Positive thinking and building self-confidence

Correct answer: B. Thinking that avoids responsibility

Explanation: An external problem may sometimes affect performance, but refusing to review preparation and assigning all blame prevents learning. Responsible reflection would consider the paper, preparation, time use, and possible mistakes before deciding what to change. Therefore the described behaviour avoids personal responsibility rather than showing balanced confidence or a solution-focused outlook.

Correct answer: C. This subject is difficult, but I can improve through regular practice

Explanation: Option C acknowledges that the subject is difficult, so it is realistic, but it also identifies a controllable path to improvement through regular practice. Positive self-talk should encourage useful action without denying limitations or promising perfection. The other statements deny effort, deny mistakes, or reject help and are therefore unrealistic or unhelpful.

Correct answer: D. Lasting confidence should be based on actual effort, skill, and progress

Explanation: Praise can be encouraging, but it is external and may not always be available or accurate. More lasting confidence comes from knowing that one has practised, developed skills, solved problems, and made progress. Depending only on praise makes confidence fluctuate with other people's reactions. D therefore gives a stronger and more reliable foundation.

Correct answer: A. Reviewing the causes and trying again with a new strategy

Explanation: Reviewing causes turns failure into information, while trying again shows that the student still believes improvement is possible. Using a new strategy makes the renewed effort purposeful rather than repetitive. Hiding the result is dishonest, blaming and quitting avoids responsibility, and repeating the same mistake without change does not show learning or effective confidence.

Correct answer: B. Starting a difficult task while denying the need for preparation

Explanation: Healthy confidence includes trust in one's ability while still recognising limits, preparation needs, and useful feedback. Denying the need to prepare for a difficult task ignores evidence and creates avoidable risk. That unrealistic certainty is overconfidence. The other behaviours combine belief with practice, help-seeking, or learning, which are signs of healthy confidence.

Correct answer: C. Practising first before a mirror, then a small group, and later a large audience

Explanation: Gradual exposure begins with a manageable level and increases difficulty as skill and confidence grow. Practising before a mirror allows rehearsal, a small group provides useful feedback, and a larger audience becomes the later step. Permanent avoidance maintains fear, while an unprepared large performance may overwhelm the student. Reading alone does not practise speaking.

Correct answer: D. Drawing a broad negative conclusion from one event

Explanation: One mistake is limited evidence about one performance at one time. Treating it as proof that the whole ability is poor extends a single event into a broad and permanent conclusion. Healthy reflection would examine the cause and next step, while evidence-based thinking would consider repeated performance and other information before judging ability.

Correct answer: A. It provides evidence of progress and ability

Explanation: An achievement record gives concrete reminders of completed tasks, learned skills, and progress over time. Such evidence can correct the unfair belief that one has never succeeded and can motivate further effort. It does not remove every weakness, prove superiority, or replace future preparation. Its value is realistic self-recognition and encouragement.

Correct answer: B. It motivates a person to find possible options and useful steps

Explanation: Positive thinking does not deny a problem or assume that every solution will work. It helps a person move from helplessness to purposeful questions: What is possible, what information is needed, and what step can be tried first? Considering options and risks makes problem-solving more practical. B captures this solution-focused effect accurately.

Correct answer: C. The student may underestimate personal ability and effort

Explanation: If success is explained only by luck, the student may fail to notice preparation, practice, decisions, and skills that contributed to it. This can weaken the belief that personal effort can produce future results. A balanced explanation recognises both favourable circumstances and personal contribution. Luck alone neither proves skill nor creates stable confidence.

Correct answer: D. Evaluating the feedback and improving on its useful part

Explanation: Healthy confidence is secure enough to listen to feedback without being defeated by it. The person evaluates whether the suggestion is relevant and then uses the useful part to improve. Rejecting everything is defensive, quitting avoids learning, and accepting every suggestion blindly lacks judgment. D combines openness with independent evaluation and action.

Correct answer: A. Optimistic adaptability

Explanation: The student accepts that a real difficulty exists but does not treat it as permanent or impossible to influence. Believing that another strategy may help combines hope with adaptability. Denial would ignore the difficulty, overconfidence would dismiss preparation or limits, and dependence would leave all action to others. A best describes flexible optimism.

