SAT #16 Reading (Question 14)

Question

If true, which finding of a survey of the general population would most undermine the author’s interpretation of Lyubomirsky’s study?

Answer 1

Answer Choice D is the correct answer because Lines 57-59 say that “Lyubormirsky’s work suggests altruistic acts may need to be frequent in order to confer a lasting change in well-being.” This tells us that the author interprets her study as showing that only frequent good deeds cause long lasting happiness, and that infrequent altruistic acts are likely to bring any significant, lasting change, so any survey that showed otherwise would undermine this interpretation. This most closely matches Answer Choice D which says that the interpretation would be undermined by a study that showed that “occasional altruistic acts result in long-lasting increases in the personal happiness of those who perform them.” Answer Choice A is incorrect because this would confirm the author’s interpretation of the study, since she believes that frequent acts of kindness should result in long lasting happiness. Answer Choice B is incorrect because Lyubormirsky’s survey and the author’s interpretation of it don’t make any claims about the connection between happiness and the immediacy of benefits. Answer Choice C is incorrect because Lyubormirsky’s survey and the author’s interpretation of it don’t make any claims about the connection between happiness and the amount of efforts required by those acts.

How to solve this? The Question asks, “If true, which finding of a survey of the general population would most undermine the author’s interpretation of Lyubomirsky’s study?” To solve this, we should go back to the Passage to first determine what the author’s interpretation of the study is, and then determine which survey would contradict or undermine its central claim. Lines [...].