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.
What is the meaning of the word 'emerge' in the sentence:
'Habits, scientists say, emerge because the brain is constantly looking for ways to save effort.'
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Correct Answer
To come into existence or become known
Explanation
In the context of the sentence, the word 'emerge' means to develop, appear, or come into existence. The passage explains the origin of habits—how and why they start forming in the brain to save mental effort.
The other options ('To disappear gradually', 'To remain unchanged', and 'To move backward') represent definitions that are either antonyms or completely unrelated to the process of creation and appearance.
Key Points
Definition of Emerge: To come forth, appear, or begin to exist.
Contextual Clue: The sentence discusses the cause ('because the brain is constantly looking for ways...') behind the creation and formation of habits.