Quiz

 

What Type of Risk Taker are You?: The Chancing It Quiz

INSTRUCTIONS: Circle only one number per question. Answer all questions. If no answer feels exactly right, pick the one that comes closest. To determine your score, total all numbers circled.

1) How many hours of television do you watch in an average week?

1. 0-5

2. 6-10

3. 11-20

4. more than 20

2) Imagine that you're hungry in a strange city. Nearby are some comparably-priced restaurants. In which would you eat?

1. The Indonesian Isle

2. Pedro's

3. The Country Kitchen

4. Wendy's

3) How would you most enjoy spending an afternoon at a resort?

1. learning to hang-glide

2. canoeing on a river

3. talking with a stimulating fellow guest

4. reading a good book

4) Imagine that you're planning a drive on the Pacific Coast Highway. Driving SOUTH means you'll have spectacular coastline views but more danger of going off cliff edges. Driving NORTH reduces both your view of the coastline and your risk of going off a cliff. Which way would you go?

1. south

2. north

5) How often do you drive faster than 65 miles per hour?

1. regularly

2. often

3. seldom

4. almost never

6) Does motorcycle riding strike you as PRIMARILY:

1. exhilarating

2. romantic

3. dangerous

4. crazy

Assume that you are equally capable of all the activities listed below. for EACH set, pick the one that you would most enjoy. (If neither appeals to you, pick the one that's least unappealing.)

7) 1. rollerblading 2. roller skating

8) 1. para-sailing 2. hot air ballooning

9) 1. snowboarding 2. cross country skiing

10) 1. scuba diving 2. snorkeling

Circle the number of the word that BEST describes your reaction to the following activities:

11) Bungee jumping . 1. exhilarating 2. scary

12) Writing a book . 1. tedious 2. satisfying

13) Playing combat video games . 1. arousing 2. jarring

14) Chairing a task force on health benefits at work. 1. boring 2. challenging

15) With a report due in two weeks, would you most likely:

1. start working on this report the afternoon before it's due, then stay up mostof that night completing it

2. work hard on the report for a day or two before it's due

3. start working on it during the second week

4. budget time throughout the two weeks to produce the report

16) You are responsible for supervising an employee whose workis not meeting standards. Would you be most likely to:

1. have a candid, face-to-face discussion with the employee

2. send the employee a performance evaluation memo

3. bring the employee up for peer review

4. assume that the employee will eventually straighten out or quit so no action by you is necessary

17) You are about to be vested in a pension plan at work. A fledgling company in your field makes you an attractive job offer. This job has meager benefits but does include an option to buy stock in the firm before it goes public in a few months. Would you:

1. accept the new firm's job offer

2. try to put the firm off until you can see how well it does

3. use its offer to negotiate a raise from your current employer

4. reject the offer

18) With $5000 to invest, would you be more likely to buy an insured 12-month certificate of deposit paying 6%, or purchase shares in a no-load mutual fund which has earned its investors an average of 8.5% over the past five years?

1. buy a certificate of deposit 

2. buy mutual fund shares

19) Which adjective best describes your behavior before age 12?

1. hyperactive

2. mischievous

3. basically well behaved

4. very well behaved

20) Which of the following statements best describes your attitude today?

1. since few things scare me, fear doesn't usually keep me from doing something I want to do

2. a little fear can make things more exciting

3. even though something might scare me, I'll do it anyway

4. fear can keep me from doing things I'd like to do

ANALYSIS

Any score below 30 suggests that you are more of a SPRINTER. Sprinters need lots of excitement and have trouble putting up with boredom. This makes them better able to take short-term risks that could involve actual danger. Making lasting commitments is where sprinters have a problem. A score of 30 or above indicates that you are more of a MARATHONER. Physical and financial risks are harder for marathoners. They are well suited, however, to taking long-term risks such as raising families and building careers. Does that sound wimpy? Ask a skydiver what risk scares him more: leaping from an airplane, or walking to the altar.