A student received a phone call in which he learned that his father had unexpectedly died of a heart attack at the age of 45. Instead of crying or showing a sad facial expression, the student's face took on an angry expression and he slammed down the phone. The MOST plausible reason for this reaction is that the student:
A) appraised the situation as shocking and showed the emotion of surprise.
B) remembered that the last time he talked to his father they had an argument.
C) did not like being told this bad news over the phone.
D) appraised the situation as unfair that he lost his father at such an early age.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the student's facial expression turned angry and he slammed down the phone suggest that he may have appraised the situation as unfair, as if he felt it was unjust for his father to pass away at a young age due to a heart attack. This interpretation is supported by the fact that the student did not cry or show a sad expression, but rather an angry one. Option A is unlikely because surprise would not explain the angry reaction. Option B is possible, but not the most plausible reason since the student's father had just passed away and the argument was likely not at the forefront of his mind. Option C is also possible, but there is no evidence to suggest that the student was upset about the phone call itself rather than the news he received.

A Student Received a Phone Call in Which He Learned