Final answer:
A person with flat indifference curves is most likely to choose to work a lot of hours, as they do not value leisure significantly more than income and are willing to give up more leisure for additional consumption.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked which shape of indifference curves would indicate that a person is most likely to work a lot of hours, with leisure on the X-axis and consumption on the Y-axis. Indifference curves reflect a person's preferences for trade-offs between two goods, in this case, leisure and consumption (income). The curve's slope, or the marginal rate of substitution, indicates how willing a person is to trade one good for another, keeping their utility level constant.
Generally, if indifference curves are steeper, it implies that the individual values one good relatively more compared to the other, meaning they would give up less of it for a given amount of another good. Therefore, a person with steep indifference curves would value leisure relatively highly and would be willing to give up less leisure for additional consumption, or income. In such a scenario, this person is unlikely to decide to work many hours.
On the other hand, a person with flat indifference curves would not mind giving up a lot of leisure to gain a little extra income, because to them, the extra consumption is almost as good as leisure. Hence, a person with flat indifference curves is most likely to decide to work a lot of hours. The correct answer is a) flat.