Research shows that when people work with a positive mind-set, perform

Question

Research shows that when people work with a positive mind-set, performance on nearly every level—productivity, creativity, engagement—improves. Yet the correlation between happiness and performance is perhaps not so easily understood by many. For one, most people believe that success precedes happiness, but, because success is a moving target, the happiness that results from success is fleeting. Instead people who cultivate a positive mind-set perform better in the face of a challenge. In a meta-analysis of 225 academic studies, researchers found strong evidence of directional causality between life satisfaction and successful business outcomes.

What is even more encouraging is that even though our genetics and our environment have an impact on how happy we are, our general sense of well-being is surprisingly malleable. Our habits, our interactions with coworkers, our attitude towards stress—all these aspects can be managed to increase our happiness and our chances of success. Habits such as taking short breaks and constantly having a positive engagement with coworkers not only reduce stress substantially but also enhance our productivity and thus better our prospects of professional success. Accordingly, encouraging employees to accept some level of stress as an inevitability and perceive it as a motivator and a fuel to growth, is vital for boosting the performance of the workforce.   1 
 1. Which of the following statements would the author NOT agree with?

A. Two people with the same genetic make-up and environment can have different happiness quotients.
B. For happiness to result from success, the latter needs to be a stationary target.
C. Increment in remuneration is not the only important factor responsible for improving the performance of employees.
D. Some factors beyond that we have little control over impact how happy we are.
E. The order in which success and happiness occur is not necessarily fixed.
 A.Two people with the same genetic make-up and environment can have different happiness quotients.
Incorrect: Can be Inferred
This statement follows from the first sentence of the second paragraph. The author states that even though our genetics and our environment have an impact on how happy we are, our general sense of well-being is surprisingly malleable.
The author goes on to elaborate on the “malleable” part by describing how we can manage our happiness by things that are in our control. Accordingly, even if the genetic and environmental factors are kept constant for two individuals, their attitude can influence their individual happiness quotients.
B.For happiness to result from success, the latter needs to be a stationary target.
Correct 
In the first paragraph, the author states that the happiness that results from success is fleeting or shortlived as success is a moving target. This clearly suggests that even when success is not a stationary target, happiness is possible- albeit shortlived.
C.Increment in remuneration is not the only important factor responsible for improving the performance of employees.
Incorrect: Can be Inferred
This statement can be derived from the last sentence of the passage in which the author states that encouraging employees to accept some level of stress as an inevitability and perceive it as motivator and a fuel to growth is vital for boosting the performance of the workforce.
D.Some factors beyond that we have little control over impact how happy we are.
Incorrect: Can be Inferred
The author contrasts our genetics and our environment with other factors that are within our control. So, it can be inferred that our genetics alongwith our environment are pitched as those that we have little control over.
E. The order in which success and happiness occur is not necessarily fixed.
Incorrect: Can be Inferred
In the first paragraph, the author talks about how people do not really understand the relation between success and happiness and then cites the example of the order of success and happiness that most people believe in to illustrate this point. Clearly, this choice follows from there.

2 
 2. The author is primarily concerned with

A. showing how happiness can be cultivated rather than passively experienced
B. guiding employers with respect to increasing the overall happiness and success quotient of the employees
C. clarifying why happiness is not dependent on factors other than a positive outlook
D.proposing that happiness and the resultant success at work are rather dependent on our attitude
E. outlining the ways in which one can achieve professional success

The first paragraph explains the relationship between cultivating a positive outlook and professional success while the second paragraphs shows how happiness and success can be achieved. The correct answer must take in to account the main idea of both these paragraphs.

