In an experiment designed to study the effect of majority opinion, even when it is contrary to fact, small groups of subjects observed a standard straight line, and then judged which of three other lines equaled it in length. One of the other lines was longer, one shorter, one equal to the standard; the differences were great enough that threshold judgments were not involved.

All but one member of each group had been instructed to agree upon a wrong answer for a majority of the trials. The experimental subject was thus pitted against a majority, and the subject's problem was whether to disagree with the majority, or to doubt his or her own judgment and agree. Many subjects refused to change, and continued to hold to their independent appraisals. But a  substantial number yielded under pressure from the others' apparent judgments. The amount of yielding depended upon the clarity of conditions (lack of clarity led to conformity to majority opinion), individual differences, and the size and unanimity of the opposition. With the opposition of only one other person there was very little yielding; with tow against one the amount of yielding became pronounced; and a majority of three was nearly as effective as larger majorities against the lone dissenter.

1.   What does the passage mainly discuss?

(A)  The accuracy of threshold judgments.

(B)  The inability of groups to estimate correct line length.

(C)  The impact of majority opinion on the judgment of an individual.

(D)  The necessity of clear conditions in conducting successful experiments.

2.   A total of how many lines were shown to each group of subjects?

(A)  Two

(B)  Three

(C)  Four

(D)  Five

3.   Why did all but one of the members of each group choose the wrong line?

(A)  They could not accurately judge which lines were equal in length.

(B)  They were told to do so for the purposes of the study.

(C)  They wanted to humiliate the person who disagreed.

(D)  They did not understand the instructions.

4.   It can be inferred from the passage that the main purpose of the experiment was to examine the tendency that many people have to

(A)  compete

(B)  conform

(C)  criticize

(D)  communicate

5.   The experiment described in the passage was most likely carried out by

(A)  physicists

(B)  mathematicians

(C)  linguists

(D)  psychologists 

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