Numerous investigations have been made to test the validity of the the

A. One of the two studies undertaken by the team of sociologists was more objective in its approach since it unknowingly chose specific kinds of subjects.

Incorrect: Inconsistent . The author agrees that the subsequent study undertaken by the team was successful in addressing a problem since it made an effort to choose only those subjects that had little knowledge of or contact with Western facial behaviors. Hence, the information given in this choice is inconsistent with that given in the passage.

B. In one culture, happiness could be a follow-up emotion of a situation that is dissimilar to the circumstances that lead up to it in another culture.

Correct. This piece of information is supported by the consideration raised by the author in the final paragraph. Please refer to the extract:
These differences manifest themselves in the circumstances that elicit an emotion, with the same emotion being preceded by different stimuli across cultures.

C. Pre-literature societies are normally against contact with any kind of Western exposure.

Incorrect: Out Of Scope. There is no information given in the passage to support any inference about the attitude of pre-literature societies towards Western Culture.

D. College graduates from Chile and Argentina were more likely to have experienced the same kind of mass media exposure to portrayals of facial behavior in Western cultures than those from Japan.

Incorrect: Out Of Scope. The author gives no such comparative information.

E. Sociologists who do not agree that universals exists in facial behavior associated with emotion across cultures do not have an in depth knowledge of the topic.

Incorrect: Out Of Scope. Even though the author agrees that the results of the subsequent study undertaken by team prove that universals exist, there is no evidence to conclude anything about what the author feels about those who do not agree with the view; the author does not delve in to any discussion over this group.



A. To contrast the basis for two contradictory views and side with one

Incorrect: Out Of Scope. Firstly, the author never pitches any two views against each other. Secondly, there is no mention of the basis of the contradictory view, i.e. universals in facial behaviors depicting emotions don’t exist across cultures.

B. To highlight commonalities between two studies while showing how one trumps the other

Incorrect: Partial Scope. The author indeed talks about two studies and does say that the second study addresses the flaw of the first one, but there is no mention of commonalities between the two. The author does not compare these studies in such a fashion.

C. To analyze a hypothesis through a discussion on two studies and to raise a consideration

Correct. This choice matches the main-point we came up with earlier. The author does analyze the theory of common emotional facial behavior across cultures by presenting his/her analysis of the two studies mentioned in the second paragraph. The author even agrees that the results of the second study concretely support the hypothesis. In the final paragraph, the author raises a consideration against a possible inference that could be drawn in the light of the preceding discussion.

D. To introduce a theory and evaluate various studies arguing for and against its validity

Incorrect: Partial Scope. The author does introduce a theory but never discusses studies against it.

E. To criticize an experiment on the basis that it may have been contaminated

Incorrect: Partial Scope. This detail is mentioned in the second paragraph but in no way does it capture the essence of the entire passage.



A. To warn against a myth

Incorrect: Irrelevant. There is no “myth” mentioned in the passage.

B. To criticize a particular implication of the studies

Incorrect: Irrelevant. The author does discount a particular implication of the study; however, he/she does not criticize this implication.

C. To caution against an overly optimistic conclusion

Incorrect: Partial Scope. The author does caution against a conclusion; however, there is no basis to conclude that the conclusion is “overly optimistic”.

D. To raise a consideration

Correct. This choice matches the summary of the paragraph we came up with in the passage analysis. The author raises a consideration to discount an implication of the growing evidence of universals in emotional facial behavior across cultures.

E. To initiate a new unrelated discussion

Incorrect: Partial Scope. The author does not start a new discussion in the last paragraph of the passage and certainly not an “unrelated” one. The contents of this paragraph are connected to the preceding paragraph.



A. The results of the experiments of the first study were tampered with.

Incorrect: Out Of Scope. The author states that it is questionable how uncontaminated the experiments were and then indicates a reason for this statement. He/she, however, does not say anything about tampering the results of the study.

B. There are more people who believe in the universals in emotional facial behavior than the other way around.

Incorrect: Irerlevant. This information is completely irrelevant and there is no mention of the number of people who believe in either of the two sides.

C. The subjects of the experiment were not aware of their knowledge of Western culture.

Incorrect: Out Of Scope. The awareness of the subjects is not mentioned anywhere in the passage.

D. Portrayals of facial behavior in mass media are the same in different cultures.

Incorrect: Out Of Scope. The author makes no analysis in the passage. The only portrayals of facial behavior talked about in the passage are those of the Western cultures.

E. The subject of universals in facial behaviors associated with emotions is well researched.

Correct. This information is given to us in the first sentence of the passage.