Which of the following is an example showing basic emotions?

• A. All of the above.
• B. Howard's big happy grin after playing soccer.
• C. Madeline cries when her goldfish dies.
• D. Amella is afraid of the dark and keeps a nightlight burning.

Answer: (A)

Basic emotions are a small, innate set of feelings that people tend to express in similar ways across cultures. The three scenarios each show a distinct, recognizable emotion: a big grin after playing soccer clearly signals happiness, crying when the goldfish dies signals sadness, and being afraid of the dark with a nightlight shows fear. An option that includes all three examples best demonstrates that these core emotions appear in everyday situations. So, the correct choice is the one that encompasses all of these scenarios, since each one illustrates a fundamental emotion.