Correct answer: B. Belief in one's ability to perform is self-confidence, while respect for one's worth is self-esteem

Explanation: Self-confidence usually concerns belief in one's ability to perform a particular task or handle a situation. Self-esteem concerns a broader sense of personal worth and respect for oneself, which should not depend entirely on success or comparison. The concepts can influence each other, but confidence does not mean superiority and self-esteem is not limited to achievements.

Correct answer: C. Accepting stress, practising breathing, and returning to the revision plan

Explanation: Option C recognises the emotion without allowing it to control the whole response. Slow breathing can settle immediate arousal, and returning to a revision plan restores purposeful action. Denying stress does not solve it, staying awake may harm concentration, and avoiding the examination strengthens fear. Positive thinking here means acceptance plus a healthy practical response.

Correct answer: D. Opportunities to prove ability through new challenges will decrease

Explanation: Confidence develops partly through evidence that one can learn and manage something difficult. If a person chooses only easy tasks, there are fewer chances to practise new skills, receive meaningful feedback, and experience successful challenge. This does not mean taking extreme risks; appropriately difficult and achievable goals are more useful than permanent avoidance.

Correct answer: A. Check the truth of the negative thought and replace it with a balanced, effort-focused statement

Explanation: Effective reframing first examines the thought: Is it supported by all the evidence, or is it an exaggeration? The person can then replace “I always fail” with a balanced statement such as “This part was difficult, but I can improve with practice and help.” This is more useful than denial, unsupported praise, or silence.

Correct answer: B. Learning-focused positive outlook

Explanation: The student is using another person's performance as a source of information rather than as a reason for resentment or self-rejection. Studying the strategy may reveal techniques to practise while still allowing the student to develop a personal approach. This turns a loss into feedback and a learning opportunity, which is a positive, growth-oriented outlook.

Correct answer: C. I will learn to solve five questions correctly through daily practice over the next ten days

Explanation: A balanced goal is specific, measurable, time-bound, and connected to actions the learner can control. Option C states what will be practised, how long the effort will continue, and what improvement is expected. The other goals demand instant expertise, comparison with everyone, or complete perfection, making them unrealistic and potentially discouraging.

Correct answer: D. Recognises them and plans improvement or support

Explanation: Healthy confidence is realistic, so it allows a person to recognise what is not yet strong without concluding that improvement is impossible. Identifying a limitation helps the person choose practice, guidance, extra time, or another suitable support. Hiding limits, giving up, or taking risks without awareness is not confidence; it prevents responsible development.

Correct answer: A. It encourages a person to find another method when one approach fails

Explanation: Positive thinking keeps the purpose or goal meaningful while allowing the method to change when evidence shows that the current approach is not working. This is flexibility, not careless goal-changing. A rigid person remains stuck, while a person who ignores evidence is not thinking positively in a realistic sense. A best reflects hopeful adaptation.

Correct answer: B. Doubting one's ability whenever praise is not received

Explanation: If the absence of praise immediately causes doubt about ability, confidence is being controlled by other people's approval rather than by effort, learning, or evidence of progress. Self-evaluation, useful feedback, and completing goals can support a more internal and stable confidence. External appreciation is helpful, but it should not be the only source of self-belief.

Correct answer: C. Solution-focused positive thinking

Explanation: Dividing a large or difficult task into smaller sections makes the work more manageable and creates clear next steps. The student is acknowledging difficulty while planning a practical response, rather than avoiding it or pretending it does not exist. This is solution-focused positive thinking supported by planning, not overconfidence or low self-esteem.

Correct answer: D. When it replaces actual preparation

Explanation: Visualising a successful performance may help clarify the goal, reduce apprehension, and motivate practice, but it cannot develop knowledge or skill by itself. If imagining success replaces studying, rehearsal, and feedback, the student may feel confident without being prepared. Therefore D describes when visualisation becomes ineffective; it should support action, not replace it.

Correct answer: A. It gives more appropriate evidence of personal improvement

Explanation: Comparing present performance with one’s own earlier performance gives a fairer picture of growth. It helps a learner notice improved skills, effort and habits, even when others may be progressing at different rates. This comparison supports realistic confidence and better goals. It does not expose other people’s weaknesses, end competition or prevent mistakes.

Correct answer: B. Evaluating the evidence and useful parts of the feedback

Explanation: Healthy confidence does not mean accepting every criticism blindly or rejecting it defensively. The student should examine whether the feedback is specific, supported by examples and useful for improvement. Taking the valid part and making a plan protects self-respect while encouraging learning. The other choices are extreme and do not support balanced self-evaluation.