A.showing how happiness can be cultivated rather than passively experienced
Incorrect: Partial scope
This choice captures the scope of only the second paragraph.
B.guiding employers with respect to increasing the overall happiness and success quotient of the employees
Incorrect: Partial scope
The author does talk about boosting employee performance in the last sentence of the passage but nowhere else in the passage does the author make any other suggestions to employers as such.
C.clarifying why happiness is not dependent on factors other than a positive outlook
Incorrect: Inconsistent 
The author does talk about the link between happiness and positive outlook in the second paragraph but at the same time agrees that our genetics and environment affect how happy we are. Hence, there are other factors as well that determine happiness.
D.proposing that happiness and the resultant success at work are rather dependent on our attitude
Correct
This choice is on the lines of our pre-thought answer. It combines the scope of both the paragraphs.
E.outlining the ways in which one can achieve professional success
Incorrect: Partial scope
While this choice does almost cover the scope of the first paragraph, it does not take in to account the author’s main point in writing the first paragraph. 
 3

3. According to the passage, which of the following is true?

A. Most people use success to measure their happiness.
B. Even when the situation is tough, a positive outlook can trick the brain in to believing otherwise.
C. One of the most important ways of boosting employee performance is encouraging them to accept some level of stress as a part of the job.
D. Developing common habits with coworkers can help reduce stress significantly.
E. When happiness is triggered by success, it is anything but everlasting.

A.Most people use success to measure their happiness.
Incorrect: Out Of Scope
The author says that most people think success comes before happiness and not that they use it as a tool to measure happiness.
B.Even when the situation is tough, a positive outlook can trick the brain in to believing otherwise.
Incorrect: Out Of Scope
Although the author does state that a positive outlook helps perform better in the face of an obstacle/challenge, there is no mention of how the same is achieved- whether by tricking the brain our changing the way we perceive the challenge is not discussed. However, given the contents of the passage, it is most likely in the latter way.
C.One of the most important ways of boosting employee performance is encouraging them to accept some level of stress as a part of the job.
Incorrect: Out Of Scope
The author does consider it an important way but there is no information given on whether it is one of the “most important” ways.
D.Developing common habits with coworkers can help reduce stress significantly.
Incorrect: Out Of Scope
Habits and interactions with co-workers are listed as two separate aspects and the author does not build or indicate towards a combination of the two.
E.When happiness is triggered by success, it is anything but everlasting.
Correct
This statement states the same thing as the following statement made by the author in the first paragraph:
but, because success is a moving target, the happiness that results from success is fleeting.

AdityaHongunti · Accepted Answer

3. According to the passage, which of the following  is true?

A. Most people  use success  to measure their happiness.
- most ppl THINK that S---> H ... but do they USE this as measure?? NO IDEA

B. Even when the situation is tough, a positive outlook can trick the brain in to believing otherwise.
- "brain " not mentioned

C. One of the most important ways of boosting employee performance is encouraging them to accept some level of stress as a part of the job.
- "encouraging employees to accept some level of stress as an inevitability and perceive it as a motivator and a fuel to growth,   is vital   for boosting the performance of the workforce."
Now i have a doubt if something is "vital" ... isnt it  one of the  most important??
The choice does not say "most imporatnat" but says "one of the most"...if someting is vita;l isnt it one of the most imp??
vital emeaning : absolutely necessary !!

D. Developing  common habits  with coworkers can help reduce stress significantly.
- author says talk to workers...not do the common things they do

E. When happiness is triggered by success, it is anything but everlasting.
- "because success is a moving target, the happiness that results from success   is fleeting .  "
fleeting = temporary ...

Between C and E .. i chose E for too much evidence...but i still need an explanation for C..
 generis   Skywalker18   jennpt

GMATRockstar · Answer

This is an unusual passage (source?). It doesn't "feel" like a GMAT passage to me, but here's how I would break it down:

Topic : performance
 Scope:  relationship between it and happiness
 Paragraph 1's function : to introduce X and Y, and describe possibility X --> Y
 Paragraph 2's function:  to show nuance in the relationship
 POV:  tone is informational; author presents researcher's findings
 Purpose:  to describe relationship between performance/happiness

Question 1
  -- This is an Inference question because of the keyword "would."

Rephrase:  Which of these is contradicted by an opinion from the passage?
This means that 4 of the 5 answer choices WILL be supported by the passage.

We don't have TOO much of the author's own opinions. If I had to summarize them, I would say he:
 
-finds the relationship between happiness/success complex
-thinks the researchers are probably right (happiness can help cause success)
-we have some control over our happiness (habits, etc.)
-accepting some stress is a good thing

Even though this is a difficult question to predict for, since there were really only these 4 opinions in the passage, I expect 4 of the answer choices to be some rephrase of these, and then 1 of the answer choices will be too extreme or completely unsupported.

