Question

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read the following excerpt from levitt and dubners freakonomics.
the bagel data also reflect how much personal mood seems to affect honesty. weather, for instance, is a
major factor. unseasonably pleasant weather inspires people to pay at a higher rate. unseasonably cold
weather, meanwhile, makes people cheat prolifically; so do heavy rain and wind. worst are the holidays. the
week of christmas produces a 2 percent drop in payment rates—again, a 15 percent increase in theft, an
effect on the same magnitude, in reverse, as that of 9/11. thanksgiving is nearly as bad; the week of
valentine’s day is also lousy, as is the week straddling april 15. there are, however, a few good holidays: the
weeks that include the fourth of july, labor day, and columbus day. the difference in the two sets of
holidays? the low - cheating holidays represent little more than an extra day off from work. the high - cheating
holidays are fraught with miscellaneous anxieties and the high expectations of loved ones.
which of the following best summarizes the main idea of this paragraph?
○ different emotional states affect people’s honesty.
○ some holidays cause people to be less honest.
○ cold weather causes an increase in dishonesty.
○ holidays and cold weather may cause anxiety.

Explanation:

The paragraph starts by stating that bagel data reflect how personal mood affects honesty. Then it uses weather (pleasant, cold, rainy, windy) and holidays (some with low cheating, some with high cheating due to anxieties/expectations) as examples. The first option, "Different emotional states affect people’s honesty," encompasses the overall idea as mood (from weather/holiday - related emotions) impacts honesty. The other options focus on only parts (specific holidays, cold weather, or anxiety - causing holidays/weather, not the main idea about mood and honesty).

Answer:

A. Different emotional states affect people’s honesty