Has MrBeast gone too far? The YouTuber insists his latest death-defying video was tested for safety. But some experts think his whole business model is killing our humanity.
YouTuber under fire over death trap video
Master of clicks: MrBeast has become an entertainment megastar by studying the titles and images that convince viewers to click on his videos. Comprehension quiz
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The word “controversial” most nearly means:
A: Causing public disagreement
B: Universally popular
C: Very boring
D: Easy to understand
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Which word is the closest synonym for “zany”?
A: Sensible
B: Unconventional
C: Boring
D: Popular
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According to the article, what is MrBeast the “undisputed master” of?
A: The movie industry
B: The attention economy
C: Scientific research
D: Professional stunts
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What is one criticism of MrBeast’s videos mentioned in the text?
A: They are too short and boring.
B: They cost too much money to make.
C: They take advantage of people’s desperation.
D: They do not get enough views online.
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The article suggests human evolution could be speeding up. What is the “trade-off” for our brains developing the ability to shift focus quickly?
A: Better long-term memory
B: Higher cholesterol levels
C: Shorter attention spans
D: The ability to multitask
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According to the article, what are two reasons why MrBeast’s videos and methods are criticised?
Answers
Tap to reveal
1. A 2. B 3. B 4. C 5. C 6. The article gives two main reasons for criticism: His success has been built on the exploitation of human misery, as he takes advantage of people's desperation by having them do painful tasks for money. He has been accused of neglecting his contestants’ safety.
1. A 2. B 3. B 4. C 5. C 6. The article gives two main reasons for criticism: His success has been built on the exploitation of human misery, as he takes advantage of people's desperation by having them do painful tasks for money. He has been accused of neglecting his contestants’ safety.
Glossary
Evolution - A process of gradual change that takes place over many generations, during which species of animals, plants, or insects slowly change some of their physical characteristics.
Adapting - Changing.
Cholesterol - A type of blood fat produced by the liver.
Selective pressure - Factors in nature that will make a proportion of the population less or more successful at reproducing, driving natural selection.
Attention economy - The idea that human attention is a scarce commodity, and that attention is the limiting factor in a person's ability to consume information.
Exploitation - Treating someone unfairly in order to benefit from their hard work.