Let's move on to the choices. (And I know no one asked, but I find the wording of these suspect.)

A. Two people with the same genetic make-up and environment can have different happiness quotients.   (supported from the passage, habits have an impact) 
B. For happiness to result from success, the latter needs to be a stationary target.  (not supported from the passage. In fact, success is described as a "moving" target. The passage does not say that the ONLY way to be happy is if success is fixed. This is too extreme.) 
C. Increment in remuneration is not the only important factor responsible for improving the performance of employees.  (supported, author says happiness matters) 
D. Some factors beyond that we have little control over impact how happy we are.  (The wording of this answer choice makes no sense, but I *think* it is trying to say that happiness is impacted by outside factors, and this IS supported by the passage.)

E. The order in which success and happiness occur is not necessarily fixed.  (supported, researchers found strong evidence, but not 100% confirmed evidence.)

AdityaHongunti · Answer

topic : happy vs performance
tone : presenting results, mildly positive
para 1 : conventional wisdom : success --> happiness
contrast : reverse may be the fact or some other factor may result in both
introducing study for "reverse thesis" or some othe factor leading to H and S
para 2 : how we can set a positive meind set which would --> performace improvement
some work stress -- good for emp motivation

para 1 : introducing point that H---> S OR Positive mindset --> H and s
para 2 : research findings supporting para 1 point and slight approval

1. Which of the following statements would the author   NOT agree   with?

A. Two people with the same genetic make-up and environment can have different happiness quotients.
supported .. "sense of well being malleable"

B. For happiness to result from success, the latter needs to be a stationary target.
actually passage states that happiness may result from success .... BUT BUT BUT the happiness that results from success is TEMPORARY (fleeting)
This option states that H to result from S , S has to be stationary target...but this is the case if we want the H to be lasting long
 
C. Increment in remuneration is  not the only important factor  responsible for improving the performance of employees.
- supported

D. Some factors beyond that we have little control over impact how happy we are.
- supported....."genetic and environment"

E. The order in which success and happiness occur is  not necessarily  fixed.
- supported ...1st para ..

AdityaHongunti · Answer

topic : happy vs performance
tone : presenting results, mildly positive
para 1 : conventional wisdom : success --> happiness
contrast : reverse may be the fact or some other factor may result in both
introducing study for "reverse thesis" or some othe factor leading to H and S
para 2 : how we can set a positive meind set which would --> performace improvement
some work stress -- good for emp motivation

para 1 : introducing point that H---> S OR Positive mindset --> H and s
para 2 : research findings supporting para 1 point and slight approval

2. The author is primarily concerned with

A. showing how happiness can be cultivated rather than passively experienced
look at the topic ...is topic covered ?? NOPE

B.  guiding  employers with respect to increasing the overall happiness and success quotient of the employees
- are we guiding anyone?? NOPE

C. clarifying why happiness is not dependent on factors other than a positive outlook
- contradictory ... happiness IS actually dependant on other factors which we have no control over... also does not cover the topic

D.proposing that happiness and the resultant success at work are rather dependent on our attitude
- first para proposes one point ...second para furthers the point !!
 
E. outlining the ways in which one can achieve professional success
- topic?? nope... are we talking about any ways?? NOPE...ways are for happiness not success (which may or may not result)

generis · Answer

AdityaHongunti  , your observation is very good. +1

I have seen only one GMAT RC passage -- a very hard one -- that requires the level 
of logical distinction that I present.

I can defend (E) over (C) based on very subtle logic.

Option (C) directly refers to this statement, as you note:
Accordingly, encouraging employees to accept some level of stress as an inevitability 
and perceive it as a motivator and a fuel to growth, 
is vital for boosting the performance of the workforce.

The general subject is the relationship between positive mind-set and performing well.

If I am really nitpicking . . .

The sentence most relevant to (C) mentions a  second condition  connected 
to stress and employee performance.

Employers must encourage employees 
 to accept stress as inevitable 
 and 
 to perceive stress as a positive force  in two ways.

