Question

Direction: Read the following passage and answer the THREE questions that follow.
Socrates believed that akrasia (meaning procrastination) was, strictly speaking, impossible, since we could not want what is bad for us; if we act against our own interests, it must be because we don’t know what’s right. Loewenstein, similarly, is inclined to see the procrastinator as led astray by the “visceral” rewards of the present. As the nineteenth-century Scottish economist John Rae put it, “The prospects of future good, which future years may hold on us, seem at such a moment dull and dubious, and are apt to be slighted, for objects on which the daylight is falling strongly, and showing us in all their freshness just within our grasp.” Loewenstein also suggests that our memory for the intensity of visceral rewards is deficient: when we put off preparing for that meeting by telling ourselves that we’ll do it tomorrow, we fail to take into account that tomorrow the temptation to put off work will be just as strong.
Ignorance might also affect procrastination through what the social scientist Jon Elster calls “the planning fallacy.” Elster thinks that people underestimate the time “it will take them to complete a given task, partly because they fail to take account of how long it has taken them to complete similar projects in the past and partly because they rely on smooth scenarios in which accidents or unforeseen problems never occur.”
Which of the following statements can be BEST inferred from the passage about procrastination?

• A. It is an act against our own interests because of our ignorance.
• B. It is a tendency of postponing the present work to the future.
• C. It is a mistake that happens due to myopic vision and linear thinking.
• D. It is an irrational delay of task despite potentially negative consequences.
• E. It is a success of self-regulation and planning.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

To determine the best inference from the passage, let's examine the key concepts and ideas mentioned:

• Socrates' Belief: Akrasia (procrastination) arises from ignorance since a person cannot knowingly act against their own interests. This implies that individuals act against their interests because they are unaware of what is ultimately beneficial for them.
• Loewenstein's View: Procrastination is driven by the allure of immediate rewards. The temporary rewards distract individuals from future benefits, implying that procrastination is often due to lack of foresight.
• John Rae's Perspective: People tend to focus on present, tangible rewards rather than future, uncertain benefits. This ties into the idea of myopic vision, where short-term gains overshadow long-term interests.
• Jon Elster's Planning Fallacy: People misjudge how long tasks take due to overly simplistic planning and past ignorance, contributing to procrastination.

Now, let's review the given options and match them to the passage's discussion:

It is an act against our own interests because of our ignorance.

1. - This directly correlates with Socrates' belief and the overall passage theme that ignorance often leads to procrastination.

It is a tendency of postponing the present work to the future.

1. - While this describes procrastination, it does not address the underlying reason (ignorance) discussed in the passage.

It is a mistake that happens due to myopic vision and linear thinking.

1. - This can be linked to John Rae's perspective, but it does not capture the main theme regarding ignorance.

It is an irrational delay of task despite potentially negative consequences.

1. - Though accurate, it misses the focus on ignorance as the root cause.

It is a success of self-regulation and planning.

1. - This is not supported by the passage as procrastination is not depicted positively.

The best-suited inference from the passage is Option 1: "It is an act against our own interests because of our ignorance." This aligns with the passage's emphasis on ignorance as a central cause of procrastination.

Answer 2

To solve this comprehension problem, we need to identify the statement that can be best inferred from the passage about procrastination. The passage highlights opinions from Socrates, Loewenstein, and Elster which revolve around the theme of procrastination being linked with ignorance and misestimations of time and rewards. Here's a detailed breakdown:

• Socrates' View: Procrastination occurs not because we intentionally act against our interests, but because of ignorance—we don't truly understand what's beneficial for us.
• Loewenstein's Perspective: Our focus on immediate rewards leads to procrastination, as these present rewards overshadow future benefits.
• Elster's Planning Fallacy: Suggests that procrastination is due to underestimating the time required for tasks, partly due to ignorance of past experiences and unforeseen problems.

The correct answer aligns with these interpretations: "It is an act against our own interests because of our ignorance." The passage highlights ignorance as a key factor leading to procrastination, where individuals misjudge time and rewards, aligning with the correct option.