There are a number of little tricks you can use to increase the likelihood of someone doing what you want them to do. But according to psychology, using the word ‘because’ is one of the easiest ways to practically double the probability of people complying with your request.
A TikTok video currently making the rounds on people’s ‘for you’ page explains the “hypnotic power” of the word ‘because.’
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The power of using the word ‘because’ was first recognized in the 1970s by psychologist Ellen Langer, who was at the time studying how the mind processes information.
Langer surmised that our behavior shapes our thoughts, contrary to the prevailing belief at the time that thoughts determined behavior.
To test her theory, researchers set up an experiment that involved people asking to cut the line for a copy machine. Each person made a request either without giving a reason why they should be able to cut the line (“I have 5 pages. May I use the Xerox machine?”) or with a reason (I have 5 pages. May I use the Xerox machine because I’m in a rush?”).
Langer found that while those who made the request without giving a reason had a 60% success rate of cutting the line, those who made the request while giving a reason were over 90% successful.
The Psychology of ‘Because’
Many scientific studies have come to the same conclusion: humans can’t handle uncertainty.
The internal processes that implore us to know explanations for everything start early in life, as evidenced by the number of times toddlers seemingly never stop asking ‘why’ even though you’ve already explained why 15 times.
Understanding the reason why something is happening gives people a sense of control.
That perceived control is an instinctual “psychological and biological necessity.”
RELATED: The Powerful Psychological Trick To To Make Someone Think About You Nonstop
The key word here is ‘perceived,’ as the truth is, many times we don’t have control over our environment at all, and things will still happen the way they are going to happen whether we recognize why or not.
This perceived control is evident in Langer’s study.
While open-ended questions such as, “May I use the Xerox machine?” leave people wondering, giving a reason as to why the machine is needed, even when the reason was rather absurd (for example, “May I use the Xerox machine because I want to make copies?”), closes that uncertainty loop.
What Langer theorized, then, is that people aren’t actually processing the full request. Instead, the brain reacts to the familiar framework of the request: this is what is needed and why.
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The brain computes that a request is being made and with a reason. If there is a reason, the brain on autopilot assumes it’s a good one, and your body reacts accordingly.
So take note: the next time you’re in need of a favor, be sure to explain why, — even if your “because” isn’t all that compelling.
RELATED: 3 Powerful Psychological Tricks To Make Someone Trust And Respect You
More for You:
Micki Spollen is an editor, writer, and traveler. Follow her on Instagram and keep up with her travels on her website.
A. Complete using the correct form of the words in the box.
course • court • pitch • ring • rink • track
1 We used to go skating at the ice ……………… every Saturday.
2 Keith had never seen such a large golf ……………… until he went to Scotland.
3 We all met at the basketball ……………… at half past three.
4 It’s called a boxing ………………, but it’s actually square!
5 For the 800 metres race, you have to run round the ……………… twice.
6 The football match had to be called off because the ……………… was flooded.
7 Our team ……………… until half time, but in the second half the other team ……………… three goals, and so they ……………… us. But it was a great match!
bat • stick • rod • racket
8 Adrian got a new fishing ……………… for his birthday.
9 Can I borrow your tennis ………………?
10 Why are hockey ……………… such a strange shape?
11 I’d spend hours putting linseed oil on my cricket ……………… to keep the wood strong.
Answers
1 rink 2 course 3 court 4 ring 5 track 6 pitch
7 was winning/scored/beat 8 rod 9 racket
10 sticks 11 bat(s)
B. Circle the correct word or phrase.
1 The umpire / referee blew the whistle and the most important football match I’ve ever played began.
2 We used to play rugby in the winter term, football in the spring term, and we’d do athletics / sport and swimming in the summer term.
3 Do you fancy a game / play of cards?
4 I only do magic tricks for fun. I’ve never thought of becoming an amateur / a professional magician.
5 The play was so boring, we walked out during half time / the interval.
6 Coventry City equalled /drew 3-3 with Sunderland in the match last Saturday.
7 Spectators / Viewers who watched last week’s programme will remember we were looking at the history of baseball.
8 We got through to the final / finale, but then lost to Cirencester.
9 Most people prefer films which have a happy end / ending.
10 Would all opponents / competitors please make their way to the starting line?
Answers
1 referee 2 athletics 3 game 4 professional
5 the interval 6 drew 7 Viewers 8 final
9 ending 10 competitors
C. Complete each second sentence using the word given, so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Write between two and five words in each gap.