Note the compound object of encouraging    TO :
 . . . encouraging employees  to accept  some level of stress as an inevitability 
 and      perceive it as  a motivator and a fuel to growth,
is vital for boosting performance.

If I tell my employees merely to accept stress as an inevitability
I state the obvious.
To use vernacular, I tell the employees to "suck it up."
 
On the other hand, if I tell my employees to re-think what they normally perceive as negative;
if I tell them to perceive stress as a motivator and fuel to growth  ,
then I have given them a way to—well, not necessarily welcome stress all the time,
but at least to hope that they can channel stress in good ways that produce good work and more happiness.

I first remove the employees' resistance: you cannot change the fact that stress is inevitable.
Then I help shift their mindset from mere passive acceptance of stress
to at least occasional mental embrace.

According to this logic, I have changed the employees' mindset from
resigned acceptance to acceptance  for good reason .

That "for good reason" (stress can produce good outcomes) is part of the
general theme of the passage and the study, namely, 
the relationship between positive mindset and performance
and the malleability of that relationship.

(E) is the better answer. But your point is well-taken.

TheNightKing · Answer

Hello, I just need an explanation for OA in question 2. I was down to A and D but picked A. I guess A is more general and D is more specific to what the passage deals with? Just seeking a different opinion.

A. showing how happiness can be cultivated rather than passively experienced
D.proposing that happiness and the resultant success at work are rather dependent on our attitude

Thank you!

sabareeshmc1405 · Answer

For Question 3 - How can it be answer E ? Since E states Success results everlasting happiness but as per the question it is fleeting.

I had assumed option A

subalrozz · Answer

For question no 3 i need a proper answer

WhitEngagePrep · Answer

Hi  TheNightKing ,  sabareeshmc1405 , and  subalrozz  - there were a couple of questions about problem #2 and #3 so will address them all here!

First, let's get a  simple story  for the passage.

P1: There is a correlation between positive mindset and performance across the board, and the direction of causality is surprising: positive mindset/life satisfaction increases the likelihood of success (as opposed to having to find success first).

P2: Humans have the ability to cultivate positive mindset through behavior choices.

So let's start with the question from  TheNightKing  about question 2. 
 
 This is a main idea / primary purpose question, so we're looking to understand the passage as a whole. We want a choice that covers as much "real estate" as possible without spilling over the edges - meaning that we want an answer that encompasses as much of what is talked about without overreaching!

(A) showing how happiness can be cultivated rather than passively experienced   
This choice is a bit of a classic "true but too narrow" answer, but I would certainly keep it on my first pass. Yes, the passage does show how happiness can be cultivated (in P2), but this choice doesn't talk about the effect of that on work which is more of the overarching theme. Also, the comparison of happiness as cultivated to being  passively experienced  is a little off. There is a comparison between cultivation and whether we're just "born with it," but the idea of happiness as a passive experience isn't really mentioned.

(D)  proposing that happiness and the resultant success at work are rather dependent on our attitude   
This choice brings the larger path of the passage into view. We first learn that happiness can determine success (P1), and then we learn that our attitude can determine happiness (P2). So the causal chain is that attitude can determine happiness which can determine success. This choice is a good passage summary.

Now for the questions from  sabareeshmc1405  and  subalrozz  about question 3.

This question is a broad detail question, so we're not pointed back to anything specific to check. It's just an open - what is true? Since we can't go to the passage to predict an answer the way we normally would for detail questions (where would we go other than to read the whole thing again), my method for these is to take my first pass through the answer choices just to read them all and eliminate nothing. Then decide which seem like the easiest to find because I either remember seeing them somewhere or don't think they have evidence (too strong, too opinionated, never mentioned, etc).

From my first pass, I flagged choices A (most people?) and C (most important?).

(A) Most people use success to measure their happiness.  
It certainly says that "most people believe that success precedes happiness" but it doesn't say that most people use success as a measure of their happiness.  Eliminate.

(C) One of the most important ways of boosting employee performance is encouraging them to accept some level of stress as a part of the job.  
 The passage says that encouraging employees to accept some level of stress is vital to boosting performance, that isn't the same as saying that it is one of the  most  important ways doing so.  Eliminate .

