Use of English

The Drive to Persist

Psychologists have long tried to explain why some people remain committed to difficult goals while others (0) GIVE up at the first obstacle. One widely accepted view is that motivation does not simply depend on talent, but on the meaning people (1) .......... to what they are doing. If a task feels personally significant, individuals are more likely to persist, even when progress is slow. By contrast, those who work only for external rewards may lose heart as soon as the rewards are (2) .......... away. Another important factor is whether people believe effort will actually (3) .......... to improvement. If they see ability as fixed, they may avoid challenges in case failure reveals a weakness. However, if they regard mistakes as part of learning, they are more willing to take risks and recover from setbacks. Social context also plays a role: encouragement can (4) .......... confidence, whereas constant criticism may seriously undermine it. Researchers also point out that motivation is rarely a constant state. It tends to (5) .......... according to circumstances, energy levels and previous experience. For this reason, successful learners often rely on routines rather than waiting for inspiration to appear. In the long (6) .........., such habits can be more effective than short bursts of enthusiasm. Ultimately, motivation is not something people simply possess; it is something they can gradually (7) .......... and strengthen. That is why even modest progress can (8) .......... as a powerful source of further effort.