Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-book review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. Which of the following is an example of a cue?

A) Setting out to take an evening walk

B) Crossing out a clue on a puzzle

C) Checking a phone notification

D) Seeing the sun go down

2. Which of the following is required to end the habit cycle?

A) Achieving the goal

B) A successful try

C) A satisfied craving

D) A ringing bell

3. Which of the following is an example of making a habit obvious?

A) Setting a daily alarm in your phone to workout

B) Putting out workout clothes the night before

C) Making a sign that points to the hand weights

D) Writing a note to yourself on the mirror

4. Which of the following is an example of making a habit easy?

A) Canceling a Netflix subscription to avoid excess TV

B) Tying a bandana on before a workout

C) Joining a gym that is five minutes from home

D) All of the above

5. Which of the following is an example of making a habit satisfying?

A) Writing a thank-you letter to yourself yearly

B) Saving cheat day for once a month

C) Putting a checkmark on a habit tracker

D) Attending a social event as a weekly reward

6. Sherise decides that she wants to write a novel as a way of achieving her dreams. She sets out to write one chapter a week but fails to establish the habit. Which of the following is the best advice to give her based on Clear’s ideas about identity and atomic habits?

A) Sherise could start by realizing she is a writer already and committing to writing 2 minutes per day.

B) Sherise should use a habit tracker to check off when she’s finished a chapter each week.

C) Sherise should sell all her clothes, forcing herself to stay home and write until the novel is finished.

D) Sherise would be more successful if she wrote the novel on a computer rather than on paper.

7. Charles wants to create a system of habits rooted in his morning hygiene routines, making more time for self-care. He buys a bunch of new face creams but often forgets to use them all. Which statement below is sound advice rooted in Clear’s ideas about habit formation?

A) Charles should set a habit intention and repeat it aloud to himself every night before bed.

B) Charles should put a sign up above his mirror to remind him of all the reasons why he needs face creams.

C) Charles should make sure his habit system includes a satisfactory reward, like the face creams smelling good.

D) Charles should give some of the face creams to a friend to serve as an accountability partner.

8. Clear uses the example of the low rates of heroin-addicted Vietnam veterans returning to drug use after rehab to illustrate which of his 4 Laws of Behavior Change (for breaking a habit)?

A) Make it invisible.

B) Make it unattractive.

C) Make it difficult.

D) Make it unsatisfying.

9. Victor Hugo’s locking himself away with no clothing to wear is an example of which of the following 4 Laws of Behavior Change?

A) Make it obvious.

B) Make it attractive.

C) Make it easy.

D) Make it satisfying.

10. Twyla Tharp’s habit of calling a cab to take her to the gym is an example of which of the following?

A) The Two-Minute Rule

B) Repetition Over Motivation

C) The Yo-Yo Effect

D) Plateau of Latent Potential

11. An entrepreneur wants to wake up at 7:00am every morning. To motivate himself, he sets up an automatic payment of $10 to a charity to go out at 7:05am. If he is not awake to cancel it, he spends money before he earns it each day. Which of Clear’s 4 Laws of Behavior Change does this illustrate?

A) Make it invisible.

B) Make it unattractive.

C) Make it difficult.

D) Make it unsatisfying.

12. Why are systems better than goals?

A) Goals are too difficult to achieve.

B) Systems allow for refinement and change over time.

C) Systems help people stay on the Plateau of Latent Potential.

D) None of the above

13. Which of these best exemplifies the Yo-Yo Effect?

A) Gilberto decides to write a novel; once he achieves the goal, he finds it difficult to keep writing.

B) Sheryl loves popcorn but can’t have it anymore. She quits for a little while, eats popcorn one time, then successfully never has it again.

C) Kristofersen checks boxes on his habit tracker and notices he only manages to get all his boxes checked every other day.

D) Elena opens a new restaurant, and the clientele only come in high volumes twice a week, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

14. Choose the best example of habit stacking below.

A) Setting a goal to practice cello and do a five-mile run back-to-back.

B) Putting fruit on the kitchen counter next to the chips.

C) Setting an intention to floss your teeth after you brush them every night.

D) Creating a stack of habit-tracking journals for easy access

15. What role does pride play in habit formation?

A) Pride motivates. It feels good to be good at something, we pursue habits that we are good at more easily.

B) Pride distracts. When we don’t get things done perfectly, we get frustrated and upset. Habits become unattractive and di)ficult.

C) Pride is neutral. It can help or it can harm, but social contracts with others are the most important of all.

D) None of the above

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. Why does Clear rely on the analogy of atoms to describe his habit system?

2. What role does identity play in habit formation?