1 I don’t know how you can stand getting up so early to go to the pool. put
I don’t know how you can …………………………………… up so early to go to the pool.
2 I’ve finally started sorting out my postcard collection. round
I’ve finally …………………………………… sorting out my postcard collection.
3 What did you do at the weekend? get
What did you …………………………………… at the weekend?
4 I’m not so keen on skiing now I’ve discovered snowboarding. gone
I’ve …………………………………… since I discovered snowboarding.
5 Why do you continue to have riding lessons if you can’t afford them? on
Why do you …………………………………… riding lessons if you can’t afford them?
6 We can’t delay the match any longer. put
We can’t …………………………………… any longer.
Answers
1 put up with getting
2 got round to
3 get up to
4 gone off skiing
5 carry on having
6 put (off) the match (off)
D. Write one word in each gap.
1 Tony never used to want to join ……………… with the other kids in the playground.
2 Look ………………! There’s a car coming!
3 Simone’s ……………… to wearing a helmet whenever she goes cycling.
4 I was thinking of taking ……………… scuba diving until I found out how expensive the equipment is.
5 They were knocked ……………… in the semi-final.
6 Maybe we should bring the meeting ……………… to this Tuesday instead of having it in two weeks’ time.
7 Becca had to pull ……………… of the race when she sprained her ankle.
8 Melissa doesn’t ……………… in for adventure sports.
Answers
1 in 2 out 3 taken 4 up 5 out 6 forward 7 out 8 go
E. Choose the correct answer.
1 Why don’t you …………… a go? It’s not difficult!
A make B have
C do D set
2 Carl wasn’t very good at mountain climbing as he’s afraid of …………… .
A highs B highness
C heights D height
3 There’s little …………… of our getting into the final.
A opportunity
B chance
C luck D fortune
4 Rachel is mad …………… the Eurovision Song Contest.
A from B against
C for D about
5 Just …………… your best – that’s all anyone can ask of you.
A do B make
C be D have
6 It’s …………… time you learned to swim.
A big B tall
C high D far
7 Grandma …………… a lot of pleasure from gardening.
A does B has
C makes D gets
8 …………… your time – don’t rush.
A Tell B Find
C Spend D Take
9 Each player takes it …………… turn to roll the dice.
A on B in
C at D to
10 Time …………… so quickly when you’re doing something enjoyable.
A takes B spends
C passes D finds
11 Our new coach is popular …………… the whole team.
A for B to
C by D with
12 She’d …………… hours lying on her bed, reading.
A spend B take
C make D pass
13 He’d been planning to leave the team the …………… time, and hadn’t told anyone.
A complete B whole
C total D full
14 I’m not siding …………… her because she’s my sister, but because she’s right.
A from B for
C to D with
Answers
1 E 2 C 3 B 4 D 5 A 6 C 7 D
8 D 9 B 10 C 11 D 12 A 13 B 14 D
F. Match to make sentences.
1 I’m not very fond
2 She’s interested
3 You should concentrate
4 I used to find it difficult
5 Let’s listen
6 We stopped
7 The bad weather stopped us
A in playing for the school team.
B to find enough time to have any hobbies.
C to try to find the golf balls we’d lost.
D of playing in goal.
E from finishing the game.
F to what the coach thinks first.
G on getting fit.
Answers
1 D 2 A 3 G 4 B 5 F 6 C 7 E
G. Water has damaged part of this text about sport at school. Read it and decide what you think each of the original words was. Write the words in the blank spaces.
Sport at school
I used to wear glasses when I was at school, and so I (1) ……………… sport very difficult. I wanted to be involved (2) ……………… school sports competitions, and I loved the idea of teams competing (3) ……………… each other, but being on the rugby team, for example, (4) ……………… having to take off my glasses, and that meant (5) ……………… I couldn’t see! And it’s difficult (6) ……………… catch a ball when you can’t see it! So, I wasn’t very good and the captains always (7) ……………… sure that I wasn’t on their team. This meant I (8) ……………… free to do other activities, like being on the debating team, and actually I preferred to (9) ……………… things I was good at doing (10) ……………… than have everyone laugh at me.
