Practice English Reading Exercises for B2 – Psychological Studies & Human Behavior 3

Exercises:   123456

Reading 1

You are going to read an article about four individuals talking about how reading about ‘Confirmation Bias’ made them completely re-evaluate their stubborn political arguments on social media.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   admits they used to automatically dismiss any evidence that challenged their perspective?

2   regrets allowing a digital dispute to severely damage a real-life relationship?

3   states their intention to completely avoid taking part in web-based political debates from now on?

4   deliberately started following the accounts of public figures they strongly disagree with?

5   felt embarrassed upon realizing their arguments relied on carefully selected data rather than pure logic?

6   points out that they used to treat online political discussions as competitions they had to win?

7   makes it a strict habit to examine contrary viewpoints before publishing a response?

8   explains how they used to actively eliminate people with differing opinions from their digital life?

9   shifted their communication style to inquire about others’ reasoning instead of just stating facts?

10   has come to the conclusion that people with opposing views are generally not motivated by bad intentions?

Breaking the Echo Chamber: How Psychology Changed Our Feeds

A Liam

For a long time, I considered myself a highly informed voter. I would passionately argue politics on social media, armed with links to articles that perfectly backed up my claims. If anyone posted a link to a source that contradicted my worldview, I’d immediately write it off as biased or ‘fake news’ without even clicking on it. It wasn’t until I stumbled across a psychology podcast explaining ‘confirmation bias’ that the penny dropped. I suddenly realised I had been living in a massive echo chamber, only consuming media that validated what I already believed. It was a harsh wake-up call. These days, whenever a political debate flares up in a comment section, I make it a strict rule to read at least two articles from opposing news outlets before I even think about typing a reply. It has completely taken the heat out of my arguments, and I find myself having much more balanced, reasonable discussions.

B Chloe

I used to be incredibly combative online. Whenever a political issue started trending, I’d jump into the fray, treating every comment thread like a battlefield where I simply had to have the last word and emerge victorious. I genuinely thought I was educating people, but learning about confirmation bias forced me to face a very uncomfortable truth: I wasn’t listening at all. I was just waiting for my turn to attack. The turning point came when I stubbornly refused to back down in a fierce argument with a close cousin, which ultimately led to us not speaking for months—something I deeply regret to this day. Now, my entire approach has shifted. Instead of bombarding people with aggressive statements and so-called facts, I try to ask open-ended questions about why they feel a certain way. It’s amazing how much the tension evaporates when you show a little genuine curiosity instead of just trying to score points.

C Mateo

As a science student, I always prided myself on being completely objective. I looked down on people who got emotional during political debates online, convinced that my own arguments were entirely rational and built on solid logic. Discovering the concept of confirmation bias completely shattered that illusion. It was quite a humbling, even embarrassing, experience to realise that my brain was subconsciously cherry-picking data that supported my pre-existing biases, while conveniently ignoring anything that didn’t fit. I was just as guilty of flawed thinking as the people I was criticizing! This revelation fundamentally changed how I view social media. I’ve come to the conclusion that these digital platforms are specifically designed to polarize us and provoke outrage. Consequently, I’ve decided to completely opt out of political discussions on the internet. If a friend wants to debate policy, I’m more than happy to do it over a coffee, but I’m done leaving long, pointless rants in comment sections.

D Priya

My social media feed used to be a very comfortable, highly curated bubble. At the first sign of a differing political opinion, I wouldn’t hesitate to hit the ‘unfriend’ or ‘block’ button. I convinced myself I was just protecting my peace, but reading an article on confirmation bias made me realise I was actually just burying my head in the sand. By actively removing anyone who disagreed with me from my digital life, I was making myself incredibly narrow-minded. To break this unhealthy habit, I took the drastic step of deliberately following several politicians and commentators whose views I strongly dislike. At first, scrolling through their posts was deeply frustrating, but over time, it opened my eyes. I finally grasped that people who hold opposing views aren’t usually acting out of malice or spite; they are simply drawing conclusions from a completely different set of information. It has certainly taught me to be far more empathetic.

