Which word would you use to describe a strong wish or desire for something?

• A. Norms
• B. Wants
• C. Virtues
• D. Values

Answer: (B)

Describing a strong wish or desire is about expressing what you want. The word wants fits perfectly because it names the feeling of desiring something—your personal craving or wish for a thing or outcome.

Think of how norms, values, and virtues differ: norms are about what people in a society expect you to do, values are the beliefs about what’s important, and virtues are admirable character traits like honesty or courage. None of those express a personal desire for a specific thing in the moment. Wants, on the other hand, directly captures that sense of longing or there being a preference you’d like to satisfy. For example, you might have a strong want for a new book or for a weekend trip, which is simply your strong desire for that outcome.