Very Tough RC to comprehend. Need Experts help

[anukrati]

Hi

I searched for this RC passage but didn't find convincing explanation to any of the questions.
I request if experts could help me go through each question and help me understand it.

RC Passage is below:

Some modern anthropologists hold that biological
evolution has shaped not only human morphology but
also human behavior. The role those anthropologists
ascribe to evolution is not of dictating the details of
human behavior but one of imposing constraints-
ways of feeling, thinking, and acting that "come
naturally" in archetypal situations in any culture. Our
"frailties"-emotions and motives such as rage, fear,
greed, gluttony, joy, lust, love-may be a very mixed
assortment, but they share at least one immediate
quality: we are, as we say, "in the grip" of them. And
thus they give us our sense of constraints.
Unhappily, some of those frailties-our need for ever increasing
security among them-are presently
maladaptive. Yet beneath the overlay of cultural detail,
they, too, are said to be biological in direction, and
therefore as natural to us as are our appendixes. We
would need to comprehend thoroughly their adaptive
origins in order to understand how badly they guide us
now. And we might then begin to resist their pressure.


1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
present
A. a position on the foundations of human behavior
and on what those foundations imply
B. a theory outlining the parallel development of
human morphology and of human behavior
C. a diagnostic test for separating biologically
determined behavior patterns from culture-specific
detail
D. a practical method for resisting the pressures of
biologically determined drives
E. an overview of those human emotions and motives
that impose constraints on human behavior

2. The author implies that control to any extent
over the "frailties" that constrain our
behavior is thought to presuppose
A. that those frailties are recognized as currently
beneficial and adaptive
B. that there is little or no overlay of cultural detail
that masks their true nature
C. that there are cultures in which those frailties do
not "come naturally" and from which such control
can be learned
D. a full understanding of why those frailties evolved
and of how they function now
E. a thorough grasp of the principle that cultural
detail in human behavior can differ arbitrarily from
society to society

3. It can be inferred that in his discussion of
maladaptive frailties the author assumes
that
A. evolution does not favor the emergence of
adaptive characteristics over the emergence of
maladaptive ones
B. any structure or behavior not positively adaptive is
regarded as transitory in evolutionary theory
C. maladaptive characteristics, once fixed, make the
emergence of other maladaptive characteristics
more likely
D. the designation of a characteristic as being
maladaptive must always remain highly tentative
E. changes in the total human environment can
outpace evolutionary change

[Gowri@CrackVerbal]

Let us first try to read the passage critically:
The passage as a whole is about the origins of human behavior.
It begins with a mention of the role played by evolution (lines 1 to 6)
Then goes on to say that human 'frailties' are also inherently biological (lines 7 to 16).
Conclusion: we need to understand the origins of these frailties to resist their pressure(last few lines).

Qn 1: Options B, C and D are easily eliminated - the real choice would be between A and E.
Option E says that the passage gives us an 'overview' of those emotions and motives that constrain human behavior. 'Overview' means a summary or a short review of something - here, though the origin and the way to handle frailties are mentioned, the author has not really provided an overview of the particular emotions. So we cannot really say that the primary purpose is to give this overview.

On the other hand, option A is 'safer' - it says that the passage deals with the foundations of human behavior (true) and their implications (true). So A would be the right answer.

[Gowri@CrackVerbal]

Qn 2: A clue to this question can be found in the last 3 lines of the passage - the author says that the frailties are essentially biological (underneath the layers of cultural influence) and that the only way to control them is to "comprehend their adaptive origins".

A: mentions the benefits of these frailties - not mentioned in the passage.
B: the author does not say that there is 'little or no' cultural influence - he merely says that the foundation itself is biological. Incorrect.
C: talks about specific cultures - incorrect.
D: Correct.
E: differences in behavior between societies - incorrect.

[Gowri@CrackVerbal]

Qn 3: This one is a toughie! Elimination would be the way to go here.

Options B, C and D are once again easily eliminated. The passage gives no indication about evolutionary theory or the emergence of other maladaptive characteristics; Option D says that the designation of a characteristic as maladaptive MUST always be tentative - this is a rather extreme statement and we can't say this for sure. Once again, we are left with A and E.

Let us go back to the anchor phrase ("maladaptive") itself. The line says: "Unhappily, some of those frailties... are presently maladaptive." The keyword here would be 'presently' - since the author says that these frailties are presently maladaptive, he leaves room for speculation that this status can change in future. Option E throws some light on this by saying that environmental changes can outpace evolutionary change.

The problem with option A is that it talks about evolutionary preference for adaptive and maladaptive characteristics - and we don't have any information on the evolutionary aspects of adaptive characteristics.

So, of the two, I would go with E, since we do have to pick the best choice of the lot.

[anukrati]

Qn 3: This one is a toughie! Elimination would be the way to go here.

Let us go back to the anchor phrase ("maladaptive") itself. The line says: "Unhappily, some of those frailties... are presently maladaptive." The keyword here would be 'presently' - since the author says that these frailties are presently maladaptive, he leaves room for speculation that this status can change in future. Option E throws some light on this by saying that environmental changes can outpace evolutionary change.

Could you please explain little more in detail how "environmental changes can outpace evolutionary change" is supported through passage.

Thanks

[anukrati]

Hi Gowri

Also could you please suggest the approach we should follow for these kind of passages.
As it is really tough to comprehend.

Thanks

[Gowri@CrackVerbal]

Qn 3: This one is a toughie! Elimination would be the way to go here.

Let us go back to the anchor phrase ("maladaptive") itself. The line says: "Unhappily, some of those frailties... are presently maladaptive." The keyword here would be 'presently' - since the author says that these frailties are presently maladaptive, he leaves room for speculation that this status can change in future. Option E throws some light on this by saying that environmental changes can outpace evolutionary change.

Could you please explain little more in detail how "environmental changes can outpace evolutionary change" is supported through passage.

Thanks

Anukrati,
This is exactly why this question is tricky - there is no information given directly in the passage that supports how environmental changes can outpace evolutionary change'.

In all such questions where you find it difficult to zero in on any one answer choice, always try to eliminate the other choices. And if you find yourself spending more than 2 minutes trying to make this choice, but not getting anywhere, make a guess and move on. You still have a 50% chance of getting it right, as well as additional time to solve forthcoming questions.

[Gowri@CrackVerbal]

Hi Gowri

Also could you please suggest the approach we should follow for these kind of passages.
As it is really tough to comprehend.

Thanks

For any RC passage, try to practice Critical Reading - don't try to read and understand every word or line in the passage. Your objective should be to get the gist of the passage without getting lost in the detail. For instance, in this passage, you need to take note of the following:
1. The passage is talking about the impact of evolution in human behavior
2. In the middle of the passage, the author has discussed 'frailties' and the way they constrain us.
3. Underneath all the cultural influence, these frailties are biological. Understanding them is the key to resisting their influence.

Some general tips:
The main idea of the passage will usually be found in the first paragraph. The conclusion or the author's take on the issue will usually be found in the first or the last paragraphs.
Always take note of transitional keywords: yet, but, however, therefore etc. Each of these signifies a new idea.
Notice the overall tone of the passage - is it positive/negative?
Notice the style of the passage - is it narrative? evaluative? Is there an opinion expressed?

Put together, all these will help you answer different kinds of GMAT RC questions.