Emotional Intelligence and the Importance of Positive Emotions (1) Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to understand and control our emotions according to situations and people. (2) It is a delicate combination of self-awareness and awareness of other people's emotions and feelings. (3) Most psychologists measure the emotional quotient or EQ of people on two scales: interpersonal and intrapersonal. (4) Intrapersonal elements include factors such as self-awareness and self-motivation whereas interpersonal elements include social awareness and social competence. (5) The right balance of these elements helps an individual cultivate high emotional intelligence. (6) People who have high emotional intelligence are able to foster positive emotions in themselves and others.
(7) Intelligence manifests in human beings in multiple forms. (8) In the field of psychology, initial research on human intelligence focused only on the intelligence quotient or IQ, which tested individuals on their ability to adapt to the environment, respond to stimuli, and learn things. (9) However, over a period of time, psychologists gradually came to recognize the value of managing emotions and its impact on the well-being of humans.
(10) Positive emotions have a great impact on health and various studies have shown that emotions such as hope, optimism, and gratitude give humans a sense of well-being and fulfillment. (11) People with high emotional intelligence are extremely perceptive as they are able to understand their own emotions and can successfully manage their negative thoughts and emotions in a way that does not affect them. (12) Such people are likely to find positive meaning even in difficult circumstances and make the most of the situation. (13) They work well in teams as they are able to negotiate and interact positively with people around them. (14) Research shows that these qualities enhance individuals' sense of worth and self-esteem, which allows people to experience a sense of purpose in life.
(15) On the contrary, people who have pessimistic and negative thought patterns are often stressed out. The ill-effects of stress on the mind and the body have been studied widely. (16) Stress is not only known to cause burn out in everyday activities, but also affects the functioning of the immune system. (17) It has negative consequences on our health. (18) Therefore, it is important that we develop stress-resistant attitudes and strategies, which can be possible if we cultivate our emotional intelligence. (19) If we invest our time in understanding our own emotions and being aware of how other people feel and function, then we would be able to handle stressful situations in a better and calmer way. (20) Therefore, emotional intelligence is extremely important in nurturing good health and a sense of well-being.

Which of the following sentences could be added after sentence 18 to support the ideas of the last paragraph?
A.
Therefore, emotional intelligence is valuable to develop personalities that are healthy and functional.
B.
Studies in psychoneuro immunology show that the effects of stress on the immune system lead to problems in the other systems of the body as well.
C.
Stress-resistant personalities, known as “hardy personalities,” have traits such as commitment and control that are known to be found in people with high emotional intelligence as well.
D.
High emotional intelligence results in positive emotions that impact the self-esteem and self-worth of the individual. These traits are important to live a healthy life.