Hicks PSAT "The Power of Kawaii"

The author's central claim is that

• cuteness provokes the same emotional responses around the world.

• encountering a cute object may lead to changes in behavior.

• studies of cuteness should include tasks that involve social interaction.

• cuteness elicits feelings of tenderness in test subjects.

The authors mention Pokemon and Hello Kitty in order to

• provide examples of popular kawaii products from Japan.

• clarify an earlier statement by showing that some products use cuteness in their marketing.

• demonstrate that cute products are more likely to be exported than other products.

• support the claim that kawaii products are found in various fields.

As used in line 22, "elemental" most nearly means

• inner

• chemical

• partial

• essential

The words "capture" and "induce" (lines 23-24) primarily serve to

• ironically depict the unclear effects of cute images on test subjects.

• characterize the cute stimuli used in tests in unusually strong terms.

• indicate that cute stimuli can have a forceful impact on the viewer.

• provide a formal tone to contrast with the rest of the passage's informal tone.

The author's imply that they see Sherman, Haidt, and Coan's experiments in mainly

• interesting but unnecessary.

• sloppy and inconclusive.

• suggestive but incomplete

• inventive and groundbreaking

The author's imply that Sherman, Haidt, and Coan's Operation experiment would have been improved by changing the

• methodology

• test subjects

• experimental setting

• researchers

According to the graph, the second-highest score in the study was achieved by the participants who

• had just viewed the pictures of baby animals

• had just viewed pictures of adult animals

• were about to view pictures of adult animals

• were about to view pictures of baby animals

The average initial score of participants who were later shown the adult animal pictures was closest to which number?

• 10

• 9

• 8

• 7