Answers
1 found 2 in 3 against/with 4 involved/meant
5 that 6 to 7 made 8 was 9 do 10 rather
H. Complete the sentences by changing the form of the word in capitals when this is necessary.
1 I need to buy a new pair of ……………………. (TRAIN).
2 Ellie used to ……………………. (PRACTICE) for hours to learn to juggle properly.
3 That was the most ……………………. (INTEREST) book I’ve ever read. I can’t wait for the sequel!
4 Would you describe yourself as a ……………………. (COMPETE) person?
5 Many professional basketball players earn a ……………………. (FORTUNE) these days.
6 F.A. stands for Football ……………………. (ASSOCIATE).
7 The gold, silver and bronze ……………………. (MEDAL) took their places on the podium for the presentation ceremony.
8 In Britain, the money parents give their children is often called pocket money. In America, it’s often called an ……………………. (ALLOW).
9 I’m afraid the swimming pool is closed at the moment as they’re carrying out some essential ……………………. (MAINTAIN).
Answers
1 trainers 2 practise 3 interesting 4 competitive
5 fortune 6 Association 7 medallists 8 allowance
9 maintenance
I. Use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits in the gap.
A snooker player speaks
When I first started playing snooker, I had no real (1) ……………………. (KNOW) of the rules. I just thought it looked an (2) ……………………. (ENJOY) game. Also, I didn’t need to buy any expensive (3) ……………………. (EQUIP) because the snooker hall near my house had tables and cues. I spent (4) ……………………. (PRACTICAL) all the free time I had practising, and then decided to enter a (5) ……………………. (COMPETE). It was great fun! My (6) ……………………. (OPPOSE) was someone who’d been playing for years. Of course, he beat me, but the fact that I’d (7) ……………………. (LOSE) didn’t put me off at all. And, (8) ……………………. (FORTUNE), my game improved enough for me to become a professional snooker player three years ago.
Answers
1 knowledge 2 enjoyable 3 equipment
4 practically 5 competition 6 opponent
7 lost 8 fortunately
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Grammar
4. Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first
1. They work for a company that sells computers.
They work for a company which … (sells computers).
2. Jack only played tennis in the past but now he plays rugby.
Jack didn’t … rugby.
3. The car was too small for six people.
The car wasn’t big …
4. It was the most boring film I’ve ever seen.
It was the least …
5. Mr. Jones was the man who helped her getthe job.
The man that …
6. She went to the library because she wanted to borrow a book.
She wanted to borrow a …
5. Correct two mistakes in each sentence.
1. He lost his job so he always was late.
He lost his job because he was always late
2. They never use to like watching sport but they love do it now.
…
3. The better time for me to study is at the night.
…
4. The film is about man which saved the world.
…
5. Did she used to ride a bicycle when she was child?
…
6. Why is he more happier than he use to be?
…
6. Underline the correct answer, a), b) or c)
1 We (b) to play in the street when I was young.
a) use b) used c) didn’t used
2. He’s studying … he wants to pass his exams.
a) so b) to c) because
3. She sent him a letter … contained her address.
a) which b) where c) who
4 Do we have … time to go to the bank?
a) too much b) enough c) very
5 What is … country you have visited?
a) greener b) greenes tc) the greenest
6 It’s hot and our food is covered in … flies.
a) the b) an c) —
Vocabulary
7. Underline the correct alternative
1. She’s thinking about/to changing her job.
She’s thinking about changing her job.
2 Paul gave back/up an extremely well-paid job to work with children from poorfamilies.
3. If they’re bored with their work, they should look on/for new opportunities.
4. We used to dream with/about moving to ahot country and now we are.
5. He’s the multi-billionaire who invested on/in software ten years ago.
6. You should give all those old books away. They take up/out too much space.
8. Match 1–6 to a)–f) to make compound nouns.
1 photocopying f a)store
2 mountain b)features
3 window c) card
4 credit d) shopping
5 department e) range
6 geographical f) room
9. Complete the text with the words in the box
(abroad. coins. go. making. national. outdoors. playing. scenery. travel. treasure)
I spend a lot of time 1abroad for work and 2… around a lot as an actor. Lastyear I spent a month in a 3… park in Costa Rica for a film we were 4 …. there. I was 5 … the part ofa young woman who lives in a 6 …. rainforest. In the film, she finds a box of 7 …. which is full of gold 8 … and she uses this to help hervillage. There were no hotels there, so weslept 9 … in tents. It was an amazingplace and the 10 …. was beautiful. Ididn’t want to 11 …. home!
