Primatologist: Monkeys and apes of most species groom other members of their species frequently. The main function of this is clearly to promote cohesion. In many species, grooming occurs far more often than is necessary to keep animal fur pristine. Although grooming helps to remove parasites, this offers no health benefit to the animal doing the grooming, only to the one being groomed.
The two sections in boldface play which of the following roles in the primatologist’s argument?
- A. The first is an observation for which an explanation is provided; the second is a conclusion for which support is provided.
- B. The first is an explicitly supported conclusion, but not the main conclusion; the second is a premise that supports the main conclusion.
- C. The first is a premise that supports the only conclusion by casting doubt on an alternative hypothesis; so is the second.
- D. The first is a premise supporting the second; the second is the main conclusion but not the only conclusion.
- E. The first provides an explanation for a puzzling observation; the second rules out an alternative explanation for that observation.
Solution
Understanding the Passage
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
| “Monkeys and apes of most species groom other members of their species frequently.” | What it says: Grooming behavior between animals of the same species happens regularly across most primate species Visualization: Species A: 15 grooming sessions/day, Species B: 12 grooming sessions/day, Species C: 18 grooming sessions/day – all showing frequent grooming What it does: Establishes the basic factual premise about widespread grooming behavior Source: Author’s statement of fact |
| “The main function of this is clearly to promote cohesion.” | What it says: The primary purpose of this grooming behavior is to strengthen social bonds and group unity Visualization: Before grooming: Group fragmented into 5 separate subgroups → After grooming sessions: Group unified as 1 cohesive unit What it does: Presents the author’s main claim about grooming’s primary purpose Source: Author’s view/conclusion |
| (Boldface 1) “In many species, grooming occurs far more often than is necessary to keep animal fur pristine.” | What it says: The frequency of grooming behavior exceeds what would be needed purely for cleanliness purposes Visualization: Fur cleanliness requires: 3 grooming sessions/day → Actual grooming frequency: 15 sessions/day (5x more than needed) What it does: Provides evidence that grooming serves purposes beyond just hygiene, supporting the cohesion claim Source: Author’s evidence |
| “Although grooming helps to remove parasites,” | What it says: Grooming does have the practical benefit of eliminating harmful organisms from fur Visualization: Before grooming: 50 parasites on animal → After grooming: 5 parasites remaining What it does: Acknowledges a health-related benefit of grooming Source: Author’s acknowledgment |
| (Boldface 2) “this offers no health benefit to the animal doing the grooming, only to the one being groomed.” | What it says: The health advantages from parasite removal only help the recipient of grooming, not the groomer Visualization: Groomer’s parasite count: stays at 50 parasites → Recipient’s parasite count: drops from 50 to 5 parasites What it does: Eliminates selfish health motives as explanation for grooming behavior, further supporting the social cohesion theory Source: Author’s evidence |
Overall Structure
The author is presenting an argument that grooming behavior in primates serves primarily social rather than practical purposes. The logic flows from establishing the widespread nature of grooming, to claiming its main function is social cohesion, then providing two pieces of evidence that rule out purely practical explanations.
Main Conclusion: The main function of grooming behavior in primates is clearly to promote cohesion.
Boldface Segments
- Boldface 1: In many species, grooming occurs far more often than is necessary to keep animal fur pristine.
- Boldface 2: this offers no health benefit to the animal doing the grooming, only to the one being groomed.
Boldface Understanding
Boldface 1:
- Function: Serves as evidence supporting the author’s conclusion that grooming’s main function is social cohesion
- Direction: Supports the author’s position by showing grooming frequency exceeds practical hygiene needs
Boldface 2:
- Function: Serves as additional evidence supporting the author’s conclusion by eliminating selfish health motivations
- Direction: Supports the author’s position by ruling out individual health benefit as a primary driver
Structural Classification
Boldface 1:
- Structural Role: Supporting evidence for the main conclusion
- Predicted Answer Patterns: “evidence supporting the conclusion,” “supports the author’s view”
Boldface 2:
- Structural Role: Supporting evidence for the main conclusion
- Predicted Answer Patterns: “evidence supporting the conclusion,” “supports the author’s view”
Answer Choices Explained
A. The first is an observation for which an explanation is provided; the second is a conclusion for which support is provided.
‘The first is an observation for which an explanation is provided’ – ✗ WRONG – The first boldface isn’t just an observation being explained; it’s evidence that helps explain why grooming occurs (to support cohesion, not just hygiene) ‘the second is a conclusion for which support is provided’ – ✗ WRONG – The second boldface is evidence supporting the main conclusion, not a conclusion itself
B. The first is an explicitly supported conclusion, but not the main conclusion; the second is a premise that supports the main conclusion.
‘The first is an explicitly supported conclusion, but not the main conclusion’ – ✗ WRONG – The first boldface is not a conclusion at all; it’s evidence/premise supporting the main conclusion about cohesion ‘the second is a premise that supports the main conclusion’ – ✓ CORRECT – The second boldface does serve as supporting evidence for the cohesion conclusion
C. The first is a premise that supports the only conclusion by casting doubt on an alternative hypothesis; so is the second.
‘The first is a premise that supports the only conclusion by casting doubt on an alternative hypothesis’ – ✓ CORRECT – The first boldface is evidence that undermines the hygiene explanation while supporting the cohesion conclusion ‘so is the second’ – ✓ CORRECT – The second boldface similarly undermines the health-benefit explanation while supporting the cohesion conclusion
D. The first is a premise supporting the second; the second is the main conclusion but not the only conclusion.
‘The first is a premise supporting the second’ – ✗ WRONG – The first boldface doesn’t support the second; both independently support the main conclusion about cohesion ‘the second is the main conclusion but not the only conclusion’ – ✗ WRONG – The second boldface is not a conclusion; it’s evidence supporting the stated main conclusion
E. The first provides an explanation for a puzzling observation; the second rules out an alternative explanation for that observation.
‘The first provides an explanation for a puzzling observation’ – ✗ WRONG – The first boldface doesn’t explain anything; it’s evidence that rules out the hygiene explanation ‘the second rules out an alternative explanation for that observation’ – ✓ CORRECT in isolation – The second does eliminate the health-benefit explanation, but the first part makes this choice incorrect overall
