Why Do People Love Competition?
Explore what makes competition exciting, how it brings people together, and when the desire to win can cause problems.
Preview
Questions with solutions-
1. Pilih jawaban yang benar.
Why does Ben enjoy this competition?
Ben plays board games with friends. There are no prizes, but everyone laughs and enjoys trying to win.
- It helps him earn money.
- It gives him a chance to have fun with friends.
- It helps him prepare for a professional contest.
Notice what the friends enjoy during the game.
Show solution
- It gives him a chance to have fun with friends.
Competition can feel rewarding even when nobody receives a prize.
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2. Isi bagian yang kosong.
A running race offers a gift card to the winner. Leo enters mainly because he wants that gift card. His main reason for competing is the ___.
- prize
- exercise
- company
Think about what Leo hopes to receive.
Show solution
A running race offers a gift card to the winner. Leo enters mainly because he wants that gift card. His main reason for competing is the prize.
A prize is a reward from outside the activity, unlike the pleasure of running itself.
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3. Pilih jawaban yang benar.
What would count as success for Rosa?
Rosa wants to finish her next race faster than her last one. She does not care how many runners finish before her.
- Finishing ahead of every other runner.
- Running at exactly her usual speed.
- Beating her own previous time.
Who is Rosa comparing herself with?
Show solution
- Beating her own previous time.
Competing against your own past performance lets you measure progress without needing to beat anyone else.
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4. Isi bagian yang kosong.
The school publishes the writing contest winner's name. Max hopes his classmates will admire his achievement. For him, the main reward is ___.
- private advice
- public praise
- a cash payment
Max wants other people to notice his success.
Show solution
The school publishes the writing contest winner's name. Max hopes his classmates will admire his achievement. For him, the main reward is public praise.
Being recognized by others can motivate people even when a contest offers no money.
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5. Pilih jawaban yang benar.
Why is this rule important?
At a puzzle contest, every player receives the same puzzle and the same amount of time.
- It gives players an equal chance to show their skill.
- It makes every player finish together.
- It allows less experienced players extra time.
Think about whether anyone gets a special advantage.
Show solution
- It gives players an equal chance to show their skill.
Equal conditions help make the result depend on performance rather than special treatment.
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6. Isi bagian yang kosong.
The score is tied just before the end of the game. Both teams still have a chance to win. Fans feel excited because the result is ___.
- final
- already settled
- uncertain
Do the fans know who will win yet?
Show solution
The score is tied just before the end of the game. Both teams still have a chance to win. Fans feel excited because the result is uncertain.
Not knowing what will happen can keep people interested until the final moment.
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7. Pilih jawaban yang benar.
How does losing help Jordan?
After a chess match, Jordan studies the move that led to his defeat. He practices how to handle a similar situation next time.
- It proves that practice is unnecessary.
- It shows him a specific skill to improve.
- It guarantees that he will win his next match.
Focus on what Jordan learns from the match.
Show solution
- It shows him a specific skill to improve.
A loss can provide useful information, but improvement still takes practice.
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8. Pilih jawaban yang benar.
How does competition affect these teammates?
A team enters a quiz contest. One member knows history, another knows science, and another knows music. They share ideas before giving their answers.
- They cooperate to compete against other teams.
- They avoid using each other's knowledge.
- They compete for separate prizes within the team.
Think about who their opponents are.
Show solution
- They cooperate to compete against other teams.
Competition between groups can encourage cooperation inside each group.
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9. Pilih jawaban yang benar.
What makes watching the game meaningful for Elena?
Elena cheers for her city's team. She has never met the players, but she feels connected to the other local fans.
- A chance to improve her own playing skills.
- A chance to receive part of the team's prize.
- A feeling of belonging to a group.
Notice her connection with the other fans.
Show solution
- A feeling of belonging to a group.
Supporting a team can give people a shared identity, even when they are not playing.
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10. Pilih jawaban yang benar.
Why does Sam suddenly feel less successful?
Sam is pleased after reading three books this month. Then he learns that his friend read five. His own reading has not changed, but now he feels behind.
- He has forgotten which books he finished.
- He is judging his progress against someone else's.
- He has received a lower score from his teacher.
What new information changes Sam's feelings?
Show solution
- He is judging his progress against someone else's.
Comparing ourselves with others can change how we feel about the same achievement.
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11. Pilih jawaban yang benar.
Why does Ana take part in this competition?
A training program has more applicants than available places. Ana needs the training for her career, although she would prefer not to compete.
- She enjoys proving that other applicants are weaker.
- She wants the excitement of an uncertain result.
- She wants access to an opportunity with limited places.
Separate what Ana needs from what she enjoys.
Show solution
- She wants access to an opportunity with limited places.
People sometimes compete because an opportunity is limited, not because they enjoy competition.
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12. Pilih jawaban yang benar.
How has Nora's motivation changed?
Nora used to enter drawing contests just for fun. Later, she entered only contests with cash prizes. When the contests stopped offering prizes, she stopped drawing.
- She has become more dependent on rewards.
- She now draws mainly for personal enjoyment.
- She now values practice more than contest results.
What keeps Nora interested near the end of the story?
Show solution
- She has become more dependent on rewards.
Rewards can sometimes shift attention away from enjoying an activity and toward what it pays.
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13. Pilih jawaban yang benar.
What danger does Alex's attitude create?
Before a contest, Alex says, "Winning matters more than following the rules."
- He may value honest effort more than the result.
- He may break the rules to get a better result.
- He may stop caring whether he wins or loses.
What is Alex willing to treat as less important?
Show solution
- He may break the rules to get a better result.
When winning becomes the only goal, fair play can seem less important. That can damage trust between competitors.
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14. Pilih jawaban yang benar.
Why could Mei's plan hurt her performance?
After a close defeat, Mei decides to train hard every day without any rest days. She believes that more training must always mean better results.
- Rest days prevent athletes from making progress.
- A close defeat means further training cannot help.
- Her body needs time to recover from hard training.
Think about what happens between training sessions.
Show solution
- Her body needs time to recover from hard training.
Recovery is part of training. A strong desire to win can become harmful if it leads people to ignore rest.
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15. Pilih jawaban yang benar.
Why might the player make the risky move?
In a game, a safe move guarantees second place. A risky move could lead to first place or last place. Only the winner receives a prize.
- It is the only move that gives the player a chance to win the prize.
- It guarantees a better finishing position.
- It protects the player's current second-place position.
Compare what each move can achieve under the prize rule.
Show solution
- It is the only move that gives the player a chance to win the prize.
A prize for first place only can make a risky choice attractive, even when a safer choice guarantees a good finish.