Critical Reasoning

Which of the following best completes the passage below?

At a recent conference on the evolution of humans, a team of scientists proposed the theory that the millions of sweat glands in human skin evolved as a way to keep humans cool while running over long distances or for extended periods. The scientists theorize that this ability developed as a hunting strategy that depended on out-enduring prey by pushing animals to overheat. One of the first things that must be shown, of course, before this theory can be commonly accepted is that .

endurance is an advantage for running long distances or for extended periods
animals can be pushed to a point where overheating will make them easier prey
there are enough sweat glands in human skin to keep humans from overheating
early humans were the only hunters to employ this strategy
the scientific community can agree on the meaning of "long distances"

karthikpandian19 wrote:Which of the following best completes the passage below?

At a recent conference on the evolution of humans, a team of scientists proposed the theory that the millions of sweat glands in human skin evolved as a way to keep humans cool while running over long distances or for extended periods. The scientists theorize that this ability developed as a hunting strategy that depended on out-enduring prey by pushing animals to overheat. One of the first things that must be shown, of course, before this theory can be commonly accepted is that .

endurance is an advantage for running long distances or for extended periods
animals can be pushed to a point where overheating will make them easier prey
there are enough sweat glands in human skin to keep humans from overheating
early humans were the only hunters to employ this strategy
the scientific community can agree on the meaning of "long distances"

IMO: C, because unless it is not shown that there are enough sweat glands in human skin to keep humans from overheating, the theory can not be accepted widely.

OA is B

Ashujain wrote:

karthikpandian19 wrote:Which of the following best completes the passage below?

At a recent conference on the evolution of humans, a team of scientists proposed the theory that the millions of sweat glands in human skin evolved as a way to keep humans cool while running over long distances or for extended periods. The scientists theorize that this ability developed as a hunting strategy that depended on out-enduring prey by pushing animals to overheat. One of the first things that must be shown, of course, before this theory can be commonly accepted is that .

endurance is an advantage for running long distances or for extended periods
animals can be pushed to a point where overheating will make them easier prey
there are enough sweat glands in human skin to keep humans from overheating
early humans were the only hunters to employ this strategy
the scientific community can agree on the meaning of "long distances"

IMO: C, because unless it is not shown that there are enough sweat glands in human skin to keep humans from overheating, the theory can not be accepted widely.

What is wrong with C? Can you please provide the OE

To summarize: Human could catch animals because animal got overheated by running and humans didn't (sweat glands help humans be cool). To prove this, first thing we need to verify is that do animal get overheated.

[spoiler]
IMO B[/spoiler]

Hi,
What's the source of this question?

Source: Kaplan Prep test question

ice_rush wrote:Hi,
What's the source of this question?

Ashujain,

If you look at the passage there are 2 sentences which is missing a LINK. We are establishing a link between them for "best completion"

S1:
Study shows tht human skin evolved as a way to keep humans cool while running over long distances or for extended period

S2:
Scientists say tht this ability (Shown in S1)developed as a hunting strategy that depended on out-enduring prey by pushing animals to overheat.

So, something is missing as a LINK between "Human's ability" & "Animal's hunting strategy".

So When animals have this ability they can run long distances and get cooled too, which helps in their hunting strategy


endurance is an advantage for running long distances or for extended periods - General statement, no relevance
animals can be pushed to a point where overheating will make them easier prey - Rightly links the hunting strategy with the Overheating and then cooling..Clearly tells that animals CAN be pushed to a point of overheating (becoz obviously they can be cooled with sweat glands) will make then catch prey (ie.hunting strategy)
there are enough sweat glands in human skin to keep humans from overheating - Tells abt humans only, invalid
early humans were the only hunters to employ this strategy - Tells abt humans only, invalid
the scientific community can agree on the meaning of "long distances" - General statement, no relevance

Ashujain wrote:What is wrong with C? Can you please provide the OE

Ashujain

I'll with Karthik that the OA should be B.

C can be ruled out because passage already states "millions of sweat glands in humans" which suggests that there are already many. Also (C) talks about overheating only in humans without any connection to animals.

Regards
Nitin