English Language · English

In the following passage, some words have been deleted. Read the passage carefully and select the most appropriate option to fill in each blank. Once an experiment was conducted on pre-school children by a ________. They were given a marshmallow and were told to eat it as and when they wanted. However, there was a condition: if they could resist eating it before the researcher came back in half an hour, they would be _______ with one extra marshmallow. Saying so, he left the room and observed their behaviour from a secured place. 80% of children acted ________ and gobbled up their marshmallows quickly. The remaining 20% _______ the temptation, engaged themselves in singing, talking, dancing, etc., to divert their mind and resist the temptation. Years later, the researcher contacted this 20% of people to see how they fared in their life. To his surprise, he found them successful in life; they were good leaders in their organisations, responsible family members, dependable friends, and worthy members of their community. This proves that successful leaders are different from the 'instant gratification' group. These people were able to manage their stress, handle their emotions, were confident, and _______ better self-control and self-discipline. Thus, one must abstain from instant gratifications.