Which is an example of an external reward?

Correct answer: Salary or bonus

The direct answer is C: salary or bonus. An external, or extrinsic, reward comes from outside the work itself and is usually given by an employer or institution. Money paid for work is separate from the inner satisfaction a person may feel. The reasoning is: salary is received from the employer; a bonus is an additional financial payment; both are outside benefits connected with doing the job. Therefore C is correct. Option A is wrong because self-satisfaction comes from inside the worker and is an intrinsic reward. Option B is wrong because joy of learning is an inner feeling, also intrinsic. Option D is wrong because a sense of purpose comes from meaning and personal values, not directly from an outside payment. External rewards are not necessarily bad, but they are different from internal motivation. Memory cue: extrinsic begins with “extra” outside; salary and bonus come from outside.