Now, choice E seems to be referencing the fleeting comment in paragraph 1, while B and D are taking about cultivating habits so those would be in paragraph 2.

(E) When happiness is triggered by success, it is   anything but   everlasting.  
 First, language check - what does it mean if something is "anything but ____" - it means that it is NOT that thing. So here, if it is anything "except" for everlasting, it means that happiness is NOT everlasting. This might be what caused the issue for you  sabareeshmc1405 . The passage does say, "because success is a moving target, the happiness that results from success is fleeting." And it doesn't say that it is sometimes fleeting or that it could be fleeting. It says that is IS. So it sounds like this choice has some evidence.    KEEP.

(B) Even when the situation is tough, a positive outlook can trick the brain in to believing otherwise.  
 While there is evidence that when the situation is tough, a positive outlook can help, it doesn't say that it fools us into thinking that it isn't tough.  Eliminate.

(D) Developing common habits with coworkers can help reduce stress significantly.  
This is a typical trap of mincing facts. Coworkers are mentioned twice: " Our habits, our interactions with coworkers, our attitude towards stress...," and "habits such as taking short breaks and constantly having a positive engagement with coworkers..." However, neither of these says that we should have common habits with our coworkers, just that we should have positive engagement / interactions with our coworkers. The word "habit" is in both sentences but it doesn't state what this choice implies.  Eliminate .

So the only answer left is (E)!

Hope this helps! 
 :) 
 Whit

rak08 · Answer

KarishmaB   GMATNinja   egmat 
Can you help with Q2?

because para 2 focuses more on habits than attitude so i couldn't say that they are dependent on attitude as a central theme, I agree with the potential correctness of this option however unable to eliminate others and conclude that this option is most holistic.

kartickdey · Answer

KarishmaB ,  bb   Bunuel 
Regarding Q2, I was confused between B and D. Please clarify why B is wrong as from the last sentence it appears somewhat true.

egmat · Answer

What's the Passage Saying? 
 Para 1:  Most people think: "First succeed, then be happy." Wrong. Research shows the opposite - happiness leads to success.
 Para 2:  Good news - happiness isn't fixed. You can control it through habits, interactions, and how you view stress.

Your Doubt 
"Para 2 talks about habits more than attitude, so why is attitude the answer?"

Ask what all three things have in common.
- Taking breaks → keeps you positive
- Positive interactions → keeps you positive
- Seeing stress as fuel → keeps you positive

Three different tools,  one goal : staying in a positive mental state.

Simple Analogy 
If someone says "health depends on your lifestyle," and the passage discusses exercise, diet, and sleep, you wouldn't say "but it talks more about diet than lifestyle!"
Diet, exercise, sleep → all part of "lifestyle"

Same here:
Habits, interactions, stress mindset → all part of "attitude"

"Attitude" is just the big-picture word that covers all three.

Eliminations

(A)  Only mentions happiness.  Ignores the success part.

(B)  "Guide for employers"? Only one sentence mentions employers.

(C)  Says happiness depends ONLY on outlook.  Passage says genetics and environment also matter.  Contradiction.

(E)  "Ways to achieve success" = how-to list. Passage is about WHY, not a list of tips.

(D)  Happiness + success + attitude.  Covers everything.

Answer: D

egmat · Answer

Does Option B cover  Para 1 ?

Para 1 discusses:
- The misconception that success leads to happiness
- Research showing happiness actually leads to success

Where are employers in Para 1?  Nowhere.

If "guiding employers" were the primary purpose, Para 1 would be irrelevant. But Para 1 is HALF the passage.

The Key Insight 
One sentence ≠ Primary Purpose

The employer sentence is just  one application  of the concept. The passage is ABOUT the concept itself (attitude → happiness → success), not about giving employers a guide.

Quick Analogy

If I write an article explaining why exercise improves mental health, and my last line says "so gyms should offer wellness programs", is my primary purpose "guiding gyms"? No. That's just one application at the end.

(B)  Covers only the last sentence.  Ignores Para 1 entirely.

(D)  Happiness + success + attitude.  Covers the whole passage.

Answer: D

Research shows that when people work with a positive mind-set, perform

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Research shows that when people work with a positive mind-set, perform

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