A.achieving popularity is often not done by a single individual, but rather by a group of children.
This option discusses a topic which is out of the scope

B.middle school students do not regard as popular anyone who strives to impress a teacher.
This seems to be the right answer as it needs to be true for the conclusion to hold true

C.a student can impress a teacher by not fraternizing with the popular crowd of students.
This has no effect on the conclusion

D.most middle school children believe that those who strive to impress a teacher do not have the goal of achieving popularity.
Although, this seems like a possible answer, the belief of the middle school students is not at question here. Therefore, eliminated

E.middle school students are known to be particularly cruel to classmates that are considered different from the norm.
This seems to be out of scope


Therefore my choice is B

A recent study by psychologists found that the main goal of most middle school students is to be viewed as popular by their classmates. The psychologists also found that the students who seek to be popular will only take as friends other students who share the goal of achieving popularity. Therefore, the psychologists argued, any middle school students who strive to impress their teachers will not make friends with most of their classmates.

The argument put forth by the psychologists assumes that

A.achieving popularity is often not done by a single individual, but rather by a group of children.
B.middle school students do not regard as popular anyone who strives to impress a teacher.
C.a student can impress a teacher by not fraternizing with the popular crowd of students.
D.most middle school children believe that those who strive to impress a teacher do not have the goal of achieving popularity.
E.middle school students are known to be particularly cruel to classmates that are considered different from the norm.

Psychologists believe --> Students who impress teachers =/= Not make friends with class mates.

Therefore Eliminate A, C & E.

D ==> Most middle school children is not correct and "do not have the goal of achieving polularity" is also not the correct assuption.

B is the right answer.

OA -D

& here is OE...

The argument put forth by the psychologists concludes that students who strive to impress a teacher will find it difficult to make friends with their classmates. As evidence, the psychologists put forth two pieces of information: first that most students wish to be popular, and second that these students will only be friends with other students with the same goal. In order to conclude that a student will be ostracized based on an attempt to impress the teacher, the psychologists assume that this will be viewed by other students as a sign that impressing child does not wish to be popular. This is stated best in choice (D).

Choices (A) and (E) are irrelevant to the argument. The psychologists do not say anything about the popularity of individuals vs. groups nor do they discuss the cruelty of middle school students.

Choice (B) may seem tempting, but this statement could be false and the argument would still hold together if choice (D) were true. If a student is not popular because they strive to impress a teacher, it does not follow that they will not make friends with most of their classmates. The argument revolves around the desire to be popular, not popularity itself. Choice (B) does not discuss the desire to be popular and is thus incorrect.

Choice (C) deals with how to impress a teacher. This is not central to the argument put forth by the psychologists.