we never think to test them

[keannu]

Sorry for such a long text. Considering "we never think to test them", 1 also can be the answer, but I don't know why the test-maker made 2 the only answer. What do you think?

330-15
ex)Our minds literally move at lightening speed. Ironically, this often slows our learning, because we immediately "leap" to generalizations so quickly that we never think to test them. For example, have you ever heard a statement such as, "Laura doesn't care about people." Once Laura's colleagues accept as fact that she doesn't care about people, no one questions her behavior when she does things that are "noncaring," and no one notices when she does something that doesn't fit the stereotype. The general view that she doesn't care leads people to treat her with greater indifference, which takes away any opportunity she might have had to exhibit more caring. Untested generalizations can easily become the basis for further generalization. "Could Laura have been the one behind that office intrigue? She's probably the sort who would do that sort of thing given that she doesn't care much about people..."

Q. Which best fits the blank according to the above paragraph?
Accepting generalizations __2__ instead of challenging them not only induces stereotype biases but also constitutes the basis for further unproven generalizations.
1. over hard evidence 2.at face value

[Raymott]

Q. Which best fits the blank according to the above paragraph?
Accepting generalizations __2__ instead of challenging them not only induces stereotype biases but also constitutes the basis for further unproven generalizations.
1. over hard evidence 2.at face value

2. is the answer because, in the paragraph, there are two behaviours mentioned - i) leaping to generalisations and ii) testing them.
There's a parallelism:
"Leaping to generalisations rather than testing them..." and
"Accepting generalisations at face value rather than challenging them...".

Another parallel sentence would be:
"Accepting generalisations rather than looking at hard evidence ..."

So "over hard evidence" belongs on the right hand side of the statement - looking at hard evidence is part of testing or challenging. So, if you choose 1. you are effectively saying:
"Accepting generalisations over hard evidence rather than looking at hard evidence ..." which is tautological.