Reading 2

You are going to read an article about four students sharing their thoughts on a classroom demonstration of ‘Conformity’ where they yielded to peer pressure despite knowing the correct answer.

For questions 1-10, choose from the people/sections (A-D). The people/sections may be chosen more than once.

Which person/section

1   felt physical signs of stress when their opinion differed from the group’s?

2   convinced themselves that the other students must have noticed something they had missed?

3   warns about the serious implications this behaviour could have outside the classroom?

4   deliberately gave a false answer simply to avoid being the centre of attention?

5   was initially absolutely certain of the correct solution?

6   expresses a sense of disappointment in their own lack of bravery?

7   felt embarrassed when the teacher finally revealed the truth behind the exercise?

8   is determined never to let others dictate their decisions again?

9   was eager for the uncomfortable demonstration to come to an end?

10   mentions being surprised by how rapidly they abandoned their own viewpoint?

Following the Herd: What a Classroom Experiment Taught Us About Conformity

A Leo

When Mr. Harris projected the two lines on the board, I thought it was a joke. It was glaringly obvious that Line B was longer. I was absolutely positive about my choice and waited for my turn to speak. However, as the first four students confidently declared that Line A was the longest, my heart started pounding. By the time it was my turn, my palms were sweating. I couldn’t understand why everyone was getting it wrong, but the pressure was overwhelming. To my own astonishment, my firm belief evaporated in a matter of seconds. I heard myself saying ‘Line A’ just to agree with them. It was a bizarre experience. I’ve always considered myself an independent thinker, so seeing how swiftly I caved under peer pressure was a bitter pill to swallow. It really opened my eyes to how vulnerable our minds are to the influence of the majority.

B Sophie

During the demonstration, we were asked to match the shapes. It seemed like a walk in the park. But as my classmates began giving an answer that looked completely wrong to me, my mind went into overdrive. Instead of trusting my own eyes, I started making excuses for why I must be mistaken. I figured that the others must have read the instructions more carefully or spotted a hidden trick that had completely bypassed me. I rationalised that five people couldn’t possibly all be wrong while I was right. So, I followed suit and gave the incorrect answer. When the teacher subsequently explained that the others were actually secretly instructed to lie as part of a psychological experiment, my cheeks burned. I felt utterly foolish for doubting myself so easily. Looking back, I realise I gave away my power because I assumed the collective wisdom of the group was superior to my own individual perception.

C Javier

I’ve never been the type of person who enjoys standing out or causing a fuss. When the conformity experiment was taking place, I instantly spotted the correct answer on the screen. However, as the rest of the class unanimously went for the wrong option, a wave of dread washed over me. I absolutely despised the idea of contradicting everyone and having thirty pairs of eyes suddenly staring at me. To be completely honest, I just wanted the awkwardness to be over as quickly as possible. Rather than rocking the boat, I quietly mumbled the same incorrect answer as the others. Now, I feel a pang of remorse about the whole ordeal. I really wish I had possessed the guts to stick to my guns and state what I knew was true. It was a missed opportunity to show some resilience, and I’m genuinely disappointed in myself for taking the easy way out just to blend into the background.

D Priya

Participating in that conformity task was a massive wake-up call for me. While answering a simple question about lines on a whiteboard seems trivial, the underlying psychology is deeply unsettling when you apply it to the real world. If a group of intelligent students can be manipulated into denying plain reality just because everyone else is doing it, imagine the consequences in situations that actually matter. It makes you wonder how many historical injustices or terrible decisions in the workplace occur simply because people are too intimidated to disagree with the majority. Having fallen into the trap myself during the lesson, I’ve made a firm promise to myself. From this day forward, I absolutely refuse to let the crowd sway my moral compass or common sense. Even if it means standing completely alone, I am resolved to trust my own judgement and speak up, rather than blindly following the herd.

Exercises:   123456