Read the passage and answer the questions:
Habits, scientists say, emerge because the brain is constantly looking for ways to save effort. Left to its own devices, the brain will try to make almost any routine into a habit, because habits allow our minds to ramp down more often. This effort-saving instinct is a huge advantage. An efficient brain requires less room, which makes for a smaller head, which makes childbirth easier, and therefore makes survival more likely.
But conserving mental effort is only part of the story. Habits also have a powerful impact on our behaviors because once they are formed, they operate automatically. Even more importantly, habits can be changed, replaced, or ignored—but only if we understand how they work.
At the core of every habit is a neurological loop that consists of three parts: a cue, a routine, and a reward. This loop is the foundation of all habitual behaviors. The cue is the trigger that tells your brain to go into automatic mode, the routine is the behavior itself, and the reward is what helps your brain remember the loop in the future.
Understanding this loop is the first step in taking control of habits, whether you want to break a bad habit or create a new one.
Choose the best synonym for the word "trigger" in the sentence:
"The cue is the trigger that tells your brain to go into automatic mode."
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer
Initiator
Explanation
In the given context, the word "trigger" refers to something that sets a process, action, or sequence in motion. The passage states that the cue is what "tells your brain to go into automatic mode," meaning it starts or initiates the neurological habit loop. Therefore, "Initiator" is the most accurate synonym.
The other options are incorrect because:
Barrier and Obstacle mean things that block or prevent progress, which is the exact opposite of a trigger.
Conclusion means the end or finish of a process, whereas a trigger marks the beginning.
Key Points
Definition of Trigger: An event or circumstance that causes something to start.
Contextual Clue: The text defines the cue as the spark that shifts the brain into an automatic state.