Question

He knew instinctively that his professor wouldn't appreciate it if he brought his single scoop of vanilla ice cream into the lecture room with him. He could almost hear the inevitable question, "Did you bring enough for everyone?" To avoid such an embarrassment, he practically inhaled his frozen confection as he raced down the hall. He had eaten ice cream this way before and knew he would soon have an ice cream headache. This is an example of an event that is: high/low in probability and high/low in consequence.

a. high in probability and low in consequence.
b. low in probability and high in consequence.
c. high in probability and high in consequence.
d. low in probability and low in consequence.

Answer 1

The event of eating ice cream quickly to avoid a headache is high in probability and low in consequence as it is a common occurrence with minor, temporary effects.The correct option is a.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question regarding the event of the person eating ice cream quickly to avoid a headache and potential embarrassment in class is related to the concept of evaluating scenarios based on their probability and consequence. Given the context, the event can be categorized as high in probability and low in consequence. The probability is high since the person has experienced ice cream headaches before under similar circumstances, indicating a pattern of cause and effect. The consequence is low because, despite the discomfort of an ice cream headache, it is a minor temporary pain that does not have significant repercussions. Probability relates to how likely an event is to happen, whereas consequence pertains to the importance or impact of the event. The availability heuristic can sometimes influence our perception of both, leading people to overestimate the likelihood of an occurrence based on readily recalled instances.