Members of the Heaven's Gate Cult, Who "Knew" There Was

question 45

Multiple Choice

Members of the Heaven's Gate cult, who "knew" there was a spaceship following the Hale-Bopp comet, returned a perfectly good telescope they had purchased because they failed to see the spaceship they "knew" was there. Such behaviors demonstrate that __________.

• A) cult leaders go to great lengths to brainwash their members
• B) people will often go to extreme lengths to justify their actions or beliefs
• C) pleasant, smart, reasonable people are seldom drawn to cults
• D) scientists, like many of us, are fascinated with the macabre, gruesome aspects of life

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Definitions:

Consumer Surplus

The difference between the total amount that consumers are willing and able to pay for a good or service and the total amount they actually pay.

Water-Diamond Paradox

The water-diamond paradox questions why diamonds are more valuable than water, despite water being essential for life and diamonds not, illustrating subjective value in economics.

Marginal Utility

The additional satisfaction or utility that a consumer receives from consuming one more unit of a good or service.

Total Utility

The total satisfaction received from consuming a given total quantity of a good or service.