A Young Man Is Taking an Important Test in a Large

question 172

Multiple Choice

A young man is taking an important test in a large room. He is progressing nicely when, about ten minutes into the exam, the proctor opens the window and he becomes distracted by the noise of the traffic outside. Which of the following psychological explanations is the least plausible explanation for what occurred when the window was opened?

• A) The neurons involved went into their absolute refractory period.
• B) The volume of the traffic sounds reached the threshold needed to fire many of his neurons.
• C) The number of neurons firing increased considerably, bringing the noise of the traffic into his conscious awareness.
• D) The neurons involved began to fire more quickly than they had before.

---

Definitions:

Public Good

Goods or services made available to all individuals within a society free of charge, supplied by the government or by private non-profit entities.

Private Good

A good or service that is individually consumed and that can be profitably provided by privately owned firms because they can exclude nonpayers from receiving the benefits.

Nonpayers

Individuals who benefit from goods or services without directly contributing to the cost, often associated with public goods.

Nonexcludability

is a characteristic of public goods where it is impossible to prevent individuals from enjoying the benefits of a good or service, regardless of whether they have paid for it.