses

• They were prescription glasses

What is the speaker's opinion on people claiming to communicate with the dead?

• He supports them

• He is skeptical

• He is indifferent

• He believes them

What is the process called that psychics use to gather information from people?

• Cold reading

• Mind reading

• Future telling

• Hot reading

Who is mentioned as a big operator in the psychic field?

• James Van Praagh

• David Blaine

• Derren Brown

• Criss Angel

What does the James Randi Educational Foundation offer for proving paranormal abilities?

• A trophy

• A million-dollar prize

• A certificate

• A scholarship

What did Sylvia Browne do regarding the million-dollar challenge?

• Accepted and withdrew

• Won it

• Accepted and completed it

• Ignored it

What is the principle behind homeopathy according to the speaker?

• Concentrated doses

• Chemical synthesis

• Dilution beyond Avogadro's limit

• Herbal remedies

What analogy does the speaker use to describe homeopathy?

• A grain of sand in the desert

• A needle in a haystack

• A drop in the ocean

• An aspirin in Lake Tahoe

What does the speaker believe is crucial to combat belief in the paranormal?

• Increased funding

• Government intervention

• More media coverage

• Education and critical thinking