Reading comp PrepTest 141 · Section 1 · Question 4
Passage
Questions 1-7 . Charles Darwin objected to all attempts to reduce . his theory of evolution to its doctrine of
Remaining source text redacted.
Passage walkthrough
Passage SummaryTopic: Science
Paragraph 1
Examples of DNA mutations and events from history show that the assumptions and implications of the Strict Constructionist Darwinists, who hold natural selection explains all traits and survival, are wrong.
Key Lines:
Lines 3-4 - The traditional view is noted
Lines 8-12 - The new view is described
Lines 16-22 - The Author rebuts the new view by showing a necessary implication of it to be false (counterexamples)
Lines 27-28 - The Author highlights new information calling into question a part of the new view
Lines 37-40 - The Author highlights analysis that calls into question a part of the new view
Meta-Structure:
Traditional vs. New View - Usually, the Author brings up a new view in order to advocate for it, but here, she instead undermines it. She uses examples in two different areas (genetics in Paragraph 3; paleontology in Paragraph 4) to show that individual elements of the new view are wrong (Paragraph 3 - their view on adaptations and reproductive success; Paragraph 4 - their view on adaptations and species survival).
Last Thoughts:
We expect that a good number of questions are going to rely on us distinguishing between the role and examples in Paragraphs 3 and 4. It's almost always key to know the role of each paragraph and the locations of examples, so having a strong understanding of these two paragraphs will be key.
Also, note that as introduced in the first paragraph, the SCD view focuses on two things—"aspect[s] of every species' form and behavior", and "the success or failure of species." Whenever there are multiple "parts" to a view, you should check to see if that ends up being reflected in the structure. Here, it would have been easy to miss that, while Paragraph 2 addresses the view as a whole, Paragraphs 3 and 4 each address an individual part of it. Paragraph 3 addresses the first part about form and behavior, and Paragraph 4 addresses the second part about survival. Noting this should make it easier to distinguish these two paragraphs as we work through the questions.
It's very common for a passage to break down an argument into constituent parts and then address them individually, though it doesn't always do so explicitly—in this case, it's not particularly explicit! But if you can find such a breakdown and structure to the passage, you'll be in very good shape for tackling the questions.
Paragraph 1
- Paragraph note
- A theory is introduced, and a new interpretation at odds with the original
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Darwin - Natural selection is the primary but not only driver of evolution
- Strict Constructionist Darwinists (SCD) - Natural selection explains 1) all attributes, and 2) survival
- Paragraph note
- An implication of the new interpretation is shown to be wrong
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Natural selection - adaptations to environment to reproduce more
- If SCDs are right, then all traits/survival due to adaptations
- Nature has many examples where that's not the case
- Paragraph note
- Examples - DNA/traits (rebuts SCD view #1)
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Neutral, nonadaptive changes that persist and change traits but don't affect reproduction
- Paragraph note
- Examples - Survival/traits (rebuts SCD view #2)
- Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
- Dinosaurs/mammals during meteorite strike - former died out and latter survived based on traits they had
- Example of survival based on "dumb luck," not adaptation
Examples of DNA mutations and events from history show that the assumptions and implications of the Strict Constructionist Darwinists, who hold natural selection explains all traits and survival, are wrong.
Key Lines:
Lines 3-4 - The traditional view is noted
Lines 8-12 - The new view is described
Lines 16-22 - The Author rebuts the new view by showing a necessary implication of it to be false (counterexamples)
Lines 27-28 - The Author highlights new information calling into question a part of the new view
Lines 37-40 - The Author highlights analysis that calls into question a part of the new view
Meta-Structure:
Traditional vs. New View - Usually, the Author brings up a new view in order to advocate for it, but here, she instead undermines it. She uses examples in two different areas (genetics in Paragraph 3; paleontology in Paragraph 4) to show that individual elements of the new view are wrong (Paragraph 3 - their view on adaptations and reproductive success; Paragraph 4 - their view on adaptations and species survival).
Last Thoughts:
We expect that a good number of questions are going to rely on us distinguishing between the role and examples in Paragraphs 3 and 4. It's almost always key to know the role of each paragraph and the locations of examples, so having a strong understanding of these two paragraphs will be key.
