The Candle Problem - Unit 10

C1 Advanced · Multiple Choice Cloze · Complete Advanced, Cambridge University Press

For questions 1–8, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. There is an example at the beginning.

employing

affirming

fulfilling

appointing

authentically

commonly

naturally

entirely

determine

address

reach

confront

disclose

expose

display

present

decided

shown

provided

given

verify

confirm

prove

demonstrate

privilege

reliability

principle

tendency

convention

assumption

opinion

prediction

German psychologist Karl Duncker’s ‘Candle Problem’ experiment (0) ___ out one way in which our minds approach tasks differently. Duncker’s proposition was that, by (1) ___ the power of creative thought, we can look at a familiar object and consider how it might otherwise be used in order to serve a new purpose. This test is (2) ___ used by psychologists to measure the personality trait of ‘functional fixedness’, a type of thinking that prevents people from using their creativity to (3) ___ problems. Those who fail to provide the correct answer to the Candle Problem usually (4) ___ this trait, and they are not alone. In fact, the vast majority of people see an object purely for its (5) ___ use, and rarely stop to consider an alternative, even a purpose for which it might (6) ___ highly suitable. However, those who do succeed have the (7) ___ to be creative and flexible thinkers who are capable of avoiding functional fixedness, and do not naturally conform to (8) ___ , particularly when a problem requires them to think ‘outside-of-the-box’.

The Candle Problem

turns

gives

puts

sets

Available as a free printable PDF worksheet with an optional answer key.

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