Function
10. Choose the best response, a), b) or c)
1 A: Which animal is the largest in the world?
B: 1 c)
a) Perhaps it’s running the fastest?
b) Actually, no it can’t be.
c) It might be the blue whal
2. A: Can I help you?
B: No, thanks. 2 …
a) I look for a coat
b) I’m just looking.
c) Can I have a look?
3. A: Does the shirt fit OK?
B: Yes, it’s fine 3 …
a) I’ll take it.
b) I’m sorry.
c) Here’s your receipt.
4. A: Where’s the bookshop, please?
B: 4…
a) I think you have to go to the welfare office.
b) It’s next to the welfare office.
c) It opens at 10.
5 A: You want the lecture theatre? I’ll take you there.
B: 5….
a) Follow me. Thank you.
b) Yes, that’s right.
c) Thank you. That’s very kind
6. A: What’s the world’s largest lake?
B: The largest lake? 6 …
a) It might be.
b) Mmm. Let me think.
c) Maybe it’s in Russia.
11. Complete the conversation with one word in each gap.
A: Are you looking for anything 1in particular?
B: Yes, do you 2_______ those things for hanging pictures on the wall?
A: What? Picture hooks?
B: Yes, that’s it! 3____ I have six, please?
A: Yes, certainly. 4_____ you are.
B: These are 5______. Do you have them ina larger 6____ ?
A: Sorry, we don’t.
B: Is there another shop 7_____ I might find some?
A: I’m not sure. 8_____ Smart’s sell them.
B: Smart’s? Is it near here?
A: Yes. Go out of the shop and 9the first left.
B: Thank you so much
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A. Say what you think about your first days at school. Use the word combinations from the box. Start like this:
I like/don’t like going back to school because … .
to be able to see my friends again, to have to get up early, to play and do sports together, to have to do homework, to learn new things, not to be able to play much, to think that holidays are boring, not to be able to go to bed late
B. Do you think that summer holidays are better than school? Why? Why not?
C. What do you think Jason is like?
reshalka.com
ГДЗ Английский язык 7 класс (часть 1) Афанасьева. UNIT 1. Step 1. Номер №4
Решение
Перевод задания
A. Скажи, что ты думаешь о своих первых днях в школе. Используй словосочетания из таблицы. Начни так:
Мне нравится / не нравится возвращаться в школу, потому что …
чтобы снова увидеться с друзьями, рано вставать, вместе играть и заниматься спортом, делать домашнее задание, узнавать новое, не играть много, думать, что каникулы скучны, не могу поздно ложиться спать
В. Считаешь ли ты, что летние каникулы лучше школы? Почему? Почему нет?
C. Как ты думаешь, каков Джейсон?
ОТВЕТ
A.
I like going back to school because to be able to see my friends again. But I don’t like to get up early. At school we can play and do sports together. But after I come back home I have to do homework. On the lessons we learn new things. During the school year we are not able to play much and to go to bed late. I don’t think that holidays are boring.
B.
I think that summer holidays are better than school. I like to go to bed late and I don’t like to get up early. I like to play much with my friends and I don’t like to do homework. But I like to see my friends again after summer holidays.
C.
Jason Ronald is 14. He goes to school in the USA. He is good at athletics and swimming. Jason like summer holidays and he doesn’t want to go back to school in September. But he enjoys the first days of school because he is happy to meet his friends and talk to them.
Перевод ответа
A.
Мне нравится возвращаться в школу, потому что я снова могу увидеть своих друзей. Но я не люблю вставать рано. В школе мы можем играть и заниматься спортом вместе. Но после того, как я вернусь домой, я должен делать домашнее задание. На уроках мы узнаем много нового. Во время учебного года мы не можем много играть и поздно ложиться спать. Я не думаю, что каникулы скучны.
B.
Я думаю, что летние каникулы лучше, чем в школе. Я люблю поздно ложиться и не хочу вставать рано. Мне очень нравится играть с моими друзьями, и я не люблю делать домашние задания. Но я люблю снова видеть своих друзей после летних каникул.
C.
Джейсону Рональду 14 лет. Он ходит в школу в США. Он хорош в легкой атлетике и плавании. Джейсону нравятся летние каникулы, и он не хочет возвращаться в школу в сентябре. Но ему нравятся первые дни в школе, потому что он счастлив встретиться со своими друзьями и поговорить с ними.