Also, note that as introduced in the first paragraph, the SCD view focuses on two things—"aspect[s] of every species' form and behavior", and "the success or failure of species." Whenever there are multiple "parts" to a view, you should check to see if that ends up being reflected in the structure. Here, it would have been easy to miss that, while Paragraph 2 addresses the view as a whole, Paragraphs 3 and 4 each address an individual part of it. Paragraph 3 addresses the first part about form and behavior, and Paragraph 4 addresses the second part about survival. Noting this should make it easier to distinguish these two paragraphs as we work through the questions.
It's very common for a passage to break down an argument into constituent parts and then address them individually, though it doesn't always do so explicitly—in this case, it's not particularly explicit! But if you can find such a breakdown and structure to the passage, you'll be in very good shape for tackling the questions.
Question prompt
The author would be
Remaining source text redacted.
Why the credited answer is right
Credited answer: B
The notes below walk through why it fits the stem and how to eliminate the rest.
Question Type
Science
Answer choices
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ANatural selection is responsible Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice A is not credited
Incorrect. (Lines 8-10; Lines 13-16; Lines 21-22) The Author is rebutting the view of the Strict Constructionist Darwinists, who argue that natural selection is responsible for "all" biological phenomena. In rebutting that, the Author isn't committed to the opposite view, just the negated view—that it isn't responsible for all biological phenomena. As such, she could believe that it's responsible for most (just not all). This is backed up by her statement about natural selection at the beginning of Paragraph 2. -
BThe fact that a Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice B matches the stem
Correct. Question Type:
Must Be True
Strategy Overview:
Reiterate the Author's main point, then head to the answers and use that overall understand mixed with our notes and the passage itself to analyze the answers
Answer Anticipation/Relevant Lines:
The question stem gives us no guidance as to what the correct answer will address, so we'll be heading into the answers a bit blind. Instead, let's reiterate her main point and use that as a guide, prioritizing the analysis of answers that line up with that main point:
Examples of DNA mutations and events from history show that the assumptions and implications of the Strict Constructionist Darwinists, who hold natural selection explains all traits and survival, are wrong.
Remember - If you didn't write out your own main point after reading the passage, you can always reread the answer you selected to the Main Point question.
Answer Explanation:
(Lines 56-57) The Author presented a number of examples in the passage, and so if one of them aligns with this statement, then it's the correct answer. So is there an example of a species flourishing in an environment for a reason other than an adaptation to that environment? We do have an example of that—mammals thriving in the post-meteorite world. They didn't adapt to that world, but their previous adaptations made it a good fit for them. This is therefore the correct answer.
Key Takeaway:
Frequently, in an example-heavy passage, the correct answer to a Must Be True question will be a generalization from one of those examples. Be on the lookout for such answers, and then see if any of the examples back it up. -
COnly evolutionary changes that Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice C is not credited
Incorrect. (Lines 27-31) Paragraph 3 is about evolutionary changes that don't provide a benefit (or harm) to an organism, and yet they can be handed down. This answer was suspect because of its strength anyway ("Only")! -
DLarge animal species are Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice D is not credited
Incorrect. (Lines 43-45) The passage notes that smaller animals are generally better able to survive catastrophic changes in climate. However, that doesn't mean that large animals are unable to survive—just that they're less able to survive than smaller animals. Also, "harsh environmental conditions" aren't the same as catastrophic changes in climate. The former could be persistent and favor large animals, while the changing climate/environment could favor smaller animals. This answer is tempting because it's similar to something said in the passage, but there are enough shifts that it's incorrect. -
ENatural selection is useful Remaining source text redacted.
Why choice E is not credited
Incorrect. (Lines 9-12) The Author does disagree with the view of the Strict Constructionists, and they believe that natural selection is responsible for every aspect of every animals' form and behavior. However, the Author takes issue with the "every" part of their argument, not the behavior part. She never calls into question the ability of natural selection/adaptations to explain certain behaviors of some species.
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Discussion
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Why is A incorrect and B correct? 2 replies
Started by Ceci_Perez